VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 200,000 MILES. AT ABOUT 150,000 MILES HAD DRIVERS SIDE DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE, HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO OPEN FROM EXT'R HANDLE. AT SAME TIME BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN. SPENT WAY TOO MUCH $ WITH CHEV DEALER TO FIX, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW AT 200K MILES SAME THING AGAIN WITH DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE, AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN (FAILED AT SAME TIME). AM WRITING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY 89 Y/O MOTHER AND 93 Y/O FATHER WHO OWN THE VEHICLE IN AURORA, MO. MOM GOT TRAPPED IN THE CAR AND HAD TO HAVE HELP GETTING OUT THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE - WHEN YOU ARE 89 YEARS OLD IT IS DIFFICULT TO CRAWL OVER A CONSOLE. WILL BE CONTACTING GM TO SEE IF THEY WILL OFFER TO HELP OR BLOW US OFF. IF LATTER CAN GUARANTEE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT; HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH 1995 GMC 4WD PICKUP I HAD OWNED, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED, INSIDE AND OUT, AND COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR. NO RELIEF FROM GM EITHER.
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
Owners filed 74 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. No safety recall has been issued.
69 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000–105,000 miles.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension › Front › Hub | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsBRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT DEC 2015 SEPARATE INCIDENT:: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL LINE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY AROUND THE FRONT OF GAS TANK AREA UNNOTICED FOR 2 TRIPS. THANKFULLY NO FIRE RESULTED.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE AUTO LOCKS DO NOT AFFECT IT NOR CAN THE LOCK BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL FROM INSIDE OR OUT. NO INDICATION OF BREAKAGE OCCURRED, IT JUST FROZE UP ONE DAY WITH NORMAL USE.
THE SEALTBELT RESTRAINT LOCKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND THIS HAD TO HAVE BEEN KNOWN DURING AND AFTER VEHICLE PRODUCTION .THE SEATBELTS WITH PASSENGERS TRRDTRAUNEF TRAVELS TO FAR FORWARD WHICH WOULD END UP IN DEATH OR VERY BAD HEAD AND NECK INJURIES BECAUSE THE SEATBELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD OR FORWARD MOMENTUM IS STOPPED VERY SUDDENLY! I HAVE TRIED TO CAUSE A LOCK ACTION BY PULLING ON SEATBELTS VERY QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY WITH VEHICLE SITTING PARKED AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING TO SLAM THE BRAKES TO CAUSE A FAST LOCK ON SEATBELTS AND NO AFFECT WAS APPARENT TO SAFELY RESTRAIN ADULTSADULTS,CHILDREN,OR EVEN NEWBORNS IN THE CAR SEATSEAT.THIS IS UNSAFE AND WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE THIS WILL LEAD TO DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH!
THIS IS A DESIGN AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT'S A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THE DOORS ARE FAILING IN LARGE NUMBERS AND IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE THE DOORS CAN'T BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY WHEN THE POWER LOCKS FAIL. THE DEALER SAID THE DOOR ACTUATORS AND LATCH ASSEMBLIES MUST BE REPLACED. WHAT HAPPENS IS RIVETS ON THE LOCK ASSEMBLY ARE COMING LOOSE AND WHEN THE WINDOW IS HALF WAY DOWN IT HITS THE RIVETS CAUSING THE LOCK TO JAM AND THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED. IN A PANIC SITUATION, COLLISION OR CAR FIRE THE PASSENGERS NOT KNOWING WHY THEY CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS TO GET OUT WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IF THERE IS A FRONT END COLLISION OR FIRE.
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.
SEABELTS ON THIS MODEL SEEM TO NOT WORK AS THEY SHOULD. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, OR A QUICK STOP SEATBELTS DON'T STOP THE PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE UNTIL SEAT BELT IS FULLY EXTENDED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES THAT I OWN WORK FINE AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SEATBELTS WORK AS DESIGNED. THESE SEABELTS ON THIS CHEVROLET SUBURBAN ARE NOT PERFORMING AS REQUIRED AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE FAULTY. CURRENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL/VIN # VEHICLE BUT IT ONLY CONVERS THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN REGARDS TO THE NECK EXTENSION. MY CONCERN IS THAT ALL SEATBELTS ON THIS VEHICLE COULD BE FAULTY TOO AND COULD INJURE ALL PASSANGERS IN A COLLISION. REQUEST TO HAVE MANUFACTURE DO A ONE TIME INSPECTION ON SEATBELTS TO DETERMINE IF INDEED LOCKING MECHANISMS ON THESE MODELS ARE FAULTY AT NOT COST TO THE COMSUMER.
WHILE TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER THAN USUAL TO STOP. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. BRAKES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, BRAKE FLUID IS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL AND IT IS NOT LEAKING ANY BRKAE FLUID AT ALL. THE VEHICLE TAKES LONGER TO STOP AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER. REQUEST A ONE TIME INSPECTION ON BARAKE SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL AND ANY OTHER MODEL THAT USES THE SAME BRAKE/PARTS FOR BRAKING SYSTEMS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 PERTAINING TO THE HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK BRAKES, HOWVER SOME VIN#S ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND SEEM TO GET WORSE.
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. THIS TIME I WAITED 20 MINUTES AND THE TRUCK STARTED RIGHT BACK UP.I LEFT IT PARKED FOR ABOUT 5 WKS THEN HAD THE CAMSHAFTSENSOR REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED,ONLY THIS TIME THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS IN ONCE THESE 3 PARTS WERE REPLACED. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NEVER ON BEFORE THESE ISSUES.IVE HAD IT SCANNED AND IT READ 5 DIFFERENT CODES,INCLUDING THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR,SPEED SENSORS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE ALONG WITH 2 MORE THAT WEREN'T GIVEN TO ME. DROVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE (7 MILES)& IT SHUT OF AGAIN 55 MPH ON A BUSY STREET.HAD THE CODES CLEARED AND DROVE IT SHORT DISTANCES IN THE LAST 3 DAYS AND TODAY WHEN I PULLED UP TO A REDLIGHT IT BEGAN ACTING AS IF IT WERE GONNA SHUT OFF.I CAME BACK HOME AND PARKED IT AND DONT PLAN ON DRIVING ANYWHERE ELSE UNTIL SOMEONE CAN GIVE ME AN EXACT ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE IT FIXED!! I WAS TOLD BY 2 MECHANICS THAT THEY COULDNT FIND AN ISSUE!!
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND WAS SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT ONTO OFF-RAMP. BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR. WAS ABLE TO COAST AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME, FOUND THE RIGHT BACK METAL BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING WITH A HOLE IN IT AND WAS RUSTED. NEVER HAD A BRAKE LINE RUST AND GO BAD IN 60 YEARS. I SAW THERE IS A INVESTIGATION WITH THE CHEVY BRAKE LINES CORRODING. *TR
BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO BE AS AFFECTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE. IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AND EVEN THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO AFFECT THE STOPPING POWER OF THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES JUST DON'T SEEM TO BE WORKING THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TURNING OUT OF MY OFFICE PARKING LOT I HEARD A "POP" - - - AS I PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICED A "FUNNY WIGGLE" WHEN I CHANGED LANES OR TURNED - - - I PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A LARGE PARKING LOT AND BEGAN INSPECTING THE FRONT SUSPENSION - - - THEN I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS BROKEN COMPLETELY IN TWO WHERE IT MEETS THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE - - - GLAD I WAS NOT GOING 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT IN DRY WEATHER AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICKED IN WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND MY COMPLAINT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THEY CAME ON ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY. I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT 8 MPH, THE ABS CAME ON, THEY PULLED MY VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, AND I HAVE 106,870 MILES ON HER NOW. MY BRAKE PEDALS IS GOING LOWER TO THE FLOORBOARD EACH YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED! MY MASTER CYLINDER IS NOT LEAKING, NOR IS MY BRAKE FLUID AT THIS TIME. I HAVE HAD MY FRONT CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE! I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE AND HAVE A LOT OF MONEY PUT IN MY BLACK BEAUTY, WITH REPAIR RECORDS TO SHOW FOR IT. I HAVE MY CHILDREN AND FRIENDS RIDE WITH ME AND DO NOT WANT TO INJURE/KILL THEM OR ANYONE, MYSELF INCLUDED! YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR
BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE TO REAR ON DRIVER SIDE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. FUEL LINE FITTINGS ARE JUST AS BAD. FITTINGS ON REAR A/C WENT UP OVER THREE YEARS AGO, HAVEN'T HAD AC. *TR
AT 45 MPH FIRESTONE P235/75R15 MODEL FR380 TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE PASSENGER FRONT. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES. AFTER INSPECTION, HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 121,000. UPDATED 12/29/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED LOW SPEED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 02/29/12
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. ALSO, A LITTLE OVER 1 YEAR AGO, I SOLD MY 2005 TAHOE TO A MAN WHO TOLD ME HE HAD A 1999 TAHOE. HE WAS BUYING MY TAHOE BECAUSE THE BRAKES LINES ON HIS HAD CORRODED AND RUPTURED. HE WAS CAREFUL TO CLIMB ALL AROUND AND UNDER MY TAHOE TO CHECK FOR BRAKE LINE CORROSION BEFORE BUYING. I JUST RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM, AND IT APPEARS TO BE COMMON. MANY OF THESE TRUCKS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. HOW MANY WILL HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT? *TT
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500- BRAKE LINES ARE FAILING. *TR
1. DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD. 2. BRAKE FAILURE. BARELY ANY BRAKES. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY FRONT LEFT WHEELWELL. 3. NO ACTION TAKEN YET TO REPAIR. NEED TO REPLACE CORRODED BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. MORE BRAKE FLUIED WAS ADDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
20 of 74 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2007| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2025 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2023 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 80 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2010 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 190 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Routine |
| 2006 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 94 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 182 | 1 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 175 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 120 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2001 | 92 | 1 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2000 | 67 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 — this page | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.