1999 GMC Sierra

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 GMC Sierra
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, GMC Sierra Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1999 highlighted. 1982: 1 complaints 1982 1983: 2 complaints 1987: 1 complaints 1988: 6 complaints 1989: 16 complaints 1990: 18 complaints 1990 1991: 12 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 72 complaints 1994: 190 complaints 1995: 261 complaints 1995 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 238 complaints 1998: 190 complaints 1999: 600 complaints 1999 2000: 443 complaints 2000 2001: 264 complaints 2002: 249 complaints 2003: 206 complaints 2004: 188 complaints 2005: 117 complaints 2005 2006: 53 complaints 2007: 59 complaints 2008: 68 complaints 2009: 37 complaints 2010: 34 complaints 2010 2011: 43 complaints 2012: 29 complaints 2013: 39 complaints 2014: 101 complaints 2015: 53 complaints 2015 2016: 6 complaints 2017: 61 complaints 2017
1999: 600 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19821
19832
19871
19886
198916
199018
199112
199230
199372
1994190
1995261
1996246
1997238
1998190
1999600
2000443
2001264
2002249
2003206
2004188
2005117
200653
200759
200868
200937
201034
201143
201229
201339
2014101
201553
20166
201761

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 33%

33% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 195 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

ABS BRAKES FAILED WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19991227

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 33 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%

5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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...

NHTSA ODI report, 20120317

SERVICE BRAKES 4%

4% of complaints: service brakes — 25 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. SOMETIME THE NEXT DAY I STARTED UP MY TRUCK AND RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, ALL SEEMED FINE. I THEN RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PROCEED TO BACK UP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130311

BRAKE LINE BURST WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING AND SLOW SPEED CRAWL INTO GARAGE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI report, 20121026

STRUCTURE 4%

4% of complaints: structure — 21 distinct reports on file.

INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19981006 — steering

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 L

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

Campaign 98V242000 — check if this car was fixed

1999 — complaint volume: 600
I 19990511 — RQ (closed 20011127)

STEERING GEAR/GRAME ATTACHING BOLTS

R 20010205 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

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 SI

Campaign 00V345000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20020211 — PE (closed 20020801)

THROTTLE STICKING

I 20020801 — EA (closed 20040112)

THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED

I 20031208 — PE (closed 20040409)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20040219 — EA (closed 20040928)

TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE

R 20040331 — equipment

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 T

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 AU

Campaign 04E022000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040409 — EA (closed 20050510)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20050414 — EA (closed 20060411)

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES

I 20050428 — PE (closed 20050913)

UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION

R 20050729 — parking brake

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

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

Campaign 05V161000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050922 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 RECA

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, REIN

Campaign 05V379000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20051220 — DP (closed 20060531)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

R 20060410 — structure

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 L

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

Campaign 06V066000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070905 — equipment

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 TRAILE

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

Campaign 07E066000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20100330 — PE (closed 20110105)

Brake line corrosion failure

R Date not on file — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Campaign 00X001000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1999 GMC Sierra — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (195 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (33 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (29 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 00X001000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V242000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V345000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04E022000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V161000 (parking brake) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06V066000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E066000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 2000 ■ 2001 ■ 1995

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1999 GMC Sierra reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 GMC Sierra is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC Sierra?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1999 GMC Sierra have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.