1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report brake problems, and the dominant theme is corroded steel brake lines that leak or rupture and leave the pedal going to the floor, frequently on trucks driven in road-salt states. A second, smaller group of complaints describes the ABS engaging at low speed or an ABS light coming on, and others mention rust in the frame and underbody, seats that no longer lock in place, and a fuel gauge that reads erratically. Most reports arrive well past 80,000 miles, though line corrosion is sometimes noticed at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Rusted-through brake lines / pedal to the floor

   • 238 complaints (41%)
   • median 122,009 mi at 13.3 yrs old (216 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,033 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2019

   Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor with little or no warning, often when stopping normally at a light, in a driveway, or on a downgrade. Inspection usually finds a hard steel line corroded through and leaking fluid, most often near the ABS unit or along the frame rail under the driver's side. Owners say shops replaced single sections or the whole set of lines, sometimes with stainless replacements, and several note the lines looked badly corroded elsewhere even after one repair. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 270,000 miles, most commonly above 80,000 miles and often on trucks used in salt-road climates.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the steel brake lines inspected along their full length, especially around the ABS unit and above the rear axle, and ask whether any have been replaced and with what material. A fluid leak, wet spots, or heavy scaling on the lines is a reason to budget for replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 chevy silverado, that had brake failure. I pressed the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. There was a leak in a rusted brake line next to the ABS module. All of the lines look very corroded and the whole undercarriage looks very corroded. I was going to replace the brake line myself, but all of the lines are so rusted, I don't know if I can.”

   NHTSA complaint #10343744, filed 2010-07, 135,540 miles

   “When pulling up to a stop light at a congested intersection, I applied the brakes and the pedal went clear to the floor. After inspection I noticed I had a broken break line. Upon closer inspection it appeared that several were very corroded and appear ready to break at any given time. The truck is not a daily driver and I average less than 8,000 miles a year on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10432288, filed 2011-10, 111,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed or ABS light stays on

   • 152 complaints (26%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (108 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $987 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners describe the ABS kicking in during ordinary low-speed stops, which they say lengthens stopping distance, or an ABS warning light that stays on with an accompanying noise. Some mention the ABS module or a wheel-speed sensor bearing being replaced, sometimes more than once, and some say the symptom returned after dealer cleaning of the sensor mounting surface. Spread from about 40,000 to over 190,000 miles; several reports involve stops below 5 mph.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS light has come on and whether the module or wheel-speed sensors have been serviced. A test drive with several slow, firm stops can show whether the ABS is triggering when it shouldn't.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1999 Chevrolet 1500 z71 has had numerous ABS failures. A few very close calls. The dealer or mechanic haven't heard of a recall. I understand that the ABS module is telling the system that one wheel is slowing down as if a skid erroneously which activates the ABS taking the driver out of the equation. Sombodys going to die. Please forward any info to the e-mail address I listed . Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053232, filed 2004-01, 40,618 miles

   “I have a 1999 chevy silverado ext cab 4wd. When I am coming to a stop and almost stopped the antilock brakes start going off! Its very scary because it increases my stop time considerably ! It is almost definitely going to cause me to be in an accident! My mileage is roughly 160000. The problem does not get worse or better and it happens at almost every stop!! This is a year that wasn't involved in the recall and definitely should of been! Please help before it causes injury to me,my family,or somebody else!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10396806, filed 2011-04, 160,283 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe heavy corrosion on the frame, subframe, and lower body panels, in some cases with rust holes found when a shop lifted the truck. Owners also mention corrosion around the cab-to-bed gap and on underbody components, and say dealers either declined to act or that no repair was made. Reported from very low mileage up to about 230,000 miles, with most examples on trucks used in salt-road areas.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look closely at the frame rails, cab corners, and the area above the rear axle for flaking or holes, and ask where the truck was driven and whether the underbody was washed in winter.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 SILVERADO 1500 I had the brake lines replaced in july 2014 because of corrosion. Then yesterday november 4th 2014 I had the truck to a shop getting tires put on and when they started to lift it the rear end started to sag. They let it down and noticed rust holes in the frame. This truck is not safe to drive and GM needs to post a recall on these problems!”

   NHTSA complaint #10652654, filed 2014-11, 220,800 miles

   “I was slowing down to drive around a sharp bend, when I pressed on my brake pedal and it dropped to the floor. I then down shifted, but could not stop. Before my truck plummeted down a wooded hill ( the hill being approx 50-60 yards long) I jumped from my truck, but got caught between my truck and a stationary vehicle. I was then crushed, as my truck proceeded to plummet down the hill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10524202, filed 2013-07, 150,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel gauge reads erratically

   • 36 complaints (6%)
   • median 129,486 mi at 11.9 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2018

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge swinging between full and empty, the low-fuel light coming on and off, and the gauge dropping to empty right after filling. Owners attribute it to the fuel level sending unit or module assembly and mention that the repair is costly enough that some have not had it done; a few report repeated fuel pump replacements. Reported from about 50,000 to 160,000 miles, in some cases appearing within the first several years of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Watch the gauge through a fill-up and a partial tank, and ask whether the sending unit or fuel pump has been replaced. Note that the odometer or trip meter can be used as a backup for fuel planning if the gauge is unreliable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hi I have an 1999 chevy pick up short bed 5.3 I have had three fuel pumps put in and my gas gauge does not work nor does my odometer have everyone have this problem is it just mine I work at brahler oil and lube and 3 out of 10 chevy trucks have the same problem is there anything that can be done ? 500 is alot for a fix that does not work for that long and have another question my tail gate strap's broke the tail gate fell down and dented the gate what can I do about this ?”

   NHTSA complaint #10266442, filed 2009-04, 57,000 miles

   “Several years ago my fuel gauge began acting up. It would flip quickly to the no gas position periodically and then flip back several minutes later. The low fuel light would go off and on. When I fill the truck up it always flips to the empty position and then begins it's back and forth flipping. I have trained everyone in my family to always reset the mileage indicator and watch it carefully to insure they don't run out of gas. I've had numerous cars over the years (honda for 20 years) and have never experienced a problem like this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10273305, filed 2009-06, 85,000 miles

Buying note. On a truck this age, the brake lines and frame are the places to look first: a corroded line that gives way without warning is the most common theme in owner complaints, and frame rust is reported as well. A pre-purchase inspection on a lift, plus service records showing what brake work has already been done, is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.