1999 Chevrolet Silverado

Typical pattern

12.8% of complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1999 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (763 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 59,000 miles.

Complaints: 1,789
Median age at failure: 3.7 yr
Median mileage: 63,686 n=697
Crash / fire / tow: 8.1% of reports
Safety recalls: 10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Service brakes, hydraulic

763 reports · 59,000 mi

4.3 yr

6.8%

Service brakes, air

107 reports · 55,000 mi

4.7 yr

4.7%

Power train

97 reports · 66,934 mi

1.9 yr

4.1%

Suspension

83 reports · 91,700 mi

11 mo

3.6%

Structure

82 reports · 95,000 mi

5.8 yr

8.5%

Tires

78 reports · 57,000 mi

1.9 yr

3.8%

Speed control

73 reports · 49,000 mi

2.6 yr

11%

Service brakes

52 reports · 132,000 mi

14.7 yr

9.6%

Steering

51 reports · 70,000 mi

1.7 yr

3.9%

Engine cooling

51 reports · 50,000 mi

2.1 yr

Electrical system

47 reports · 56,000 mi

2.9 yr

19.1%

Seats

45 reports · 55,655 mi

3.3 yr

13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11

Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 2009-04-07

Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 2008-08-11

Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E106000 2007-12-17

Wheels:hub

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28

Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06E075000 2006-08-28

Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN GUIDE REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS, P/NOS. 16526133 AND 16526134, MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1 TO JULY 11, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 1999-2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCKS. THE HEADLAMP FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

TOO MUCH LIGHT IN CERTAIN POINTS OF THE HEADLAMP COULD CREATE A DISTRACTION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29

Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E057000 2006-06-23

Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 332-1182L-AS AND 332-1182R-AS, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 1999-2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADOS. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E042000 2006-05-22

Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN EAGLE EYES REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS, MODEL NOS. GM159-B001L AND GM159-B001R, SOLD FOR USE ON 1999-2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO MODEL VEHICLES. THE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

THE HEADLAMPS HAVE DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E026000 2006-03-23

Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Seat belts mileage not reported 1 mo in service

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HITS ANY TYPE OF BUMPS IT CAUSES THE SEAT BELT TO TIGHTEN, EACH BUMP CAUSES IT TO TIGHTEN MORE. BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION,CONSUMER HAD A HARD TIME GETTING THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED FROM CSS. DEALER/ MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK

Seat belts mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. BUT DRIVER, WHO WAS IN A SEAT BELT, HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINEDMAJOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

Seat belts mileage not reported 0 mo in service

THE FRONT DRIVER/ PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT SYSTEMS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO GET TWISTED WHEN PULLING OUT THE SEATBELT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *ADJ

Steering mileage not reported 2 mo in service

THE 1999 CHEV. SILVERADO WITH RACK AND PINION HAS MANY PROBLEMS AND G-M IS TRYING TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG. FOR VERIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM CONTACT GENE SCOTT AT HUDIBURG CHEVROLET AT 817.498.2400 AS GENERAL MOTORS HAS BOUGHT BACK 4 OF THESE VEHICLES FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS AND KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MINE BUT THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.

Other Silverado model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.