1999 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
582 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 216 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 131 of 582 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 233 | 40.0% |
| Steering behavior | 64 | 11.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 131 |
| Tires | 44 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 40 |
| Steering | 26 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 18 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 131; Tires: 44; Tires:Tread/Belt: 40; Steering: 26; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 20; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 18; Electrical System: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 49 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 56 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 49; 100,000 to 149,999: 56; 150,000 and above: 22
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 366 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 132 |
| 2001 | 97 |
| 2002 | 60 |
| 2003 | 61 |
| 2004 | 60 |
| 2005 | 64 |
| 2006 | 37 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 132; 2001: 97; 2002: 60; 2003: 61; 2004: 60; 2005: 64; 2006: 37; 2007: 12; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 12; 2011: 9; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 233 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 64 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003817 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT WORKING. CONSUMER STATED HE PUSHED THE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE TRUCK, AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005428 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
SINCE NEW THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED ERRATIC SHIFTING DURING ACCELERATION. OFTEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES BRIEFLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ON VACATION AT 78,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000268 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
STEERING BOX LEAKED AND PINION SEAL LEAKING. ALSO THE VEHICLES STEEING WAS ERRACTIC AND THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AT TIMES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25MPH. STEERING BOX AND PINION SEAL WERE FIXED. THE STEERING SENSOR WAS CHECKED BY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE "ERRACTIC" FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS, OCCURING DAILY.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,984 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009397 · 2002-11-25 (November 25, 2002)
DURING A LEFT HAND TURN, AT APPROX. 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOOSE, THEN STIFF AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FLUID LEVEL OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS A T IT'S PROPER LEVEL AND THE BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE HAD IT AT (2) SEPARATE SHOPS AND NEITHER HAVE REPORTED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END AT ALL. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770103
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007079 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE BATTERY TERMINAL MELTED WHICH CAUSED ACID TO LEAK ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. *JB *JB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013861 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FUEL GAUGE IS INCORRECT. THIS STARTED IN NOV 2002. NOW THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEAD LIGHTS DON'T COME ON OR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALL THE DASH BOARD GAUGES START ALL START MOVING BACK AND FORTH. WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON A HIGH PITCHED "AC" STATIC NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE WIRING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025623 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING AND MY VEHICLE (1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2WD) MADE A LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATED FOR A FEW SECONDS, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR UNTIL I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE THE HOOKED UP A MACHINE TO SEE WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE MACHINE TOLD THEM IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT SILENOID. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IN MY VEHICLE FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I THEN HAD TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP HAVE AN EXPENSIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039891 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
THE GAS GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD DID NOT READ THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL IN GAS TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *PH *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053184 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM ON 6.5L DIESEL HAS FAILED TWICE, FAILURE OF INJECTOR SYSTEM HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO STARTER AND 7 OF 8 GLOW PLUGS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047452 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
VEHICLE IS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K2500 WITH GM 6.5 LITER TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC (I-270) MULTIPLE TIMES ON OCTOBER 21, 2003. I CALLED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE WAS THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION PUMP, WHICH GM HAS WARRANTED FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. THE DEALER THEREAFTER REPLACED THE INJECTION PUMP UNDER WARRANTY. WHILE I AM PLEASED THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME, I BELIEVE THAT THIS REPRESENTS AN UNACCEPTABLE DEFECT. GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE THAT THE PART IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048756 · 2003-11-28 (November 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT FUEL CHARCOAL FILTER CLOGGED THE TANK, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK. MANUFACTURER STATED FUEL SYSTEM FAILED BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048756 at NHTSA ↗