GMC SIERRA 3500 · model year

1999 GMC SIERRA 3500

25 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999GMCSIERRA 3500 carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 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 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 4 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (3) and seats (2). 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 3500. 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.

25
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

1 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, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT3
SEATS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
SERVICE BRAKES2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
AIR BAGS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1

Recent Complaints

20140505STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

BOUGHT A 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 4DOOR 8FT. BED WITH 30000 MILES ON IT IN 2001. FIRST BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT IN 2005. SECOND LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK RUSTED AND BROKE 2008. FUEL LINE RUSTED AND LEAKED GAS ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY 2010. TODAY THAT SAME TRUCK? IS IN A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE FRAME BY THE STEERINGBOX AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUSTED AND CRACKED. ITS A SHAME GMC USED SUCH BAD MATERIALS FOR THEIR TRUCKS. MY TRUCK NOW HAS ONLY 97000 MILES ON IT. IF IT CANT BE FIXED SAFELY THE SCRAP YARD IS ITS NEXT STOP AND A FORD WILL TAKE ITS PLACE. TO BAD GMC YOU LOST ANOTHER CUSTOMER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20140505SERVICE BRAKES

BOUGHT A 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 4DOOR 8FT. BED WITH 30000 MILES ON IT IN 2001. FIRST BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT IN 2005. SECOND LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK RUSTED AND BROKE 2008. FUEL LINE RUSTED AND LEAKED GAS ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY 2010. TODAY THAT SAME TRUCK? IS IN A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE FRAME BY THE STEERINGBOX AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUSTED AND CRACKED. ITS A SHAME GMC USED SUCH BAD MATERIALS FOR THEIR TRUCKS. MY TRUCK NOW HAS ONLY 97000 MILES ON IT. IF IT CANT BE FIXED SAFELY THE SCRAP YARD IS ITS NEXT STOP AND A FORD WILL TAKE ITS PLACE. TO BAD GMC YOU LOST ANOTHER CUSTOMER. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20120917SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN CLOSING IN ON AN INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHT BEGAN TO CHANGE RED, TWO SEDANS WERE IN FRONT OF ME SO I APPLIED MY BRAKES ALLOWING PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK QUICKLY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT SLOW AT ALL. I HAD TO VEER INTO THE TURN LANE BUT COULD NOT MAKE THE TURN DUE TO SPEED AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION AND HAD TO VEER INTO A BUSY PARKING LOT RAN OVER A STOP BLOCK AND CONTINUED THROUGH 2 YARDS AND OUT A DRIVEWAY BACK ONTO YET ANOTHER ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. BOTH YARDS HAD PEOPLE IN THEM AND IT WAS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS HURT. THIS WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES I FOUND A TINY HOLE IN THE LINE CROSSING THE ENGINE YOKE. AS I FURTHERED MY INSPECTION IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION ALL THE BRAKE LINES RESEMBLED BURNT CORN FLAKES AND MUST ALL BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 250,000

20100416SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

EVERY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE ON MY 75,000-MILE 1999 GMC 3500 PICKUP HAS RUSTED OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALL BLEW OUT WHEN PEDAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED...INCLUDING ONE TIME, WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AT THE TRANSFER STATION TO UNLOAD TRASH. THE ENTIRE TRUCK COULD HAVE GONE BACK AND FALLEN INTO THE DUMPSTER. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20070201AIR BAGS

MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 CREW CAB WAS ORDERED NEW. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT IT WAS FITTED WITH A 1998 CAB. THE DESIGN IS DIFFERENT AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE LONGER AND HEAVIER RESULTING IN PREMATURE HINGE FAILURES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS BECAUSE THE 1998 VERSION DIDN'T REQUIRE THEM EVEN THOUGH I ORDERED A 1999 WHICH DOES. I HAVE A VIN ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING IT AS A 1999 AND ONE ON THE DOOR SHOWING IT AS A 1998. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT REPORTING IT HERE. *JB

20070201STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 CREW CAB WAS ORDERED NEW. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT IT WAS FITTED WITH A 1998 CAB. THE DESIGN IS DIFFERENT AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE LONGER AND HEAVIER RESULTING IN PREMATURE HINGE FAILURES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS BECAUSE THE 1998 VERSION DIDN'T REQUIRE THEM EVEN THOUGH I ORDERED A 1999 WHICH DOES. I HAVE A VIN ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING IT AS A 1999 AND ONE ON THE DOOR SHOWING IT AS A 1998. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT REPORTING IT HERE. *JB

20051101FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK UNDER NEGATIVE PRESSURE BY APPARENT STUCK VALVE CAUSED FUEL TANK RUPTURE. HAPPENED TWICE. GM ENGINEERS SAID NO DEFECT, APPARENTLY THERE IS AND NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. FUEL SPILLED OUT AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS, IN MY OPINION. I AM A DEGREED (MSME) ENGINEER. WITH AN EXTENSIVE AUTO BACKGROUND. *JB UPDATED 11/15/05. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

20050620SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT: CONTACT HAS 1999 GMC,. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES 6 TIMES. THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THE BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT. CONTACT LOST THE FRONT BRAKES ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND LOST REAR BRAKES ONLY ONCE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES WITH AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT.*AK

20050521STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

GMC SAVANNA & CHEVY EXPRESS/SIERRA VAN SIDE DOORS (60/40'S ?). DURING SERVICE VISIT FOR DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER AT GROSSINGER GMC IN ILLINOIS, WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY, AND DOORS WERE STIFF, NOISY AND TOUGH TO OPEN/CLOSE, DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED "MORE LUBRICATION". LUBRICATION WAS APPLIED REGULARLY. GMC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE WAS OF NO HELP. I'VE SINCE THROWN OUT MY SHOULDER TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. DANGER: MIDDLE SEAT PASSENGERS HAVE NO WAY OF ESCAPING VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT/EMERGENCY. THE HINGES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DOORS NO LONGER FUNCTION. HINGES FROZEN IN PLACE AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. PER BODY SHOP (WHICH THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO), IT IS "A DESIGN DEFECT, A FLAW". $2,000 TO REPAIR. PLEASE TAKE NOTE: IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE CITY OF CHICAGO PURCHASED THIS VAN IN GREAT NUMBERS AND WAS FACED W/THIS PRODUCT FAILURE/DESIGN DEFECT ON ALL OF THEIR MUNICIPAL VANS (POLICE DEPT., FIRE DEPT., STREETS & SANITATION, ETC...) GMC PROVIDED BRAND NEW HING

Mileage: 40,000

20040729SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULSATED AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 59,000

20030718TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WE HAVE 4 1999 GMC 3500 SERIES LONG VANS USED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. RETURNING FROM A FIELD TRIP (WITH CHILDREN) ONE OF THE TIRES SUFFERED A PLY SEPARATION. THE DRIVER DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MAINTAINING CONTROL AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED OUT BY OUR TOWING SERVICE. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ANOTHER TIRE POSSIBLY READY TO FAIL, AND ODD WEAR PATTERNS. OUR DISTRICT IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL 16 TIRES ON ALL 4 VANS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TIRE...THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4X - LT245/75R16 LOAD RANGE E - DOT# VN11 - 81A - 169 AND DOT # SP872R - D15L. *JB

Mileage: 19,650

20030520SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JB PH

Mileage: 58,000

20020924SEATS

CONSUMER STATES SEAT FRAME BROKE IN 07/02, CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED. SEAT FRAMES BROKE AGAIN ON 9-21 CAUSING A COLLISION.*JB

20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND STALL, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DEALER FOUND NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE SIGNALS, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND RUN ROUGH, AND HAS HAD VARIOUS COMPONETS REPLACED, SUCH AS RADIATOR COOLANT, COOLANT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, SERPENTINE BELT, THROTTLE-POSITIONING SENSOR, EGR AND OXYGEN SENSOR, THE BRACKET THAT PROTECTS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS WAS NEVER INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH, SOME OF THE COMPONETS WERE EVEN REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND STILL DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

20020514ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND STALL, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DEALER FOUND NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE SIGNALS, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND RUN ROUGH, AND HAS HAD VARIOUS COMPONETS REPLACED, SUCH AS RADIATOR COOLANT, COOLANT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, SERPENTINE BELT, THROTTLE-POSITIONING SENSOR, EGR AND OXYGEN SENSOR, THE BRACKET THAT PROTECTS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS WAS NEVER INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH, SOME OF THE COMPONETS WERE EVEN REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND STILL DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

20011030ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND STALL, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DEALER FOUND NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE SIGNALS, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND RUN ROUGH, AND HAS HAD VARIOUS COMPONETS REPLACED, SUCH AS RADIATOR COOLANT, COOLANT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, SERPENTINE BELT, THROTTLE-POSITIONING SENSOR, EGR AND OXYGEN SENSOR, THE BRACKET THAT PROTECTS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS WAS NEVER INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH, SOME OF THE COMPONETS WERE EVEN REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND STILL DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

20011030ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND STALL, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DEALER FOUND NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE SIGNALS, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND RUN ROUGH, AND HAS HAD VARIOUS COMPONETS REPLACED, SUCH AS RADIATOR COOLANT, COOLANT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, SERPENTINE BELT, THROTTLE-POSITIONING SENSOR, EGR AND OXYGEN SENSOR, THE BRACKET THAT PROTECTS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS WAS NEVER INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH, SOME OF THE COMPONETS WERE EVEN REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND STILL DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

20001120TIRES:TREAD/BELT

FIRESTONE TIRE (P245 75 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

20001103TIRES:TREAD/BELT

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999 CHEVROLET, LT245/75R16. TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED TIRE FREE OF CHARGE.*AK DOT#V011 678 140. *SLC

20001020CrashSEATS

I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON FWY WHERE I WAS INVOLVED IN A CHAIN REACTION AUTO ACCIDENT . I WAS THE NUMBER 3 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 6 INVOLVED. I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT AT APPOX 5 MILES AN HOUR. WAS THEN REAR ENDED BY A SUV GOING APPROX 30 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN REARENDED, MY DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED. THE SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH MINIMAL IMPACT..

Compare 1999GMCSIERRA 3500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 have?
The 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 has 25 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500?
The most-complained component for the 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and SEATS.
Is the 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 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.