1999 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
157 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
107,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 128 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 157 complaints (23.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 112 | 71.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.9% |
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 | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 |
| Seats | 10 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 37; Service Brakes: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Seats: 10; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 6; Structure:Body: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 35 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 35
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 29 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 12; 2007: 11; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 28; 2011: 19; 2012: 13; 2013: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 10; 2017: 10; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 112 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 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 10017933 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP MOTOR HAD SEIZED AND CAUSED THE ABS TO FAIL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 42,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040413 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLLED THE ABS FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *AK *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,632 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193690 · 2007-06-19 (June 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. ON JUNE 19, 2007, THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE POWER PUMP FLUID WAS FULL AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING PRODUCED A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO INTENSIFY BEFORE THE PUMP FINALLY FAILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245607 · 2008-10-15 (October 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176237 · 2006-12-15 (December 15, 2006)
AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE ENGINE CODE WAS CHECKED IT WAS THE 1870 TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE CODE. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER THE CONDITION WORSENED AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE PROBLEM DUPLICATED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM YEARS AGO. I HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178075 · 2007-01-08 (January 8, 2007)
THE FIRST TIME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT OVERFLOWED FUEL WHEN I FILLED THE FUEL TANK TO IT'S CAPACITY. I ASSUMED A VENT LINE WAS LOOSE, BUT KNEW IT WOULD BE A BIG JOB TO DROP THE FUEL TANK AND CHECK, SO I JUST LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL I WOULD FILL THE TANK WITH. ON JAN 5, 2007, THE FUEL PUMP QUIT WORKING AND AFTER DROPPING THE TANK NO VENT LINE WAS FOUND TO BE LOOSE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP MOUNTING FLANGE ON THE TANK WAS ABOUT HALF CONNECTED, THUS WHERE THE FUEL WOULD LEAK FROM WHEN THE TANK WAS FILLED TO CAPACIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244721 · 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)
BRAKE LINE RUNNING ALONG FRAME TO REAR WHEELS RUPTURED WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. SHIFT INTERLOCK REQUIRES BRAKE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. BRAKE LINES RUNNING FROM FIREWALL TO REAR OF VEHICLE ALONG INSIDE OF FRAME RAIL ARE CORRODED AND SOFT SO BADLY AS TO NEED REPLACING. LIKE VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR IDENTICAL ISSUE. WHEN BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, THERE ARE NO BRAKES ON VEHICLE AT ALL DUE TO A SINGLE RESERVOIR VICE TWIN RESERVOIRS ON MOST VEHICLES TO SEPARATE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE SYSTEMS. BRAKE LINE POSSIBLY MADE OF MATERIAL UNSUI…
Owner-reported narrative. 177,286 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044789 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CONSUMER HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE ABS MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE MODULE CONTINUED TO RUN ALTHOUGH VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. IF THE MODULE WAS LEFT CONNECTED IT COULD DRAIN THE BATTERY AND POSSIBLY DAMAGE OTHER SYSTEMS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK THE ABS MODULE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223414 · 2008-04-04 (April 4, 2008)
I HAVE CALLED REPEATEDLY AND FILED REPORTS OF ELECTRICAL AND THE BRAKES IN THE 99 GMC SUBURBAN. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL BURNING . NO ONE CARED. WIRES HAVE MELTED AND SHORTED OUT THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONER ETC. NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING AND GMC REFUSES TO DO RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223414 at NHTSA ↗