GMC SIERRA 1500 · model year

1999 GMC SIERRA 1500

182 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999GMCSIERRA 1500 carries 182 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 SIERRA 1500 is service brakes, hydraulic with 37 filings, followed by service brakes (30) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1999 SIERRA 1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

182
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

182 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC37
SERVICE BRAKES30
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS14
SEATS10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
STRUCTURE:BODY6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
SUSPENSION4
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
STEERING3
PARKING BRAKE2

Recent Complaints

20210925SERVICE BRAKES

ABS Brakes cut out leaving you with little to no brakes. No warning light appears. This continues on and off over time. Then that ABS warning light came on. When the warning light was on, brakes worked just not ABS. Light would go out and back to the original issue. Took it in to dealership when the light remained on. They reset the light and told me every thing was fine. And charged me $$$. ABS Brake warning light can right back on. Had the manager drive it. Told me it was fine, brakes worked well. The ABS warning would go in and out. Removed the ABS fuse, so I could depend on being able to stop, without having to worry about the ABS cutting in and out for a few years. Watched for recalls, nothing appeared. Noticed on blogs, others were having the same issue. Took it to a great mechanic! Who verified there were no leaks in the brake lines, replaced one line that had been known to have issues on this type of truck and verified there were no air bubbles on the lines. Still same issue,

20210925UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ABS Brakes cut out leaving you with little to no brakes. No warning light appears. This continues on and off over time. Then that ABS warning light came on. When the warning light was on, brakes worked just not ABS. Light would go out and back to the original issue. Took it in to dealership when the light remained on. They reset the light and told me every thing was fine. And charged me $$$. ABS Brake warning light can right back on. Had the manager drive it. Told me it was fine, brakes worked well. The ABS warning would go in and out. Removed the ABS fuse, so I could depend on being able to stop, without having to worry about the ABS cutting in and out for a few years. Watched for recalls, nothing appeared. Noticed on blogs, others were having the same issue. Took it to a great mechanic! Who verified there were no leaks in the brake lines, replaced one line that had been known to have issues on this type of truck and verified there were no air bubbles on the lines. Still same issue,

20190427SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 421 IN EMINENCE, KY. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL & I HAD NO BRAKES RIGHT IN FRONT OF HARRY HILL PARK. GM & I ARE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS KILLED YESTERDAY. THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED & LEAKED THE BRAKE FLUID, SO WHEN I PUSHED THE PEDAL, IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE IS PRETTY CLEAN & AFTER CHECKING MANY BLOGS & YOUTUBE VIDEOS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON GM TRUCKS. I CHECKED THE RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK & THE TAILGATE CABLE IS RECALLED FOR BREAKING UNDER LOAD DUE TO CORROSION; THIS COULD INJURE SOMEBODY, BUT NOT AS VITAL COMPARED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM AS SOMEONE COULD DIE IN A HORRIBLE INCIDENT. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS SERIOUS MATTER. THANK YOU

Mileage: 265,000

20181015UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I GOT UNDER THE TRUCK TO CHANGE THE OIL THEN I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRAME WHERE THE CROSS MEMBER IS. CROSS MEMBER RUNS ACROSS FRAME SUPPORT

Mileage: 190,000

20180815CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD THAT WAS ROCKY AND BUMPY, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A DITCH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, BUT FAILED TO PREVENT THE CONTACT'S HEAD FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD INVESTIGATE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

Mileage: 166,000

20180731STRUCTURE:BODY

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK A FEW MONTHS AGO. WITHIN A WEEK I HAD A CO WORKER POINT OUT THE BED WAS LEANING TOWARD THE CAB. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE GOT UNDER THE TRUCK TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE NOTICED ALOT OF RUST. I LOOKED ON LINE TO SEE HOW TO FIX IT AND FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DECIDED TO GET SOME SHEET METAL AND WELD IT TO THE FRAME. I THEN ASKED MY BOSS WHO OWNS A WELDER IF HE COULD HELP ME WITH IT. HE SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LEFT TO WELD TO. THEN THE TRUCK STARTED NOT GOING INTO PARK. AND TO START IT YOU'D HAVE TO START IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT WOULD NOT STAY IN PARK, IT WOULD ROLL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NO LONGER WORKED. I THEN HAD MY PARENTS TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPAIR IT. BOTH BODY SHOPS SAID IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED REPLACED. ONE SHOP SAID THAT THE PARKING ISSUE COULD BE FROM THE FRAME BENDING, BUT DID NOT KNOW WITHOUT GETTING INTO THAT. THEY ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE

Mileage: 66,030

20180225SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES BURSTED CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO ABRUPTLY PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS A MARKED SHERIFF'S VEHICLE WITH ITS EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SIREN ACTIVATED WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE INTERSECTING HIGHWAY THAT I WAS APPROACHING. THIS IS A KNOWN AND PREVALENT PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITH GM TRUCKS AND GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT DENIES FAULTY PARTS.

Mileage: 123,000

20171102ENGINE

BRAKE CHECK ENGINE OIL CHANGE INDICATOR WILL NOT GO OFF

Mileage: 677

20171008UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 Z71 WITH 107000 ON IT A FRAME CRACKED UNDER PASSENGERS DOOR AND AT REAR SHOCK MOUNT CALL GM TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO A DEALER FOR A FRAME INSPECTION TOLD ME FRAME IS ROTTED NOTHING THEY WOULD DO I THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULDN'T ROT OUT HAD A 1997 CHEVY 1500 NEVER ANY RUST ON THAT TRUCK IT HAD 245000 MILES WHEN I SOLD IT .IF YOU NEED PICTURES OF THE ROT ON MY 1999 GMC SIERRA I WILL GET

Mileage: 107,000

20170925SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO QUALITY CHEVROLET (1292 ROUTE 9 SOUTH OLD BRIDGE, NJ, 08857; 732-316-2600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE EXPLODED AND AREAS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM WERE RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.

Mileage: 216,000

20170905SERVICE BRAKES

DURING NORMAL STRAIGHT STOP FROM 50 MPH ON RURAL COUNTY ROAD, INTERSECTION WITH 70 MPH CROSSING 4-LANE DIVIDED STATE HIGHWAY, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND BRAKING ABILITY WAS MINIMAL. EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE STOP BEFORE ENTERING CROSSING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION, DISCOVERED BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST WITH MASSIVE INSTANTANEOUS FLUID LOSS.

Mileage: 121,950

20170828SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, BUT IT FAILED TO RESPOND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,206.

Mileage: 204,206

20170828PARKING BRAKE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, BUT IT FAILED TO RESPOND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,206.

Mileage: 204,206

20170815CrashSERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE FAILER DO TO POOR ROUTING FROM FACTORY AND SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL USED ON OEM LINES (BARE STEEL) . ALWAYS REPLACE OEM LINES WITH POWDER COATED AFTERMARKET OR STAINLESS "ONLY" INSPECT "ALL LINES & HARDWARE & CLIPS TO FRAME ECT FOR CORROSION". BRAKE FAILER OCCURED WHILE TOWING ANOTHER AUTO WITH TRAILER ATTACHED NO WARNING.

Mileage: 112,000

20170626ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD BE MOVED TO THE "OFF" OR "ACCESSORY" POSITION WHILE DRIVING. NOTICED THAT STEERING, BRAKES, AND OTHER COMPONENTS BECAME DISABLED. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE AND ASSESS THE SITUATION. A PROBLEM LIKE THIS COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC SYSTEM FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE DEATH IF WE WEREN'T AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS POSSIBLE DANGEROUS ISSUE.

Mileage: 140,000

20170529SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN COMING TO A STOPLIGHT, I APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL GOES DOWN MORE THAN IT SHOULD, BUT I GET STOPPED. WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AND WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES SLOWLY TO THE FLOOR. NEXT, I PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND GET STOPPED. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AN LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, NO FLUID LEAKS, THEN I C LOOK AT EACH WHEEL, NO FLUID LEAKS. I GET TURNED AROUND AND HEAD HOME BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. DRIVING HOME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT. I'M SOON HOME AND I PARK THE TRUCK BUT WITH THE MOTOR STILL RUNNING, I SLOWLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT GOES SLOWLY TO THE FLOOR, NEXT TIME I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IT GOES TO THE FLOOR IN A SPLIT SECOND. I GET OUT AND INSPECT UNDER THE TRUCK. I SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE LINES RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME RIGHT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR.

Mileage: 129,130

20170309SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR END AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.

Mileage: 186,000

20170114STRUCTURE:BODY

BRAKE LINES RUSTED , ABS FAILURE ,GAS LINES RUSTED, TRANS COOLING LINES RUSTED. THESE WERE ALL FAILURES THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. NOW FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED . TRUCK BASICALLY SHOT .

Mileage: 60,000

20170114SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES RUSTED , ABS FAILURE ,GAS LINES RUSTED, TRANS COOLING LINES RUSTED. THESE WERE ALL FAILURES THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. NOW FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED . TRUCK BASICALLY SHOT .

Mileage: 60,000

20161026STRUCTURE:BODY

FRAME CROSS MEMBER BEHIND THE CAB IS RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES IN "SALT" STATES AND NOT HAD THE FRAME RUST OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM". THIS CAN LEAD TO A FAILURE WHEREBY THE FUEL TANK FALLS DOWN LEADING TO A HIGH RISK OF FIRE. THIS WAS FOUND DURING A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE (3RD SET) ASSEMBLY AND REMOVAL OF THE TRUCK BED.

Mileage: 172,000

Compare 1999GMCSIERRA 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 have?
The 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 has 182 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500?
The most-complained component for the 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1999 GMC SIERRA 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.