Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Owners filed 587 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA between Nov 1998 and Oct 2023. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (220).
Complaints
587
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
43
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
23
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic220
- Service brakes126
- Structure52
- Seats30
- Suspension28
- Power train26
- Electrical system25
- Air bags19
- Vehicle speed control18
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Parking brake14
- Steering13
- Tires12
- Service brakes, air12
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
21
28
26
26
20
19
25
34
26
24
21
64
47
40
38
57
30
7
12
10
3
0
2
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 26 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2011 | 47 |
| 2012 | 40 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 57 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
220 reports16 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS IN FIRST GEAR WERE SHATTERED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Service brakes
126 reports10 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 800 (1500). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SEIZED ABRUPTLY AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST STRUCK A TREE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER BEING NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE NUMBER WAS PROVIDED. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. JEFF BARNES CHEVROLET (6110 SYKESVILLE RD, ELDERSBURG, MD 21784, (410) 970-6363) MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR PROMPTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Structure
52 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that there was a gap between the cab and the bed of the vehicle, and that the subframe of the vehicle was corroded. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact did not believe that the diagnostic result was not relative to the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that there were rust spots underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.”
Seats
30 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PLASTIC ROLLERS WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEATS TO MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.”
Suspension
28 reports
“The frame and suspension has overly corroded. The frame is falling apart so bad that when I shut the driver's door chunks of metal fall to the ground. I've had it assessed and they say it should not be this bad. Even in Michigan”
Power train
26 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE GEAR BOX TO THE FRAME HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE DEALER (COOPER CHEVROLET BUICK, 1300 S QUINTARD AVE, ANNISTON, AL 36201, (256) 405-4155) STATED THAT THE BOLTS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE TORQUED TOO TIGHTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TT UPDATED 12/07/18*JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.