MYRModel Year Report

1999 Chevrolet Silverado

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 Chevrolet Silverado
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
1,660
Recalls
17

Campaigns on file for 1999

Investigations
14

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

62% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 15 complaints 1988 1989: 22 complaints 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 69 complaints 1993 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1998: 279 complaints 1999: 1,660 complaints 1999 1,660 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2002: 710 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 2004: 622 complaints 2005: 316 complaints 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2008: 162 complaints 2008 2009: 76 complaints 2010: 62 complaints 2011: 75 complaints 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2016: 5 complaints 2017: 125 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1985 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 15 complaints 1989: 22 complaints 1989 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1992 1993: 69 complaints 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1995 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1998: 279 complaints 1999: 1,660 complaints 1999 1,660 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2001 2002: 710 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2004: 622 complaints 2004 2005: 316 complaints 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2007 2008: 162 complaints 2009: 76 complaints 2010: 62 complaints 2010 2011: 75 complaints 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2016: 5 complaints 2016 2017: 125 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1984 1985: 3 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1987 1988: 15 complaints 1989: 22 complaints 1989 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1991 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 69 complaints 1993 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1995 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1997 1998: 279 complaints 1999: 1,660 complaints 1999 1,660 2000: 1,305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2001 2002: 710 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 2004: 622 complaints 2005: 316 complaints 2005 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2007 2008: 162 complaints 2009: 76 complaints 2009 2010: 62 complaints 2011: 75 complaints 2011 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2015 2016: 5 complaints 2017: 125 complaints 2017

1999: 1,660 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19822
19845
19853
19872
198815
198922
199025
199117
199240
199369
1994210
1995263
1996186
1997272
1998279
19991,660
20001,305
2001877
2002710
2003695
2004622
2005316
2006182
2007183
2008162
200976
201062
201175
201268
201364
2014124
201576
20165
2017125

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

62% · 1,023 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My home is the last one on a dead end road. When applying the brake to turn into the drive, the driver side brake line burst by the caliper. The truck carried my wife, son and myself into a 200 ft. Deep ravine as a result of this.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-04-30

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH she noticed a burning smell and a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-14

I was pulling into a parking place and as I stepped on the brake pedal it moved up and down real fast and it got real hard. The brakes failed to stop. I hit the car. The same exact thing happened to my wife and she hit a handicap sign.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-06-28

Power train

7% · 110 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and driveshaft.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Suspension

7% · 110 reports

Most commonly citing front and rear.

CRASH

Vehicle speed control

6% · 98 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and linkages.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While making a left turn,vehicle suddenly accelerated at a high speed,causing an accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-08-29

While pulling out and making a left turn, the vehicle acclerated at a high speed, hitting another vehicle, none of the air bags deployed on impact.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-08-29

Also filed under Air bags

Tires

5% · 91 reports

Most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

17 recalls · 14 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1998-10-06Steering98V242000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will retorque the steering gear to frame bolts to proper specifications.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    1999Complaint volume 1,660 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. I
    1999-05-11Recall queryClosed 2001-11-27 Steering gear/grame attaching bolts
  4. R
    2001-02-05Service brakes, hydraulic00V345000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2002-02-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-08-01 Throttle sticking
  6. I
    2002-08-01Engineering analysisClosed 2004-01-12 Throttle sticking closed
  7. I
    2003-06-12Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-11-03 Steel wheel rim fracture
  8. I
    2003-10-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-02-19 Tailgate cable breakage
  9. I
    2003-12-08Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-04-09 Parking brake failure
  10. I
    2004-02-19Engineering analysisClosed 2004-09-28 Tailgate cable breakage
  11. R
    2004-03-31Equipment04E022000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. I
    2004-04-09Engineering analysisClosed 2005-05-10 Parking brake failure
  13. I
    2004-09-28Recall queryClosed 2005-04-14 Tailgate support cable breakage
  14. I
    2005-04-14Engineering analysisClosed 2006-04-11 Tailgate support cables
  15. I
    2005-04-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-09-13 Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
  16. R
    2005-07-29Parking brake05V161000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    2005-09-22Service brakes, hydraulic05V379000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. I
    2005-12-20Defect petitionClosed 2006-05-31 Parking brake failure
  19. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  20. R
    2006-04-10Structure06V066000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  21. R
    2006-05-10Exterior lighting06E042000 Certain eagle eyes replacement headlamps, model nos. GM159-B001L and GM159-B001R, sold for use on 1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado model vehicles. The headlamps fail to conform to the photometric…

    Remedy: Sabry lee will notify owners and issue full credit. The recall began on May 10, 2006. Owners may contact sabry lee at 1-866-467-2279.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  22. R
    2006-07-10Exterior lighting06E057000 Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 332-1182L-as and 332-1182R-as, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for 1999-2000 Chevrolet silverados. These headlamps fail to conform to…

    Remedy: Maxzone will notify owners and offer for reimbursement any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on July 10, 2006. Owners may contact maxzone at 909-822-3288.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  23. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  24. R
    2006-08-31Exterior lighting06E075000 Certain guide replacement headlamps, p/nos. 16526133 and 16526134, manufactured from January 1 to July 11, 2006, sold for use on my 1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup trucks. The headlamp fail to…

    Remedy: Guide corporation will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006. Owners may contact guide at 248-874-0355.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  25. R
    2007-09-05Equipment07E066000 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…

    Remedy: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  26. R
    2008-02-07Wheels07E106000 Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between January 23, 2006…

    Remedy: Federal-mogul will notify customers and will replace the hub assembly free of charge. The recall began on February 7, 2008. Owners can contact federal-mogul toll-free at 877-489-6659.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  27. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

    Remedy: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  28. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  29. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  30. I
    2010-03-30Preliminary evaluationClosed 2011-01-05 Brake line corrosion failure
  31. I
    2011-01-05Engineering analysisClosed 2015-04-08 Brake line corrosion failure
  32. R
    Date not on fileService brakes, hydraulic00X001000 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.

    Remedy: Dealers will attach a notice label to the front brake hoses stating that the calipers must be supported when removed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1999 Chevrolet Silverado — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 1,023 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 110 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 110 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 00X001000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 98V242000 · Steering
  • Recall 00V345000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 04E022000 · Equipment
  • Recall 05V161000 · Parking brake
  • Recall 05V379000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06V066000 · Structure
  • Recall 06E042000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E057000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E075000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E066000 · Equipment
  • Recall 07E106000 · Wheels
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 62% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado have?
17 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.