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1999 GMC SierraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 600 owner complaints about the 1999 GMC Sierra, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

14
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid5.9× the Sierra median · #1 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints60077 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage57kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 10, 2015. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 GMC Sierra has problems

600 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, hydraulic28030
Vehicle speed control393
Suspension392
Power train373
Tires314
Structure301
Service brakes, air262
Service brakes252
Seats231
16 other systems15322

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

5 recalls

1999 GMC Sierra 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 GMC.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

57kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 115 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 89% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 39% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
7under 30k miles102under 100k miles13100k 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

40 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $894 – $1,093

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 Sierra 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 Sierra median. How we score

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
10 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 GMC Sierra, 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. THROTTLE STICKINGPE02021 · closed Aug 1, 2002
    No recall
  7. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  8. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379
  9. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
  10. STEERING GEAR/GRAME ATTACHING BOLTSRQ99005 · closed Nov 27, 2001
    Led to recall 98V-242
In owners' words

What Sierra owners report

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL SLIGHTLY WHEN HE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED…
Complaint 10479345 · Oct 9, 2012 · 112,785 miles
WAS APPLYING BRAKE WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LOST ALOT OF BRAKING POWER ALMOST COULD NOT STOP IF NOT FOR EMERGENCY BRAKE TRUCK HAS ONLY BEEN IN SALT 3-4 TIMES I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE 2002 AND IT HAD 40K MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT NOW HAS 84K AND BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED…
Complaint 10452053 · Mar 17, 2012 · 84,000 miles
METAL BRAKE LINE TO REAR WHEELS BURST DUE TO CORROSION. BRAKE WAS LOCATED BEFORE THE SPLIT FOR RIGHT AND LEFT WHEELS. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED SEVERE CORROSION OF OTHER BRAKE LINES AS WELL. *TR
Complaint 10445664 · Jan 28, 2012 · 70,000 miles

Own a 1999 Sierra?

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