1999 GMC Suburban Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster heavily around the brakes, with many owners describing the anti-lock system engaging during slow, dry-pavement stops and lengthening stopping distance. A second common theme is rusted or failed wheel speed sensors, which several owners link to the same low-speed ABS behavior. Other reports touch on coolant leaks at the intake manifold, power steering that briefly drops out, and door handles and latches that stop working.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed, longer stopping distance

   • 42 complaints (15%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2016

   Owners describe the anti-lock brakes activating during ordinary slow stops — in parking lots, driveways, and approaching stop signs — on dry pavement where no wheel slip is present. The pedal pulses or kicks back and the vehicle takes noticeably longer to stop, and in some accounts it rolls several feet past the intended point. Several owners report that a dealer or mechanic attributed the behavior to corroded or failed wheel speed sensors, and a number note their vehicle was not covered by the anti-lock brake campaign that applied to other units. Reported from roughly 15,000 to over 190,000 miles, with many accounts in the 50,000-110,000 mile range and no clear seasonal pattern.

   What to check: During a test drive, brake firmly but gently from about 5 mph on dry pavement and watch for pedal pulsing or the ABS light. Ask whether the wheel speed sensors have been replaced and whether the ABS campaign applied to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The anit-lock brakes on my 1999 Gmc Suburban 4x4 come on every time I coast to a slow stop, making stopping a very tricky situation. I have to anticipate this happening and allow extra stopping distance. I was researching what might be the problem when I came across the may 27th, 2005 article in the detroit news auto insider authored by jeff plungis of the detroit news washinton bureau, in which my exact problem was described. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10129021, filed 2005-07, 97,500 miles

   “Abs brakes activate at low speeds randomly. We have almost run into vehicles in front of us. Today it happened again, and it is very scary. That is why I am filing this complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10142812, filed 2005-11, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal fades, soft or low pedal

   • 61 complaints (21%)
   • median 44,227 mi at 5.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2013

   Some owners describe the brake pedal going low or to the floor, requiring pumping to get pressure back, with stopping described as difficult. A few accounts tie this to brake lines rusting through and leaking, with rear or front braking lost in stages. Others report rotors that warped or cracked and had to be replaced repeatedly, and dealers in some cases adjusted the brakes rather than replacing parts. Spread from very low mileage up to about 131,000 miles; the brake-line accounts tend to appear at higher mileage and with age.

   What to check: Inspect the steel brake lines along the frame for rust and seepage, and check pedal feel with the engine running — it should stay firm under steady pressure. Ask for brake service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Repeated excessive wear on front brake pads and now on rear brake drums. We are very conservative drivers and typically get 80-100,000 miles on a set of brakes. This is our second set of front pads. We do tow heavy loads. The Suburban is equipped with a heavy duty towing package . It has already had the steering gear box replaced by the dealer. The front pads have been replaced once and the rear brakes have been adjusted, also the master cylinder has been replaced by the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10007121, filed 2002-07, 45,454 miles

   “1999 Gmc Suburban, driving down highway slowed to turn into rest stop, applied brakes, pedal went to the floor, steering was difficult, almost went into the ditch, then everything ok. Brake pedal pressure has always been soft - getting worse. This also happened at slow speed in parking lot - pumped brakes then ok.”

   NHTSA complaint #10029151, filed 2003-07, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out briefly while driving

   • 21 complaints (7%)
   • median 70,500 mi at 4.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners describe the power steering dropping out for a moment, usually in a curve or during a turn, so the wheel jerks and the vehicle swerves before assist returns. Some report metal shavings found in the power steering fluid, and one owner had the steering gear box replaced. Several owners mention a service bulletin covering the steering and say they were told their vehicle was not included in a related campaign. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles, often described as intermittent rather than constant.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and color, and look for metallic debris on the dipstick. Turn the wheel slowly through full travel while parked and note any hesitation or noise.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 Gmc Suburban that is having a problem with the power steering. I have taken it 3 times to a repair shop to have it looked at but what happens does not occur every day. It seems that the power steering goes out for a few seconds - usually when going around a curve, causing the steering wheel to jerk and the vehicle to swerve. I read about a recall that Gmc was doing to replace a faulty bearing in the power steering that was causing this problem and I contacted them about it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10074936, filed 2004-06, 95,000 miles

   “Have experience los of my power sterring when I may trurns. Iseems to occur more when I take right turns. It causes me to have to jerk the wheel back to compensate for this sudden jollt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10054641, filed 2004-01, 70,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Door handles and latches fail to open

   • 8 complaints (3%)
   • median 60,595 mi at 4.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners report interior and exterior door handles breaking or failing to release, sometimes on several doors, and electric locks that work only intermittently. In some accounts occupants in the rear could not open the doors from inside at all. One owner was told by a dealer that the age of the vehicle was the likely cause; others report the handles were replaced more than once. Reported from about 17,000 to 80,000 miles, on both daily-used and less-used doors.

   What to check: Open and close every door from both inside and outside, and test the power locks repeatedly. Ask whether any handles or lock actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer states that the other day, he had parked and was attempting to get out of his vehicle. He says that nothing he tried would unlock the driver side from the inside. He said he finally had to crawl to the passenger side and opened the door from the outside. He said this was very frightening because what if the vehicle was on fire, he said he would have burned up. He took the vehicle to the shop and had it repaired. Please help because this should not have happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096974, filed 2004-11, 43,704 miles

   “The contact owns a 1999 Gmc Suburban. The interior handles had to be replaced on several occasions. The handles were made of plastic , and all four doors failed. To open the door the window must be used to open the vehicle from the outside handle. Gmc hasn't done anything to assess the failure. The driver side handle has to be replaced more frequently since it was used daily. According to the technician they have seen this failure repeatedly. The current and failure mileage were 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10188753, filed 2007-04, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Brake behavior is the most frequently reported theme, so a careful low-speed brake test and a look at the brake lines and wheel speed sensors are worth doing before purchase. Records showing recent brake, steering and cooling-system work give a better picture than mileage alone.

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.