Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 35 MPH hauling a trailer, the front and rear brake hydraulic lines failed. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by using the brakes on the trailer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact, an experienced mechanic, diagnosed and replaced the brake lines. On a separate occasion while driving 50 MPH, a plastic component of the driver's seat fractured and caused the seat to slide back and forth into the steering wheel. The failure was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 58,000. The VIN was not available.
The drivers side seat "adjuster" that retains the front seat position when the rear seat has been accessed, failed, resulting in the inability of the drivers seat to remain in a fixed position. This condition allows the drivers seat to slide back and forth depending on accelerating or braking. The part is a white plastic (most likely polypropylene based), and is not of sufficient strength for it's job. Plastics tend to get brittle with age and this May be part of the problem. Even though this failure occurred while I was stationary, accessing the rear seat area, when I did attempt to park the vehicle in my driveway, knowing full well the seat was not secure, the very slightest touch on the brake pedal sent me flying forward and I banged my knee on the dashboard! …
Adjusting front driver seat when adjusting lock broke sending seat sliding forward. Seat will not lock just slides back and forth when driving. Since safety belt restraint is in the seat and not bolted to the actually frame of truck seat slides back and forth during braking and acceleration. Not safe to drive until fixed. The broken piece is a three inch piece of plastic. I really don't feel safe now in knowing that the only thing restraining me from crashing into the steering wheel and into a inflating airbag during a front crash is a piece of plastic that could and will at any time break for no apparent reason except for the fact that Chevrolet has a design flaw and still does not feel they should issue a recall to have this replaced with something that would provide more security than a piece of plastic. …
Inner seat adjuster on driver's side broke on my '99 chev Silverado extended cab truck, having 34,000 miles, allowing seat to move forward and backward on rails without restriction. Seat belt is part of seat thereby resulting in the driver to be moving forward and backward on seat rails without restriction. Seat of course does stop in the further most backward and forward ends of seat rail. Chev dealer lists part as "inner adjuster" part #14691. The part is sold as a whole according to the dealer and retails at about $149.00. What appeared to break was a plastic piece that fits in the rail and which would seem to be the part that halts the seat in the position chosen by the occupant. I still have the broken piece as recovered from my floor board. I had been having problems for a week or so with the seat not moving forward and backward when attempted by adjustment lever. …
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.
Drivers seat locking mechanism broke. When brakes were applied, driver was thrust against steering wheel. Seatbelts do not help as they are attached to the seat. Seat slides forward and backward freely. I feel this is a severe safety concern due to the fact that you cannot control the vehicle when you are unable to stop the seat from flying you forward. The locking mechanism should never break. The Chevrolet dealer calls this a seat adjuster, but is a piece of plastic that has the locking pin in it. A piece of plastic to hold a seat in its place is totally stupid.
Front drivers seat will not slide all the way back after you have tilted it forward and put it back. It seems to hang and not move backward until you play around with it. Then the seat will not lock in place when you make an adjustment, then you have to kind of force it into a locked position. Also the seat rail has looseness in it. It fails every time you make a seat adjustment.
Driver's seat is no longer working properly. When the gas pedal is depressed seat slides backwards. When the brakes are depressed, the seat would slide forward. Consumer has made an appointment with the dealer to examine the problem. This problem has happened numerous times in the past six months.
Plastic seat-locking device on driver side seat broke in half inside rail causing the seat to slide back and forth without any restriction thereby preventing the seat from locking into position. Had noticed several times that the chair had difficulty lokcing when seat was adjusted to gain access to back seat.
While driving home in my 1999 Silverado with manual control seats, I had an uncommanded release of the driver seat while braking. Upon investigation a part of the seat was found broken off and laying in the seat track. There was no adjustments performed to the seat prior to the failure occurring.
Seat complaints in other Silverado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the seats of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado, 3% of the model year's 1,660 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › recliner (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet Silverado seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats 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 seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 6 injuries to seats 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.