Most common 1999 GMC Silverado problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Silverado complaints by model year
Best Silverado years: 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1999. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1999 GMC Silverado:
Tailgate support cable breakage
Odi is upgrading rq04-010 and opening an engineering analysis to further investigate the tailgate support cables installed in 1998, 1999, and partial year 2000 silverados and sierras (c/k models).general motors is conducting recall campaign 04v-129 to replace the tailgate support cables originally installed in certain model year 2000 - 2004 sierras and silverados.general motors has advised odi that the materials…
Unwanted low-speed ABS activation
In a letter dated August 29, 2005, GM notified odi that it was recalling certain model year 1999 through 2002 c/k pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles to correct a problem with anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensor corrosion that May result in unwanted ABS activation and extended stopping distances during low-speed braking (recall 05v-379).GM's recall covers approximately 804,000 vehicles currently…
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…
Tailgate support cables
General motors is conducting a safety recall to remove and replace the tailgate support cables installed in 805,368 model year 1999 and 2000 gmt 800 model vehicles.the model year 1999 and 2000 gmt-800 series vehicles that will be campaigned had contributed a significant majority of the total complaints (87%) and injuries (79%) associated with the tailgate support cable breakage in the model year 1998 - 2000 c/k…
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…
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
What 1999 GMC Silverado owners say
Brakes
Failure of ABS control module . The failure occurred when the consumer first started the vehicle. The ABS light came on and the ABS pump/brake modulation system started running. The pump continued to run when I turned off the ignition. The consumer then disconnected the battery to stop the pump from running. When the consumer reconnected the battery, the pump started running again. The repair shop diagnosed the problem as being caused by a defective ebc control module (pn 88982286). Consumer feels this could result in a possible loss of brakes. Consumer has the defective part.
While driving throttle stuck wide open, causing loss of vehicle control. Applied brakes and vehicle continued to accelerate. Put vehicle in neutral to gain control. The dealer replaced the throttle valve body for second time, but it appears the dealer has failed to determine the cause.
Speed control & acceleration
Whenever at a complete stop consumer had to tap on gas pedal so th at vehicle won't accelerate to fast. But when doing this, pedal got stuck, and rearended other vehicle in front of him. Consumer has contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.
While driving throttle stuck wide open, causing loss of vehicle control. Applied brakes and vehicle continued to accelerate. Put vehicle in neutral to gain control. The dealer replaced the throttle valve body for second time, but it appears the dealer has failed to determine the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 GMC Silverado a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Silverado rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado at the same age. It is one of the Silverado years we suggest avoiding. 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 GMC Silverado?
The brakes — 10 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the speed control & acceleration (4) and seat belts (1).
How many recalls does the 1999 GMC Silverado have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 GMC Silverado. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Silverado?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999. See the full GMC Silverado years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 GMC Silverado problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 10,000 miles; 100% 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.