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1999 Chevrolet SilveradoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,660 owner complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

11
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid8.2× the Silverado median · #1 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints1,660153 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage59kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 16, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado has problems

1,660 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic81552
Service brakes, air1095
Suspension1074
Power train974
Vehicle speed control959
Tires903
Structure847
Steering692
Engine and engine cooling612
17 other systems42358

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1999 Chevrolet Silverado recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Tailgate: hinge and attachments

Recall 06V-066 · Mar 8, 2006 · 805,368 vehicles

Risk. IF ONE CABLE FRACTURES, THE REMAINING CABLE MAY RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 05V-379 · Aug 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Parking brake

Recall 05V-161 · Apr 22, 2005 · 90,242 vehicles

Risk. IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 00V-345 · Oct 30, 2000 · 1,383,922 vehicles

Risk. DURING BRAKING, THE PEDAL WILL BE LOWER THAN NORMAL AND STOPPING DISTANCES WILL BE LONGER.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Recall 98V-242 · Oct 6, 1998 · 8,367 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS CONDITION IS IGNORED, THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME CAN WEAR AND/OR FATIGUE THE ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE POINT OF BREAKAGE OR THE BOLTS BACKING OUT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

59kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 347 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 37% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
27under 30k miles296under 100k miles51100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Service brakes, hydraulic

102 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $900 – $1,062

Service brakes, air

29 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $900 – $1,000

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1999 vs. every other Silverado year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
14 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, and the recalls they led to.

  1. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREDP05009 · closed May 31, 2006
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE STICKING CLOSEDEA02015 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  3. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEEA04005 · closed Sep 28, 2004
    Led to recall 04E-067
  4. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  5. TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLESEA05007 · closed Apr 11, 2006
    Led to recall 06V-066
  6. Brake line corrosion failureEA11001 · closed Apr 8, 2015
    No recall
  7. THROTTLE STICKINGPE02021 · closed Aug 1, 2002
    No recall
  8. STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTUREPE03026 · closed Nov 3, 2003
    No recall
  9. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEPE03049 · closed Feb 19, 2004
    No recall
  10. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  11. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379
  12. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
  13. TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGERQ04010 · closed Apr 14, 2005
    No recall
  14. STEERING GEAR/GRAME ATTACHING BOLTSRQ99005 · closed Nov 27, 2001
    Led to recall 98V-242
In owners' words

What Silverado owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON MEMORIAL DAY 2014 PULLING MY BOAT AND TRAILER. TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED OUTSIDE CRIVITZ, WI AND I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKE PEDAL. IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR - NO BRAKES AT ALL - CONTRARY TO THE GM INFO IN AN ARTICLE I READ ON YAHOO. I QUICKLY HIT THE SHOULDER, FORTUNATELY WIDE AND HARD,…
Complaint 10705722 · Apr 11, 2015 · 142,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE…
Complaint 10658636 · Nov 17, 2014 · 185,000 miles
WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AT 28MPH AND PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PUMPED THE PEDAL REPEATEDLY AND ONLY SLIGHT BRAKING ACTION COULD BE ACHIEVED. I WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION JUST NARROWLY MISSING TWO CROSSING CARS AND TURNED…
Complaint 10567186 · Feb 27, 2014 · 107,345 miles

Own a 1999 Silverado?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.