1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 center heavily on the brakes, and they split into two patterns: the anti-lock system engaging when it shouldn't at low speeds, and rusted-through metal brake lines that lead to a pedal going to the floor. Both are described most often on higher-mileage trucks, though low-speed ABS activation is also reported well under 100,000 miles. The rest of the sample covers jammed door locks and intermittent fuel or steering faults.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS activates at low speed, longer stopping distance

   • 32 complaints (43%)
   • median 94,500 mi at 8.8 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2015

   Owners describe the anti-lock brakes kicking in while they are rolling to a stop, usually below about 10 mph on dry pavement, with the pedal pulsing or vibrating and the truck continuing to roll a few feet before it stops. Many say they found a recall covering the same symptom on later model years and that they were told their vehicle identification number was not included; some report dealerships cleaned or replaced wheel speed sensors without curing the problem, and a few removed the ABS fuse. Others say they were told the issue was related to vehicle age and mileage. Reported from roughly 20,000 to over 200,000 miles, most often around 75,000-130,000 miles, mostly in low-speed stopping on dry roads.

   What to check: On a test drive, brake gently from a walking pace on dry pavement and see whether the pedal pulses or the truck keeps rolling; ask whether the wheel speed sensors or hubs were ever cleaned or replaced, and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The SUV does not stop and the ABS activates when coming to a stop (approximately 5 MPH). I noticed there is GM recall no. 05068 but my model is not included. That is strange because all of the SUV and pickup trucks around that time are included, my model is not. Abs light sometimes is on and sometimes not during these episodes. This safety issue happens periodically over many years with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10759580, filed 2015-08, 215,000 miles

   “1) while stopping, an unwanted activation of the ABS system occurred at approximately 8 MPH. 2) our vehicle almost crashed into back of vehicle in front of us because our vehicle did not stop in the expected distance. 3) dealer cleaned ABS sensors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10176213, filed 2006-12, 75,995 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted metal brake lines leaking fluid

   • 11 complaints (15%)
   • median 146,255 mi at 12.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners report the brake pedal suddenly feeling spongy or dropping to the floor, sometimes with little or no warning light, after a steel brake line rusts through and leaks fluid. Several describe finding fluid under the vehicle near a line running front to rear or to a rear wheel, and one mentions smoke from a front wheelwell. According to the complaints, dealers replaced the corroded lines, and some owners also noted corrosion on fuel line fittings. Mostly reported between about 59,000 and 232,000 miles, often on trucks driven in road-salt states and frequently at 100,000 miles or more.

   What to check: Have the metal brake lines along the frame and above the rear axle inspected for rust and weeping before buying, and check brake fluid level; ask whether any lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started up my 1999 chevy suburban in my driveway this afternoon and the brake pedal went to the floor. I opened the hood and noticed brake fluid splattered all over the area below the master cylinder and all over the ground. I discovered that the line to the left front wheel rusted to the point of failure. I checked the other brake lines and they are badly corroded. This truck has never left me stranded in 13 years. I do not want to see it go, but this may be the end. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10432794, filed 2011-10, 220,320 miles

   “July 21, 2010 my 1999 Chevrolet suburban's brakes failed under normal usage at a traffic light, resulting in extreme loss of brake effectiveness. It was safely parked without injury or accident. A brake line failed draining the brake fluid. The rest of the braking system has been maintained and was in working order. The burst failure of the hydraulic brake tubing was due to corrosion. The vehicle has 201,400 miles, mostly in the louisville area, which is not an aggressive corrosion environment. I had it towed to a Chevrolet dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10348746, filed 2010-08, 201,400 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door locks jam, door won't open from inside

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 138,000 mi at 14.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2018

   Owners describe a door, often a rear passenger or driver door, that will no longer open from the inside or outside because the lock or latch assembly has jammed or frozen in the locked position. Some say the power lock actuators fail repeatedly and that the window has to be rolled down to reach the outside handle; others mention loose rivets in the lock assembly catching the window. According to complaints, dealers quoted replacement of the actuators and latch assemblies. Reported from roughly 90,000 to 200,000 miles, often after several years of use rather than at low mileage.

   What to check: Open and close every door from both inside and outside handles, work each power lock repeatedly, and ask whether any actuators or latches have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About once every 7-8 months the power door locks on my 1999 Chevrolet suburban k1500 fail. When this occurs the doors do not open from the inside or from the outside at times. In case of a fire or accident you can remain trapped inside. I have replaced them several times. The five actuators from AC delco take turns going bad. I have replaced them at least 2x in the two years I have owned the truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #10359906, filed 2010-10, 131,000 miles

   “I am unable to open my door from inside the vehicle (1999 Chevrolet suburban) it appears that whatever mechanism is inside the door itself is broken (I.e., whatever holds connects the handle to the opening mechanism. I have to open my window every single time in order to reach outside of the car and open it from the outside. No repairs have been made to date since I can't afford a body shop repair bill.”

   NHTSA complaint #10265289, filed 2009-04, 140,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Stalling or no-start from fuel and sensor faults

   • 13 complaints (18%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2015

   Owners report the engine cutting out at speed or refusing to restart after refueling, sometimes restarting after a short wait, and one diesel owner describes stalling on inclines with injectors and pump replaced, after which the problem returned. Another complaint describes a melted, arcing wire connection inside the fuel tank at the pump. Some owners describe a security-system fault that blocks fuel and prevents starting. Reported from about 97,000 to 200,000 miles; several complaints are on high-mileage trucks.

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling, no-start or fuel pump replacement, and have a mechanic check for stored fault codes and inspect the fuel pump electrical connector.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After I put 55$ worth of gas in the truck it would not start. I waited about 5-10 minutes and it finally started.however,as I was driving,not even 5 miles from the gas station,the vehicle shut off at 45 MPH. I pulled over and kept trying to start the truck. It was cranking but would not start. After about 5-10 minutes truck did start right back up.then,not even another 5 miles the truck shut off again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10723770, filed 2015-06, 179,000 miles

   “Safety concern - no accident - 99 chevy suburban fuel pump failure. I change the pump. When I looked at the old pump I noticed the hot wire to the fuel pump inside the fuel tank had insulation melted near the top connection. I disassembled the connection and found it had been arcing inside the fuel tank. I have the fuel pump is you want to see it. 9note: I sent a note to GM on the matter and only received a form letter e-mail in response).”

   NHTSA complaint #10200211, filed 2007-08, 111,112 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering assist feels too light or fails

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the variable-effort power steering giving too much assist above highway speeds so that small wheel inputs produce more turning than intended, and one report describes a sudden loss of power steering at speed tied to a sensor component. Another complaint mentions a steering fault alongside brake problems. Reported from about 100,000 to 150,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: Drive at highway speed and note whether steering effort changes oddly or feels overly light in a turn; ask whether the steering sensor or power steering components have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The variable effort steering on my 1999 Chevrolet suburban c1500 is failing to attenuate during almost all turns from tangent. I get almost full power assist at road speeds from 45 to 70 MPH; this can be quite unnerving even at slight steering wheel inputs. Usually there is a break point at which the attenuation is normal up to that point, but beyond the break point, the wheel becomes quite light . When this occurs, the steering input torque at the wheel is decidedly too much and more steering than necessary enuses. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10173829, filed 2006-11, 88,858 miles

   “While driving at 55 MPH on dry concrete limited access highway on interstate I-820 southbound, approaching I-30 westbound at interstate interchange, slowed to 50 MPH as turning to right at approximately 30-45 degrees of steering wheel input were applied to start right sweeping turn from tangent direction. ) as desired steering angle was reached, steering angle was unintentionally increased by the power steering system. Vehicle turn rate to the right exceeded the necessary amount and vehicle initiated a turn-in oversteer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10187287, filed 2007-04, 92,125 miles

Buying note. Have the brake system looked at closely on any 1999 Suburban 1500, especially the metal lines for rust and the low-speed behavior of the anti-lock system, and check that every door opens from the inside. Service records showing recent brake line or sensor work are worth asking about.

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.