1999 Gmc SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
243 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
78,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 96 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 69 of 243 complaints (28.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 106 | 43.6% |
| Steering behavior | 31 | 12.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.3% |
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 | 69 |
| Tires | 14 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 8 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 69; Tires: 14; Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 8
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 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 147 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 | 51 |
| 2001 | 36 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
2000: 51; 2001: 36; 2002: 28; 2003: 27; 2004: 21; 2005: 28; 2006: 24; 2007: 7; 2008: 2; 2009: 6; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 106 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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 10003520 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
WEAK BRAKES REQUIRING EXCESSIVE PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP VEHICLE. RANDOM BRAKE PULL ROTATING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE BRAKING. LOCKING FRONT WHEELS ACTIVATING ABS WITH LITTLE OR NO REAR BRAKE INVOLVEMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005123 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
BRAKE AND ABS UNSAFE AND IN FOR CHRONIC REPAIRS. HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR LESS THEN A YEAR WHEN PROBLEM STARTED. ROTORS CRACKED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. HAD HEAVY DUTY ROTORS PUT ON. IN THE RAIN, ABS LOCKED...NEAR MISS OF AN ACCIDENT. WITHIN WEEKS HAD BACK IN FOR REPAIRS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR...WAS INFORMED OF GMC BULLETIN REGARDING BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK BRAKES AND ABS. HAD PROPORTIONING VALVE PUT IN AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED. THEN HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS AGAIN DUE TO WEAR..ALL WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS. THEN ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND ABS STAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,069 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007121 · 2002-07-02 (July 2, 2002)
REPEATED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE PADS AND NOW ON REAR BRAKE DRUMS. WE ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVERS AND TYPICALLY GET 80-100,000 MILES ON A SET OF BRAKES. THIS IS OUR SECOND SET OF FRONT PADS. WE DO TOW HEAVY LOADS. THE SUBURBAN IS EQUIPPED WITH A HEAVY DUTY TOWING PACKAGE . IT HAS ALREADY HAD THE STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED, ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE BRAKES JUST DO NOT SEEM OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO STOP A VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,454 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014420 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
ENGINE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES. ENGINE BACK FIRED AND DAMAGED STARTER. FOUND OEM BATTERY HAD LEAKED ACID FROM POSITIVE TERMINAL ALL OVER ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS, RUBBER HOSES, AC TUBING, FRAME AND DISSOLVED PROTECTIVE HOSE WEAR SHIELDS. DEALER SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS A LOT AND TO CALL GMC AS THE BATTERY ONLY HAD 36 MONTH WARRANTY. BATTERY WARRANTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LEAKING ACID AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO WIRING AND HOSES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010634 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
PREMATURE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,667 MILES DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF SUN GEAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE SHAFT COLLAR BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM GM HAS THE COLLAR TO HUB MATING STRENGTHENED FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL, SO IT IS KNOWN IN GM THIS PART HAS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE FACTORY. I WAS AND AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS WAS A TERRIBLE FINANCIAL BURDEN AT A BAD TIME. CONTACTING GM WAS NO HELP - "IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY". FURTHER COMPLAINTS TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AUTO LINE RETURNED SAME ANSWER - O…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,667 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018246 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
THE RIGHT REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE TWICE AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED ACID AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TRAY TO RUST *MR *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,913 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003392 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUST STALL WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAPPENED TO ME THE LAST HOT WEEKEND THIS FALL. THE LOCAL DEALER TOOK MY VEHICLE & HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK, FINALLY GETTING A CODE TO SHOW UP THAT ALLOWED THEM TO REPLACE THE INJECTOR PUMP. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE INJECTOR PUMP WAS AT FAULT, BUT INSTEAD THE PMD ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING. THIS REPLACEMENT DIDN'T COST ME ANYTHING, BUT I THINK GM SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY EXTENDED THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016199 · 2003-04-19 (April 19, 2003)
FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP ON 1999 GMC SUBURBAN WITH 45 GALLON TANK, 350 ENGINE. LEFT VEHICLE IN NON STARTING SITUATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,361 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050166 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. CONSUMER CONTACTED WITH DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050166 at NHTSA ↗