Most common 1999 GMC Suburban problems
Share of the 285 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Suburban complaints by model year
Best Suburban years: 2001, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 1999, 1995, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
1999 GMC Suburban recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: Dealers will install a tray insert on the top of the passenger side of the instrument panel. The tray insert corrects the noncompliance.
What 1999 GMC Suburban owners say
Brakes all 123 →
Tl contact owns a 1999 GMC Suburban. While driving 1-5 MPH, the ABS activated without cause or warning when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the stopping distance increased. On another occasion, while driving 2 MPH, the contact's wife depressed the brake pedal and the ABS activated without warning and crashed into another vehicle. As of December 17, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic: antilock). The failure mileage was 92,500 and current mileage was 93,000. Updated 03/14/08. There was damage to either vehicle, no information was exchanged.
We own a 1999 GMC Suburban . We are the original owners of this vehicle which has never (til this time) been in a crash. On perfectly dry pavement, the brakes malfunction while coming to a stop. It sounds and feel like the antilock brakes are pulsating and greatly reduces my braking capability which is extremely dangerous. This occurs while coming to a stop from a speed of approximately 5-10 MPH. I respectfully request that an immediate repair be performed and be paid for by GM as quickly as possible. Kindly contact me as soon as possible as we transport our children and other adults on many occasions. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Wheels & tires all 30 →
Coming back home from a trip to niagra fall, our GMC Suburban 1999 rolled over 5 times. One of the tire (driver side front) exploded and right rear back tire shredded. Which caused truck to rollover. We were in little falls, were taken to st. Elizabeth hospital in utica. Our oldest daughter 11 got the most injuries. She has gotten 60 stitches on her face etc. Air bags of the vehicle did not deploy. Wondering why ????
Tread separated from the tire and damaged the vehicale. I have photographs of the tire and the tread. I also have one of the orginal tires left on the spare rim. GM will not repair the damage because they said they need the old tire. I was 3000 miles from home and had to purchase new tires to get home I had to keep a good tire for the spare not the blown tire.
Engine & cooling all 24 →
You'll be driving down the road the brakes will be working just fine then they'll just all sudden go out and then it backfires and blows it blows up a big cloud of fire out of the motor and that's the GMC 1999 Suburban four-wheel drive 7.4 l
Vehicle engine will intermittently stall or cut out at highway speeds. This condition occurs approximately once or twice a month under varied driving conditions. The vehicle will restart immediately after stalling. Several times when this has occurred, the service engine light will come on, but it will turn off after 20-30 miles of driving. This has been occurring for over a year now, I have taken the vehicle to three GM dealerships, and they claim they cannot replicate the problem. They have replaced the fuel pump at my expense, and the catalytic converter under warranty. I have also taken the vehicle to two independent shops for the same problem and they have also not been able to replicate the problem or offer a solution, other than replacing the basic components (spark plugs , plug wires, fule filter etc), which I have had done.. …
1999 GMC Suburban 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 GMC Suburban a good car?
Based on 285 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Suburban rates avoid: 4.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Suburban at the same age. It is one of the Suburban 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 Suburban?
The brakes — 123 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the wheels & tires (30) and engine & cooling (24).
How many recalls does the 1999 GMC Suburban have?
There is 1 recall for the 1999 GMC Suburban, the most recent from April 27, 2000 (webbing). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Suburban?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1995, 1997 and 1996. See the full GMC Suburban years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 GMC Suburban problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 21% 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.