Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chevrolet Silverado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, he dozed off as the vehicle drifted off to the right shoulder of the highway. The contact regained alertness once the vehicle drove over the highway's rumble strip. As the contact attempted to regain control of the vehicle; the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact's face smashed into the steering wheel as both the driver's seat belt shoulder strap and the driver's air bag failed to operate as needed. Moments after smashing his head into the steering, the contact stated that the air bag deployed with a delay which caused severe cuts to the contact's face. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was treated for multiple severe injuries. …
Emergency brake failed three times. The consumer contacted the manufacturer. While driving consumer tried to down shift and the vehicle would not go into gear. The brakes locked up and the anti-lock braking system did not work. The emergency brakes also failed to work causing the driver to hit a tree. The driver or passenger side air bag did deployed. The driver's seat ejected off of the floor with the driver strapped into the seat. The vehicle had caught on fire upon the side impact. Consumer has had trouble shifting threes times previously and the transmission along with the clutch had been replaced once before.
My air bag did not activate and in a direct front end collision. The sun setting blinded me and I hit directly the rear of the car in front of me and it's airbag deployed and the chain reaction of the two cars in front of the car I hit airbags deplowed. GM said my airbag was not defective and I asked to have it checked two times. It should have deployed and it did not. I was not wearing a seat belt and I suffered head injuries. I sold truck because I did not want to die next failure.
Consumer was traveling at approximately 60 MPH under wet rainy conditions when control of the vehicle was lost. Consumer applied brakes and vehicle slid into a jersey wall head-on. Driver's and passenger's air bags failed to deploy. Dealership has not looked at vehicle to determine reason that air bags failed to deploy. Allstate insurance company was currently in possession of vehicle. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
While traveling 35-40 MPH on a bridge without prior warning backend of vehicle began to fishtail ,causing vehicle to lose control. Consumer released foot from gas to correct vehicle steering. Vehicle was unresponsive, resulting in a frontal collison with a jersey wall. Upon impact, passenger airbags failed to deploy, engine was pushed six inches under the dash. Consumer has yet to contact dealer. Driver was injured in accident.
While driving 45 MPH vehicle collided head on into a Jeep cherokee. Air bags failed to deploy upon impact. Thornton Chevrolet in lithia springs seemed to think that air bags didn't go off due to the angle of impact. Estimated extent of damage was $9,000. Consumer was aware of Chevrolet 2000's that were being recalled for preventive air bag deployment. Please describe details.
While driving approximately 20 MPH driver lost control of the vehicle and it crashed into a brick wall. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained major injuries, and was transported to the hospital by a helicopter. The vehicle was towed to a garage for inspection.
1999 Chevrolet Silverado faulty driver restraint system. The vehicle was involved in an accident. The safety belt failed to the restrain the driver, and the air bag did not deploy. The driver received serious head injuries. (lawyer john kelly on behalf of client, james scott).
Vehicle was involved in a 40 MPH frontal collision in which driver and passenger air bags did not deploy, cause unknown. Also, front end of vehicle was totalled/ damaged, unknown if air bag sensors were actually hit in the collision. Seat belts failed during the accident.
Driver hit a stopped vehicle on the interstate at approximately 60 MPH. Occupant of stalled vehicle was killed and our airbags did not deploy. We felt that it should have deployed and GMC is arguing that it should not have. Any information about airbags would be appreciated.
Airbag complaints in other Silverado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, 2% of the model year's 1,660 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet Silverado airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, though it has 5 recalls for other components. 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 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 160,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 29 crashes, 1 fire and 23 injuries to air bags 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.