Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
As I turned into the driveway, the brakes pushed all the way to the floor and the ABS system kicked in (on dry pavement). Vehicle was not stopping so I ran it into the frame of the garage door to stop, otherwise I would have ran through the garage door. The shop could not determine why the ABS light stayed on. Brake lines were totally rusted. Truck has a good engine, but terrible rust on brake lines, frame, lower body panel behind doors. Paint pealing off hood and roof.
While braking hard for an animal in the roadway, the brake system failed. The brake pedal, when applied suddenly and hard, went to the floor. The brakes were ineffective at stopping the vehicle. The animal was struck. An inspection revealed that the front to rear brake line had rusted and burst. Further inspection revealed very rusty brake lines which appear ready to fail in many locations.
Pulling into driveway at my brother's house and brake line rusted through causing my to on this downhill grade run into another vehicle at his house. Damaged the bumper and grill on my truck and his bumper and hood of his car in an olds alero. Replacing all brake lines with stainless steel and not repairing the damaged parts due to GM being cheap on such a vital part.
Had to have all the brake lines replaced. The lines burst due to them all being rusted out and corroded. I have a 1994 Toyota pick up truck with more miles than my 1999 Chevy Silverado and the brake lines are not rusted or corroded go figure! I was approaching a traffic light and when I applied the brakes, the brake peddle went all the way down to the floor. I pulled over and looked under the truck and saw a puddle of brake fluid on the ground underneath the drivers door and gas tank. I had the vehicle towed to the local Chevrolet dealer and all the brake lines were replaced for $1066.33. I was charge for 8 hours of labor. …
While towing a heavy trailer at 30 MPH, I attempted to stop at a red light. With no brake warning light, the brake pedal went to the floor and I had no braking whatever. I stomped on the emergency brake and nothing happened. I was able to take a hard right turn to avoid a collision and coasted to a stop. Looking down, there was a trail of brake fluid leading to a large puddle under the driver's door. Looking under the truck revealed that incredibly rusted brakes lines had burst, draining the entire contents of the fluid reservoir. Closer inspection showed that every foot of brake line under the truck was in similar condition! After towing it home, I discover why the e-brake failed; the cable was rusted solid. I had to order a complete brake line kit and spent the entire weekend replacing them. …
While coming down a hill to a red light, I applied my brakes and the brake went to the floor. As it went to the floor I heard a noise, turned my wheel to advoid hitting the car infront of me, I ran over a speed limit sign, only to miss a building by appling the parking brake. I was only going 25mph. A cop behind me heard the pop and stop to see if we (me, my fiance and child) were alright. When I talk to my mechanic, he said there has been alot of reports of the break lines failing in the Silverado. That most of his other clients that have had this problem call a Chevy dealer and they either paid for the repairs or given up to $500 to the repairs. I call jba Chevrolet in glen burnie maryland, and they stated that they are unware of such a problem and refuse to look into or help in the repair. I have read of the concerns/reports of others and I am wondering why there is not a recall. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received a recall notice in 2006 regarding NHTSA campaign id number 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock). The dealer removed the wheel speed sensor and thoroughly cleaned the wheel speed sensor mounting surface on the bearing; however, the failure recurred. While pulling into a parking space at 5 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop because the ABS engaged. The contact crashed the vehicle into a brick wall. There were no injuries. The vehicle was driven to an auto center and the mechanic pulled the fuse from the antilock brake. The failure is intermittent. The contact was informed that the hub assembly needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they stated that she would be responsible for the repair costs because the vehicle was previously repaired according to the recall. …
I was slowing down to drive around a sharp bend, when I pressed on my brake pedal and it dropped to the floor. I then down shifted, but could not stop. Before my truck plummeted down a wooded hill ( the hill being approx 50-60 yards long) I jumped from my truck, but got caught between my truck and a stationary vehicle. I was then crushed, as my truck proceeded to plummet down the hill. This all causing the stationary car to have scrapes, and a dent where my body was, and causing severe bruising, swelling and abrasions of my upper legs, hips, and buttock, and I was unable to walk for 3 days after the incident because of leg weakness, every time I would put weight on my right leg it would give out, and cause a severe shooting pain up my leg into my lower back, and was unable to work for a week.
While driving on a freeway in heavy traffic three vehicles in front of me came to a sudden stop, two of them moved to the left. I had plenty of time to stop and when I pressed the brake pedal my brakes started working normally. As I got closer, about two car lengths, I lost braking power and sped up as if I had hit an icy patch in the road. I went to the right and hit the vehicle in front of me in the right rear quarter. At this point I coasted to a stop on the shoulder. When I was able to check out my truck I found a lot of brake fluid in the right front wheel well area that appeared to have come from the metal brake line which was rusty. The truck was so heavily damaged I could not get a picture or see the hole in the line. The air bags did not go off. The truck was totaled.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed without a response. The vehicle continued to accelerate and crashed into the rear of the proceeding vehicle and it was driven off the road into a grassy field. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle sustained minor damage to the front bumper and undercarriage. The vehicle was not repaired. There was an open investigation, NHTSA action number ea11001 (service brakes, hydraulic: foundation hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000. The driver of the other vehicle filed a repair and personal injury claim against the consumer. Updated 08/30/12
NHTSA investigations
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake…
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated April 20, 2005, GM notified NHTSA that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to GM, some of these vehicles May have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an…
Brake complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 373 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 64% of the model year's 587 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (75 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 108,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 27 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries and 1 death to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.