1999 GMC Sierra 3500

Routine

Owners filed 19 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
000
Tires › Tread/Belt3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Seats2
101
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields1
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments1
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment07E088000
Filed Oct 24, 2007121,680 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility04V562000
Filed Nov 26, 20041,660 vehiclesMobility Works

Defect. ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed May 5, 201460,000 milesMA

BOUGHT A 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 4DOOR 8FT. BED WITH 30000 MILES ON IT IN 2001. FIRST BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT IN 2005. SECOND LINE FROM FRONT TO BACK RUSTED AND BROKE 2008. FUEL LINE RUSTED AND LEAKED GAS ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY 2010. TODAY THAT SAME TRUCK? IS IN A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE FRAME BY THE STEERINGBOX AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RUSTED AND CRACKED. ITS A SHAME GMC USED SUCH BAD MATERIALS FOR THEIR TRUCKS. MY TRUCK NOW HAS ONLY 97000 MILES ON IT. IF IT CANT BE FIXED SAFELY THE SCRAP YARD IS ITS NEXT STOP AND A FORD WILL TAKE ITS PLACE. TO BAD GMC YOU LOST ANOTHER CUSTOMER. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 17, 2012250,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN CLOSING IN ON AN INTERSECTION AS THE LIGHT BEGAN TO CHANGE RED, TWO SEDANS WERE IN FRONT OF ME SO I APPLIED MY BRAKES ALLOWING PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK QUICKLY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT SLOW AT ALL. I HAD TO VEER INTO THE TURN LANE BUT COULD NOT MAKE THE TURN DUE TO SPEED AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION AND HAD TO VEER INTO A BUSY PARKING LOT RAN OVER A STOP BLOCK AND CONTINUED THROUGH 2 YARDS AND OUT A DRIVEWAY BACK ONTO YET ANOTHER ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. BOTH YARDS HAD PEOPLE IN THEM AND IT WAS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS HURT. THIS WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES I FOUND A TINY HOLE IN THE LINE CROSSING THE ENGINE YOKE. AS I FURTHERED MY INSPECTION IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION ALL THE BRAKE LINES RESEMBLED BURNT CORN FLAKES AND MUST ALL BE REPLACED. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 16, 201075,000 milesCT

EVERY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE ON MY 75,000-MILE 1999 GMC 3500 PICKUP HAS RUSTED OUT, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALL BLEW OUT WHEN PEDAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED...INCLUDING ONE TIME, WHEN I WAS BACKING UP AT THE TRANSFER STATION TO UNLOAD TRASH. THE ENTIRE TRUCK COULD HAVE GONE BACK AND FALLEN INTO THE DUMPSTER. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Feb 1, 2007ID

MY 1999 GMC SIERRA 3500 CREW CAB WAS ORDERED NEW. I DISCOVERED LATER THAT IT WAS FITTED WITH A 1998 CAB. THE DESIGN IS DIFFERENT AND THE FRONT DOORS ARE LONGER AND HEAVIER RESULTING IN PREMATURE HINGE FAILURES. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS BECAUSE THE 1998 VERSION DIDN'T REQUIRE THEM EVEN THOUGH I ORDERED A 1999 WHICH DOES. I HAVE A VIN ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING IT AS A 1999 AND ONE ON THE DOOR SHOWING IT AS A 1998. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT REPORTING IT HERE. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Nov 1, 200575,000 milesCO

FUEL TANK UNDER NEGATIVE PRESSURE BY APPARENT STUCK VALVE CAUSED FUEL TANK RUPTURE. HAPPENED TWICE. GM ENGINEERS SAID NO DEFECT, APPARENTLY THERE IS AND NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. FUEL SPILLED OUT AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS, IN MY OPINION. I AM A DEGREED (MSME) ENGINEER. WITH AN EXTENSIVE AUTO BACKGROUND. *JB UPDATED 11/15/05. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 20, 2005TX

DT: CONTACT HAS 1999 GMC,. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES 6 TIMES. THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THE BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT. CONTACT LOST THE FRONT BRAKES ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND LOST REAR BRAKES ONLY ONCE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES WITH AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT.*AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments1 injured
Filed May 21, 200540,000 milesIL

GMC SAVANNA & CHEVY EXPRESS/SIERRA VAN SIDE DOORS (60/40'S ?). DURING SERVICE VISIT FOR DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER AT GROSSINGER GMC IN ILLINOIS, WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL IN WARRANTY, AND DOORS WERE STIFF, NOISY AND TOUGH TO OPEN/CLOSE, DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED "MORE LUBRICATION". LUBRICATION WAS APPLIED REGULARLY. GMC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE WAS OF NO HELP. I'VE SINCE THROWN OUT MY SHOULDER TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. DANGER: MIDDLE SEAT PASSENGERS HAVE NO WAY OF ESCAPING VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT/EMERGENCY. THE HINGES ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DOORS NO LONGER FUNCTION. HINGES FROZEN IN PLACE AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. PER BODY SHOP (WHICH THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO), IT IS "A DESIGN DEFECT, A FLAW". $2,000 TO REPAIR. PLEASE TAKE NOTE: IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE CITY OF CHICAGO PURCHASED THIS VAN IN GREAT NUMBERS AND WAS FACED W/THIS PRODUCT FAILURE/DESIGN DEFECT ON ALL OF THEIR MUNICIPAL VANS (POLICE DEPT., FIRE DEPT., STREETS & SANITATION, ETC...) GMC PROVIDED BRAND NEW HINGES W/BRASS BUSHINGS AT NO CHARGE. APPARENTLY, THE ORIGINAL DESIGN (ALSO USED ON MY VAN) USED STEEL BUSHINGS. THEY ALL WERE SEIZING UP WHEN EXPOSED TO THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF MOISTURE (HUMIDITY, RAIN, CAR WASHES OR SNOW). CONSEQUENTLY, GMC RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE DESIGN FLAW/DEFECT AND REPLACED ALL HINGES ON THOSE CITY OF CHICAGO VEHICLES W/BRASS (CORROSION FREE) BUSHINGS/HINGES. SINCE GMC RECOGNIZED THIS DEFECT WHEN IT CAME TO BIG CORPORATE ACCOUNTS, WILL THEY DO THE SAME FOR JOHN Q. CONSUMER?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 29, 200459,000 milesWI

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULSATED AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jul 18, 200319,650 milesCA

WE HAVE 4 1999 GMC 3500 SERIES LONG VANS USED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. RETURNING FROM A FIELD TRIP (WITH CHILDREN) ONE OF THE TIRES SUFFERED A PLY SEPARATION. THE DRIVER DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF MAINTAINING CONTROL AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED OUT BY OUR TOWING SERVICE. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ANOTHER TIRE POSSIBLY READY TO FAIL, AND ODD WEAR PATTERNS. OUR DISTRICT IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFETY DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL 16 TIRES ON ALL 4 VANS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF TIRE...THE TIRES ARE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4X - LT245/75R16 LOAD RANGE E - DOT# VN11 - 81A - 169 AND DOT # SP872R - D15L. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 20, 200358,000 milesPA

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JB PH

Seats
Filed Sep 24, 2002FL

CONSUMER STATES SEAT FRAME BROKE IN 07/02, CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED. SEAT FRAMES BROKE AGAIN ON 9-21 CAUSING A COLLISION.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 10, 2001IL

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY AND STALL, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DEALER FOUND NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE SIGNALS, CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SIX OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AND RUN ROUGH, AND HAS HAD VARIOUS COMPONETS REPLACED, SUCH AS RADIATOR COOLANT, COOLANT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY, DISTRIBUTOR, FUEL INJECTORS, SPARK PLUGS, WIRES, SERPENTINE BELT, THROTTLE-POSITIONING SENSOR, EGR AND OXYGEN SENSOR, THE BRACKET THAT PROTECTS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS WAS NEVER INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY AND CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH, SOME OF THE COMPONETS WERE EVEN REPLACED A SECOND TIME AND STILL DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Nov 9, 2000FL

FIRESTONE TIRE (P245 75 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Nov 3, 2000CA

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999 CHEVROLET, LT245/75R16. TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED TIRE FREE OF CHARGE.*AK DOT#V011 678 140. *SLC

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 8, 2000CA

I WAS TRAVELING HOME ON FWY WHERE I WAS INVOLVED IN A CHAIN REACTION AUTO ACCIDENT . I WAS THE NUMBER 3 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 6 INVOLVED. I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT AT APPOX 5 MILES AN HOUR. WAS THEN REAR ENDED BY A SUV GOING APPROX 30 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN REARENDED, MY DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED. THE SEAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH MINIMAL IMPACT..

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed May 31, 2000MI

CAB KEEPS FILLING UP WITH EXHAUST FUMES, CAUSING PASSENGER TO GET SICK. DEALER CLAIMS ENGINE GETS TOO HOT, CAUSING ENGINE MANIFOLD TO WARP AND GASKET TO BLOWOUT. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 19, 2000UT

BRAKES HAD GONE BAD, AND PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE ON THE LEFT SIDE. RIGHT SIDE STILL HAD HALF PAD. CONSUMER HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STOPPING, AND HAS BEEN COMPLAINING TO DEALER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 10, 2000AZ

CONSUMER USES VEHICLE FOR EVERYDAY USAGES, AND WHEN THE BRAKES GET HOT IT IS HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAS TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE TO STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND HAS STATED THAT THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. BUT, HAS NOT FIGURED OUT A SOLUTION TO FIX VEHICLE. DEALER HAS FIXED CONSUMER'S CAR NUMEROUS TIMES. BUT, THE REPAIRES HAVE BEEN AT BEST GUESS REPAIRES. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH REPAIRS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, AND FIX IT. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 22, 1999WY

WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL NEARLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19 of 19 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2020
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20264200Routine
202516100Routine
202444310Routine
202328100Routine
202231300Routine
202120500Routine
202051820Routine
201913710Routine
201814600Routine
201713710Routine
201619600Routine
201531710Routine
20147300Routine
201314400Routine
20129400Routine
201120510Routine
20102500Routine
20095500Routine
200825300Routine
200716310Routine
200611010Routine
200524110Routine
200424120Routine
20037100Routine
200220310Routine
200136310Routine
200026411Fatalities reported
1999 — this page19300Routine
199812420Routine
199710300Routine
19961000Routine

Compare every Sierra 3500 year →

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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 24, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.