GMC SIERRA 2500 · model year

1999 GMC SIERRA 2500

42 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999GMCSIERRA 2500 carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 2500 is service brakes with 9 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (6) and service brakes, hydraulic (6). 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 2500. 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.

42
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

42 filings

Crashes Reported

3 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 BRAKES9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
TIRES2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
AIR BAGS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB1

Recent Complaints

20171204SERVICE BRAKES

2 YEARS AGO I HAD ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE DUE TO RUST AT A COST OF $1000.00 I BELIEVE THE CAUSE WAS POOR METAL IN THE BRAKE LINES AND THE WAY THE LINES ARE ATTACHED TO THE BODY & FRAME HELP TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 170,000

20141221SERVICE BRAKES

TRUCK WAS IN SHOP FOR UNRELATED MAINTENANCE. BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MOVING TRUCK OUT OF SERVICE BAY. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE AS LOWER QUALITY MATERIAL WAS USED IN THE BRAKE LINES. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON WEB INDICATED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST I HAD HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I FEEL BLESSED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A NON-TRAFFIC SITUATION. I FREQUENTLY DRIVE THIS TRUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-94. THANKS,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 173,000

20141027SERVICE BRAKES

GOT HARD ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A DEER THAT HAD JUMPED OUT OF A DITCH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES GAVE OUT. DEALER REPLACED ALL THE ROTTED LINES TO THE TUNE OF 1250.00. *TR

Mileage: 93,475

20131024SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES FAILED AS BRAKE LINE CORROSION ALLOWED FLUID LEAK. THIS WAS FIRST OF MULTIPLE LINE FAILURES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THREE DIFFERENT FACTORY LINES FAILED THEN ONE TRANSMISSION LINE. THIS TRUCK IS NOT USED DURING WINTER AND WAS UNDER COATED MULTIPLE TIMES. NO OTHER PART ON THIS TRUCK IS CORRODED NEARLY AS MUCH AS EVERY STEEL LINE ON IT, INCLUDING THE GAS LINES( ALSO REPLACED JUST LAST YEAR) TRUCK RUNS AND DRIVES EXCELLENT EXCEPT FOR THIS CORROSION PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 90,300

20130525SERVICE BRAKES

WENT UP TO STORE AND FOUND OUT BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR. HAD TO AVOID WRECKING. HAULED IT HOME. PURCHASED AND PUT IN NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WENT TO BLEED THE FIRST BRAKE AND FOUND A RUSTED BREAK LINE OVER DRIVER SIDE REAR. COULD HEAR IT SUCKING AIR WHEN I WAS USING THE PUMP TO BLEED OUT OLD FLUID. GLAD THE TRAFFIC WASN'T BUSY. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

20130518SUSPENSION

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOAD CLUNK. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE OF THE BANGING AND FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE HAD RUSTED SO BAD IT BROKE IN HALF. *TR

Mileage: 134,000

20130518STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOAD CLUNK. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE OF THE BANGING AND FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE HAD RUSTED SO BAD IT BROKE IN HALF. *TR

Mileage: 134,000

20130424SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS PULLING MY HORSE TRAILER AND WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND MY TRUCK BRAKES WENT OUT AND I COULD NOT STOP. I ENDED UP BEING PUSHED INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST WENT OFF A CLIFF. MY STEP DAD CAME AND GOT MY TRAILER AND WE HAULED MY TRUCK BACK TO HIS PLACE. MY DAD AND STEP DAD STARTED LOOKING AT IT AND MY ENTIRE BRAKE LINE IS RUSTED OUT? I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL WEBSITES STATING NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AND RECALLS? I NEED HELP! *TR

Mileage: 171,000

20130424SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC C2500 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V345000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20130424SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC C2500 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V345000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC), BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20121010SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS LIMITED BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SLOWED BY DOWN SHIFTING. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MECHANICS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND THE REDUCTION IN BRAKING ABILITY. ALL OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CONCERNS OF ADDITIONAL FAILURES. *TR

20120708SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND WENT TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP AND THE BRAKE LINE TO THE RIGHT ( PASSENGER ) FRONT CALIPER STEEL LINE BLEW FLUID ALL OVER TRUCK AND PUMPED BRAKES UNTIL THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ALMOST EMPTY . TRUCK STOPPED AFTER THIS AND TURNING INTO A GRASSY FIELD. THIS TRUCK NEEDS ALL THE LINE REPLACED!!! I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW 32,00.00 AND IT HAS DOLLAR STORE BRAKE LINES!! SAFE!!! *TR

Mileage: 65,200

20111114EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN I TILT THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE UPWARD POSITION ALL HEADLIGHTS GOES OUT/OFF,AND WHEN I TILTED IT TO THE LOWER POSITION ALL HEADLIGHTS COME ON.THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE NEEDS TO KNOW THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVE.THIS VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ANYTIME. *TR

Mileage: 155,076

20110903FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED THROUGH AND TANK IS FALLING OUT. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

20110807SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE BURST. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, BUT A DIFFERENT BRAKE LINE. *TT

Mileage: 62,758

20110529SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1999 GMC SIERRA K2500 4X4. AT JUST OVER 100K MILES THE ADVANCED RUST AND CORROSION ON MY STEEL BRAKE LINES IS VERY BAD. THESE ARE THE HARD GALVANIZED LINES THAT ARE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BENEATH THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR NEAR THE FRAME, AND THE HARD GALVANIZED LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER SIDE (LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE TRUCK) FROM FRONT TO REAR. THIS STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE CORROSION IS IN THE FORM OF RUST THAT IS FLAKING OFF IN CHUNKS. WITH THE STEEL RUSTING AND FLAKING AWAY LIKE THIS, IT WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BRAKE LINE, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE ABILITY FOR THE BRAKE LINES TO HOLD PRESSURE, AND AT SOME POINT MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH MORE MILES THAT ARE OLDER I'VE HAD SINCE NEW AND THE BRAKE LINES HAVE VERY LITTLE SIGNS OF RUST AND CORROSION. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS AS I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND THIS IS THE FIRST GM VEHI

Mileage: 80,000

20110427SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DEALER REPLACED RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES IN 2008. DEALER NOW SAYS BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BRAKE LINES FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE APPARENTLY MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT IS EXTREMELY PRONE TO CORROSION LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE-WHICH OCCURRED TO THIS VEHICLE.

Mileage: 71,973

20110321SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. WHEN THE PEDAL STARTED GETTING SOFT ,IT WAS JUST A 3 MILE RIDE ON 35 MPH ROADS. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE 5 BRAKE LINES AND 2 BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED THEY WERE TOTALLY COVERED WITH RUST. *TR

Mileage: 1,180,003

20100921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I OWN A 99 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE PULLING A 9000 LB TRAILER MY BRAKES WENT OUT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING TRUCK TOO A STOP. UPON INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE BLOWN BRAKE LINE AND LOTS OF CORROSION ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE OWNED OLDER VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH RUST ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE LIKE THIS TRUCK HAS. ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. *TR

Mileage: 210,000

20100410SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

I HAVE A 1999 GM PICKUP WHILE 3 HRS FROM HOME I WAS COMING ONTO A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND LOWER GEARS TO PREVENT RUNNING INTO THE CARS AHEAD OF ME, WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED AND CHECKED FLUID I WAS EMPTY THE CLOSEST STATION WAS STILL MILES AWAY, LUCKY FOR ME I WAS ON FL ST RD 710 20 MILES FROM INDIANTOWN I STAYED IN THE SLOW LANE DRIVING AT 5- 25 MPH UNTIL I COULD GET FLUID. I HAD THIS PROBLEM ALL THE WAY HOME WITHOUT CRASHING. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT MY BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT, I AM NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING THEM OUT AS I CAN'T AFFORD A MECHANIC AND NOW AM HAVING PROBLEMS TRYING TO FIX SO NOW I AM OUT OF WORK BECAUSE OF THIS. LAST NIGHT I HAPPENED TO BE WATCHING THE NEWS AND SEEN THIS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LINES I HAVE ONE OFF OUT OF 4 LINES MY HOPE IS A RECALL TO HAVE THESE FIXED BY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS HOW IF NOT I WILL DO MY BEST SO I CAN MAKE IT TO WORK. *TR

Mileage: 100

Compare 1999GMCSIERRA 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 GMC SIERRA 2500 have?
The 1999 GMC SIERRA 2500 has 42 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC SIERRA 2500?
The most-complained component for the 1999 GMC SIERRA 2500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 1999 GMC SIERRA 2500 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.