1999 GMC Sierra
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.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1989 | 16 |
| 1990 | 18 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1992 | 30 |
| 1993 | 72 |
| 1994 | 190 |
| 1995 | 261 |
| 1996 | 246 |
| 1997 | 238 |
| 1998 | 190 |
| 1999 | 600 |
| 2000 | 443 |
| 2001 | 264 |
| 2002 | 249 |
| 2003 | 206 |
| 2004 | 188 |
| 2005 | 117 |
| 2006 | 53 |
| 2007 | 59 |
| 2008 | 68 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2011 | 43 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 101 |
| 2015 | 53 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 61 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
33% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 195 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURYShow 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
6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 33 distinct reports on file.
5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 29 distinct reports on file.
CRASHShow 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
4% of complaints: service brakes — 25 distinct reports on file.
CRASHShow 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
4% of complaints: structure — 21 distinct reports on file.
INJURYSAFETY TIMELINE
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
STEERING GEAR/GRAME ATTACHING BOLTS
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
THROTTLE STICKING
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE
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
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
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
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
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
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
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
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
Brake line corrosion failure
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
WORST YEARS
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.