Would a mass air flow sensor on 99 cadillac deville stop the engine from running?

A faulty mass airflow sensor (MAF) sensor on a 1999 Cadillac DeVille can absolutely prevent the engine from running, or cause it to run very poorly or stall. The MAF sensor tells the engine's computer how much air is entering the engine, which is crucial for calculating the correct fuel-to-air ratio. Without this information, the computer can't properly control the fuel injection, leading to a variety of problems, including a complete failure to start or run.