Most common 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems
Share of the 74 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 complaints by model year
Best Suburban 1500 years: 1995, 1996, 1997. Years to avoid: 2025, 2023, 2011, 2004, 2007. Compare all years →
What 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 owners say
Brakes all 50 →
The SUV does not stop and the ABS activates when coming to a stop (approximately 5 MPH). I noticed there is GM recall no. 05068 but my model is not included. That is strange because all of the SUV and pickup trucks around that time are included, my model is not. ABS light sometimes is on and sometimes not during these episodes. This safety issue happens periodically over many years with this vehicle.
Brake lines rusted through front passenger side causing minor accident dec 2015 separate incident:: high-pressure fuel line rusted through causing fuel to spray around the front of gas tank area unnoticed for 2 trips. Thankfully no fire resulted.
Steering
The sealtbelt restraint locking system is faulty and this had to have been known during and after vehicle production .the seatbelts with passengers trrdtraunef travels to far forward which would end up in death or very bad head and neck injuries because the seatbelts do not lock when brakes are applied hard or forward momentum is stopped very suddenly! I have tried to cause a lock action by pulling on seatbelts very quickly and forcefully with vehicle sitting parked and also while driving to slam the brakes to cause a fast lock on seatbelts and no affect was apparent to safely restrain adultsadults,children,or even newborns in the car seatseat.this is unsafe and with airbag system in the front driver and passenger side this will lead to death in the event of a crash!
While driving at 55 MPH on dry concrete limited access highway on interstate I-820 southbound, approaching I-30 westbound at interstate interchange, slowed to 50 MPH as turning to right at approximately 30-45 degrees of steering wheel input were applied to start right sweeping turn from tangent direction. ) as desired steering angle was reached, steering angle was unintentionally increased by the power steering system. Vehicle turn rate to the right exceeded the necessary amount and vehicle initiated a turn-in oversteer. Steering angle was reduced, but when re-initiated, the turn-in oversteer recurred. This situation continued to plague this vehicle, today. No repairs have been attempted, since the dealership won't agree that anything is wrong.
Engine & cooling
After I put 55$ worth of gas in the truck it would not start. I waited about 5-10 minutes and it finally started.however,as I was driving,not even 5 miles from the gas station,the vehicle shut off at 45 MPH. I pulled over and kept trying to start the truck. It was cranking but would not start. After about 5-10 minutes truck did start right back up.then,not even another 5 miles the truck shut off again. This time I waited 20 minutes and the truck started right back up.I left it parked for about 5 wks then had the camshaftsensor replaced as well as the fuel pump and the fuel filter replaced,only this time the service engine light was in once these 3 parts were replaced. Service engine light was never on before these issues.ive had it scanned and it read 5 different codes,including the cam shaft sensor,speed sensors on both left and right side along with 2 more that weren't given to me. …
While still accelerating after entering freeway traffic from a gently ascending freeway on ramp, this 1999 Chevrolet Suburban (100K miles) very suddenly began to loose power and shake (not vibrate) violently. Although the engine did not completely stall, the vehicle decelerated very quickly, and there was a clear sensation that power steering and power brakes were becoming inoperable. This was very dangerous, as this freeway on ramp leads directly onto the #1 lane of the freeway, and there was no shoulder. An odbii code scanner indicated code p0300 (multiple cylinder misfire). The vehicle was towed to a GM dealership who advises that a valve stem has broken in cylinder 5. Repairs have been quoted at $2000 to $3000 on a vehicle touted as "heavy duty" who's primary use is taking toddlers school and grocery shopping. The vehicle remains un-repaired because of the cost. …
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 a good car?
Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Suburban 1500 rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Suburban 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500?
The brakes — 50 complaints, 68% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the steering (4) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Suburban 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2023, 2011, 2004 and 2007. See the full Chevrolet Suburban 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 4% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.