AI Damage1999 Chevrolet Sierra: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Chevrolet Sierra filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 64% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 18% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (64% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (27% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Dt: the brakes failed on september 8, 2005, causing the vehicle to hit a concrete pole. The consumer was not injured. There was recall 05v379000 concerning abs brakes. When the consumer contacted the dealer, they told him that they had no recall information as of yet.
Dt: contact stated abs brakes were not working correctly. While traveling under 10 mph they were activating, making the braking very hard, almost causing an accident. Contact noticed a problem with the brakes almost one year and a half ago. He pulled the fuse. Has been waiting on a recall.
Problems with steering shaft, driver door speaker, accelerator pedal, noise from rear end of vehicle,etc. The consumer was dissatisfied with the countless amounts of problems that occurred with the vehicle and no longer wanted to lease the vehicle. Please respond promptly in helping resolve matters.
Dealer replaced the module sensor indicating that four wheel light was on at very low mileage. Cost $100, deductible to the consumer.
Dealer replaced the positive battery cable which was broke n at the terminal at very low mileage. Cost $198, deductible to the consumer.
The dealer replaced the front seat belts at a very low mileage. Cost $100 deductible to the consumer. The alr caused the retractor to constantly lock up. The dealer replaced the retractors when the vehicle was brand new without the consumer bringing the vehicle in for this issue.
The driver's seat did not lock into place, which caused the seat to move back and forth.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,520 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sierra has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 11, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Sierra?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (9%), won't start (9%), knocking, grinding or other noise (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Chevrolet Sierra?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Chevrolet Sierra from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.