VehicleVerdict

1999 GMC Sierra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 721 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 10.8 times the median Sierra year — the 1999 model ranks #1 of 36 Sierra years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 36 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 49% of all reports (355 of 721), far ahead of transmission at 41.

721

NHTSA complaints

9

Recalls

10

Investigations

58

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

36

Injuries

1

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1999 compare to other Sierra years?

See all Sierra years to avoid →

What are the most common 1999 GMC Sierra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes35549%
Transmission416%
Suspension416%
Speed Control406%
Tires & Wheels406%
Body & Structure314%
Fuel System264%
Seats233%
Engine193%
Steering182%
Visibility & Wipers182%
Seat Belts172%
Electrical System142%
Other132%
Airbags122%
Lighting91%
Latches & Locks41%

Does the 1999 GMC Sierra have recalls?

9 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

07E066000Electrical SystemAugust 28, 2007 · 175 units

Defect

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

Consequence

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

Remedy

ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

06V066000Body & StructureMarch 8, 2006 · 805,368 units

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE GALVANIZED-BRAIDED-STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES USED TO SUPPORT THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION. OVER TIME THESE CABLES CAN CORRODE AND FRACTURE WHEN LOADS ARE APPLIED TO THEM.

Consequence

IF ONE CABLE FRACTURES, THE REMAINING CABLE MAY RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURE, THE TAILGATE WOULD DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER. IF ANYONE IS SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THEY COULD FALL AND BE INJURED. ON VEHICLES WITHOUT A BUMPER, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP TO A LOWER POSITION.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GALVANIZED SUPPORT CABLES WITH STAINLESS STEEL SUPPORT CABLES. IN ADDITION, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE TAILGATE HINGE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V379000BrakesAugust 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 units

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V161000BrakesApril 22, 2005 · 90,242 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

04E022000OtherMarch 23, 2004 · 8,000 units

Defect

AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO THE TRUCK BED IS NOT ENGAGING FULLY IN THE STAKE POCKET OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.

Consequence

THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS.

Remedy

DURAKON WILL ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THAT COULD HAVE PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE BEDLINER. IF YOU PURCHASED EITHER A DURAKON ALLSTAR OF PATRIOT OVERRAIL BEDLINER SINCE AUGUST 1, 2003, FOR 1999 TO 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO OR GMC SIERRA TRUCKS, OR PURCHASED ONE OF THESE PICKUP TRUCKS WITH EITHER BRAND BEDLINER ALREADY INSTALLED, YOU SHOULD RETURN TO AN AUTHORIZED DURAKON DEALER SO THAT THE BEDLINER CAN BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIRED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED TOGGLE WING FASTENING SYSTEM, OR IF REQUIRED, REPLACED WITH A NEW BEDLINER FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE CALL THE DURAKON HOTLINE AT 1-800-933-4200 TO FIND THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DURAKON DEALER.

00V345000BrakesOctober 30, 2000 · 1,383,922 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CLEARANCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE AND THE BODY CROSS SILL THAT COULD DECREASE TO THE POINT OF ALLOWING CONTACT DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IF CONTACT OCCURS AND THE BRAKE PIPE BECOMES DAMAGED, IN HALF OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM THERE CAN BE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND PRESSURE. THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP WILL BE ACTIVATED WHEN THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL REACHES THE INDICATOR LIMIT.

Consequence

DURING BRAKING, THE PEDAL WILL BE LOWER THAN NORMAL AND STOPPING DISTANCES WILL BE LONGER. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE FOR WEAR. IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF WEAR, THIS SECTION OF THE BRAKE PIPE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGNED BRAKE PIPE SECTION. IF THERE ARE NOT SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE BRAKE PIPE, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SPACER CLIP TO ENSURE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND THE BODY CROSS SILL.

00X001000BrakesMay 23, 2000 · 777,873 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1/2 TON LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE SET FORTH IN THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR REMOVAL OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER CAN RESULT IN MOVEMENT OF THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE RELATIVE TO ITS KNUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET. IF THIS MOVEMENT RESULTS IN INCREASED LENGTH BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE BANJO FITTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE BRAKE CALIPER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE BRAKE HOSE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL RIM.

Consequence

THIS CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL RIM COULD, IN TIME, CAUSE THE BRAKE HOSE TO BECOME WORN TO THE POINT THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURRED, LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES IS POSSIBLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ATTACH A NOTICE LABEL TO THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES STATING THAT THE CALIPERS MUST BE SUPPORTED WHEN REMOVED.

98V242000SteeringOctober 6, 1998 · 8,367 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON ALL THREE OF THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME ATTACHMENT BOLTS. THE BOLTS CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME ALLOWING THE STEERING GEAR TO MOVE. THIS LOOSENING CAN RESULT IN SOME UNRESPONSIVE STEERING FEEL AND SOME NOISE TO THE DRIVER.

Consequence

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. IF ALL THE BOLTS BREAK OR BACK OUT, THE STEERING GEAR WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME BOLTS TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING TRUCK TO IMPACT SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. RECALLS 00V345000 AND 00X001000 REPAIRS HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR BRAKE RELATED ISSUES, BUT NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO FAILURE OF BRAKE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 6, 2001 · crash

ABS SYSTEM FAILS ON PANIC STOPS. SUDDENLY APPLIED PEDAL PRESSEUR LOCKS BRAKE PEDAL AND PROVIDES LITTLE OR NO BRAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS TYPICAL OF ALL ABS AND THAT I NEED TO TRAIN MYSELF NOT TO JAM THE BRAKES IN AN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 8, 2001 · crash

DT: AT SLOW SPEEDS THERE IS A CLANKING SOUND IN THE BRAKES, AND CAN BE FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL ON THE CONSUMER'S FOOT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · June 28, 2002 · crash

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY AND COASTING ALONG, ENGINE JUST ROARED UP AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. VEHICLE JUMPED OVER LANDSCAPE TIMBERS AND HIT BASEMENT WALL. ALSO, FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP, BUT BACK WHEELS WERE STILL MOVING AND IN MOTION. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · May 20, 2000 · crash

I HAD THREE FLATS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF OWING THE VEHICLE. THE THIRD CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CRASH, RESULTING IN $4,500 BODY DAMAGE. I SENT FIRESTONE THE TIRE, AND THEY WROTE BACK THAT THERE WAS INDEED A BLOWOUT WHICH RESULTED IN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · December 15, 1999 · crash

1999 GMC Sierra — common questions

Is the 1999 GMC Sierra reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 721 complaints put the 1999 model at #1 of 36 Sierra years. It is one of the Sierra years to avoid.

What are the most common 1999 Sierra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (355 complaints), transmission (41 complaints), suspension (41 complaints).

Does the 1999 GMC Sierra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns affecting the 1999 GMC Sierra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1999 GMC Sierra under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 10 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Sierra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sierra years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2001, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 1998, 2004, 1994, 2005, 2014, 1993. The cleanest record among Sierra years belongs to 1979.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.