1999 Cadillac Seville

Routine

Owners filed 73 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline8
000
Electrical System8
021
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine7
000
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator4
000
Suspension3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling3
000
Tires2
000
Suspension › Front2
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack2
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator99V070000
Filed Apr 12, 199929,766 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GENERATOR, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF.

Risk. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE AND ANYTHING NEAR IT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERATOR.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 12, 2022CA

The hard fuel rail line has begun to leak and no GM dealers carries parts to resolve problem. The 1999 STS Cadillac is in good working condition but because of the leak, it is unsafe to drive.

Engine
Filed May 3, 2016294,853 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 294,853.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 29, 2015103,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE AND AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE ENGINE WERE BEING AFFECTED BY THE FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED ELEVEN GASKETS WITHIN THE ENGINE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATE 1/13/16 LN *JS

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Mar 11, 2014PA

MY SON ALMOST DIED ON OCTOBER 25, 2013 IN HIS 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHILE HE WAS RELAXING IN IT WITH HIS DOG. HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WAITING FOR HIS MOTHER/MY WIFE AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. HE NEEDED TO CLIMB OUT OF WINDOW AND PULL HIS DOG THROUGH THE WINDOW. HE INJURED HIMSELF AND WENT TO HOSPITAL. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT THE ENGINE FELL APART FROM HEAT, THE CABIN WAS DESTROYED, FRONT TIRES ARE GONE/MELTED WHILE TRUNK AND GAS TANK WERE RELATIVELY FINE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THIS DISASTER IN OUR DRIVEWAY. MY SON ALSO LOST VARIOUS PERSONAL POSSESSIONS AND HIS TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE MY SON'S NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE AND THE ONLY THING GM SAYS IS THAT THE FIRE DAMAGED THE CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING IT CAN DO. IT ALSO HAS INFORMED ME THAT IF I WISH TO TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION, I MUST RETAIN THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS A BURNED-OUT SHELL OF A VEHICLE IN OUR FRONT DRIVEWAY. IT IS A REMINDER EVERY DAY THAT MY SON ALMOST DIED IN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A HIGH QUALITY CAR AND GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS. I WAS HOPING THAT GM WOULD RESOLVE THIS MATTER IN A REASONABLE MANNER SO MY SON COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH HIS LIFE. HE LOST SEVERAL PERSONAL AFFECTS, HIS PRESCRIPTION EYE GLASSES, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND MONEY HE HAD WITHDRAWN TO GIVE TO MY WIFE FOR A SCHOOL BILL. I ALSO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE OUR BONNEVILLE FOR 5 MONTHS BECAUSE THE CADILLAC IS BLOCKING ACCESS TO IT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO THAT WILL RESOLVE THIS MATT

Electrical System
Filed Jun 16, 201288,000 milesCA

WHEN I DRIVE AT ANY SPEED RANDOMLY THE GAS GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY,WINDOWS DON'T WORK, AC GOES OFF BUT FAN STILL BLOWS, POWER LOCKS DON'T WORK, LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN I STOP AND GET OUT, BUT WHEN I PUT THE KEY BACK IN AND TURN IT TO THE "ON" POSITION AND BACK OFF EVERYTHING WORKS AGAIN MY BATTERY WENT DEAD A FEW TIMES DUE TO THE LIGHTS STAYING ON AND MY GIRLFRIEND NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON...WHAT IS THAT!!!!! *JB

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 16, 201271,000 milesCA

APPLIED BRAKES AND FRONT END DID NOT DIP AS IT SHOULD HAVE; NO GRIPPING AS IT SHOULD HAVE; FELT GRINDING AND SLIPPAGE AS VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITHOUT LOSING ANY MOMENTUM. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT STOPPING DISTANCE THAT VEHICLE SPEED SHOULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED AND STOPPED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 15, 201076,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED AROUND THE COOLING SYSTEM YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 21, 201050,142 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLLED THE STEERING AND BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,142.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 7, 200996,000 milesCA

THIS MAY BE NOTHING YOU CAN HELP WITH, HOWEVER THE NORTHSTAR ENGINES MADE BY GM HAVE HAD A DEFECT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT YOU HAVE CHECKED INTO THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS. IT REGARDS THE HEAD GASKETS BREAKING AT AN ALARMING AND CONSISTENT RATE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS! ASK ANY MECHANIC ABOUT THIS. AROUND 100,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE THE HEAD GASKETS BREAK, AND COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE. NO ONE WILL REPLACE THE GASKETS. ALL YOU CAN DO IS SPEND A SMALL FORTUNE ($5,000 TO $9,000) ON A NEW ENGINE. A WASTE OF MONEY SINCE THE NEXT NORTHSTAR ENGINE WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT AND CONTINUES TO IGNORE. NO WONDER THEY ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. AFTER 100 YEARS THEY STILL CANNOT PRODUCE A RELIABLE ENGINE! IF YOU EXPECT AMERICANS TO CONTINUE BUYING AMERICAN CARS, ESPECIALLY CADILLACS, PLEASE DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS. YOU CAN FIND LETTERS WRITTEN BY SEVILLE OWNERS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS. I AM MOST CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY ONE, JUST ONE OF MANY, MANY LEMON OWNERS. HOPING YOU CARE ENOUGH TO HAVE LISTENED AND CHECK THIS OUT, SINCERELY *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 10, 200862,540 milesMO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. HE DISCOVERED THAT A FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,640 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,540. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE FUEL RAIL CRACKED JUST ABOVE THE CYLINDER #1. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON PRIOR YEARS. UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 28, 2006MN

1999 CADILLAC STS SEVILLE SEAT BELT BUCKLING DIFFICULTY**CC THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN GLITCH AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ACCELERATOR WOULD STICK AT TIMES AND THE POWER SEATS JAMMED. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 4, 200681,000 milesNJ

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE LENSES TURNED YELLOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 28, 2006CA

CAR STALLED (DIED) WHILE EXITING HWY ON EXIT RAMP; LOST PWR STEERING, BRAKES, AND WAS LUCKY TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT INJURY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY FEW MONTHS AND DEALERS CANNOT REPEAT OR FIND THE PROBLEM. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 2, 2005119,500 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MOSTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN QUICKLY, VEHICLE STALLS & DIES. WHEN THIS OCCURS VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER. HAPPENS EVERY FEW WEEKS; STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN AFTER COMING TO STOP, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO STOP BECAUSE NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING, ETC. VERY DANGEROUS. I WANT THIS TO BE A RECORD OF THE PROBLEM IN CASE I AM KILLED IN ACCIDENT FOLLOWING AN OCCURANCE OF THIS TYPE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed May 23, 2005MI

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE BRAKE PEDAL DISASSEMBLED FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO SAFETY CLIP BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Mar 15, 2005MA

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 7, 200531,000 milesCA

I SERVICED MY 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE IN NOVEMBER 2004. IT ONLY HAS 31,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ON FREEWAY ONLY. THE CAR STALLED FOR NO REASON WHEN I LAST DROVE IT AND NOW WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS FINE, POWER KICKS ON BUT ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND. THIS IS FRIGHTENING AS IT DIES WHILE I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION DURING A U-TURN. WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER 1/10 (AT MY COST). I THINK THEY SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE. IT WAS NOT SURPRISING TO SEE 7 OTHER COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE SAME YEAR'S MODEL.*AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion › Rack
Filed Dec 3, 2004ID

PROBLEM INVOLVES FAULTY STEERING RACK, IT HAS RUPTURED SEAL. WHICH PROHIBITS POWER STEERING ASSIST, WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. *BF THE LACK OF POWER STEERING RESTRICTS THE CONSUMERS ABILITY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. *TC *JB

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Aug 12, 200445,000 milesOR

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FOLD UP AND PUSH THE AIR BAG BACK INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE PLACED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DEALER NOR THE MECHANIC. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN GEAR, AND SUSTAINED NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. *SC THE CONSUMER SIFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Jul 27, 200445,000 milesOR

FAX FM MIKE PETERSEN (OR) RE HIS WIFE'S 1999 GM CADILLAC SEVILLE STS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN STARTING THE CAR.*MR THE DRIVER SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES SUCH AS SORENESS FORM THE FORCE OF THE AIR BAG AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

20 of 73 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20049000Routine
200316100Routine
200245210Routine
200153100Routine
200038200Routine
1999 — this page73120Routine
199865230Routine
199795262Fatalities reported
1996122271Fatalities reported
1995742100Routine
199450250Routine
199342230Routine
199227100Routine
199121011Fatalities reported
199019300Routine

Compare every Seville year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 12, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.