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1999 GMC Suburban

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

96 reports with mileage · 189 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 118 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

21 reports
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53,000 miles · Jul 30, 2003
Power Train

PROBLEMS WITH 1999 GMC SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT.*MR DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10031839

70,101 miles · Jun 30, 2003
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025175

25,000 miles · Jun 12, 2003
Power Train

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE SHAFT SEAL ON THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS FLUID, WHICH RUNS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHICH PRODUCES A SMELL AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD I BOUGHT THIS 1999 GMC SUBURBAN VEHICLE USED AT CROWN MOTORS IN CHARLEVOIX MICHIGAN ON 02/02/01, WITH 21904 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE SUBURBAN I STA…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE SHAFT SEAL ON THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS FLUID, WHICH RUNS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHICH PRODUCES A SMELL AND A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD I BOUGHT THIS 1999 GMC SUBURBAN VEHICLE USED AT CROWN MOTORS IN CHARLEVOIX MICHIGAN ON 02/02/01, WITH 21904 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE SUBURBAN I STARTED SMELLING A BURNT OIL ODOR WHEN I WOULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ODOR WAS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I HAD MY SUBURBAN SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL WAS LEAKING. THIS WAS TOLD TO ME AS A QUITE COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE VEHICLE. I WENT TO CROWN MOTORS AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS REFERRED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD ALMOST 70,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY THIRD GMC SUBURBAN AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THAT THEY LAST. I BELIEVE THAT IF GMC HAS A PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WITH THESE NEWER VEHICLES THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM AND GET THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE A FIRE STARTS AND SOME INNOCENT PERSON GETS TRAPPED AND KILLED BY THEIR PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE OF THE DATE THAT I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT CROWN MOTORS OR THE EXACT DATE THAT THE LEAK WAS FOUND BUT I AM USING TODAY AS THE INCIDENT DATE. THANK YOU. HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED OR INJURED BY A FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021511

16,913 miles · May 8, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE RIGHT REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE TWICE AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED ACID AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TRAY TO RUST *MR *AK

NHTSA ODI #10018246

60,667 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Power Train

PREMATURE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,667 MILES DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF SUN GEAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE SHAFT COLLAR BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM GM HAS THE COLLAR TO HUB MATING STRENGTHENED FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL, SO IT IS KNOWN IN GM THIS PART HAS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE F…

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PREMATURE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,667 MILES DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF SUN GEAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE SHAFT COLLAR BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM GM HAS THE COLLAR TO HUB MATING STRENGTHENED FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL, SO IT IS KNOWN IN GM THIS PART HAS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE FACTORY. I WAS AND AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS WAS A TERRIBLE FINANCIAL BURDEN AT A BAD TIME. CONTACTING GM WAS NO HELP - "IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY". FURTHER COMPLAINTS TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AUTO LINE RETURNED SAME ANSWER - OUT OF WARRANTY". THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BABIED AND WELL CARED FOR. NO TRAILERS HAVE BEEN TOWED AND NO OFF-ROAD USE. RIDICULOUS A $41,000 VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO 3 OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS IN MY SMALL TOWN AND ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T SOMEONE FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE> I WARN PEOPLE ABOUT PURCHASING SUBURBAN'S NOW WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010634

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

HAVE OWNED '90GMC C1500 P/U & '99 GMC C1500 SUBURBAN IN PAST 12 YEARS; BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS W/ FRONT BRAKE PULL/WEAR; SUSPENSION; BRAKE PIPES; ENGINE/TRANS. HESITATION, HANG....; CORRODED + BATTERY CABLES, BATTERIES; LEAKING HVAC DUCTS; AND ON & ON. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES 12+/- YEARS OF DOCUMENTED BRAKE PROBLEMS …

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HAVE OWNED '90GMC C1500 P/U & '99 GMC C1500 SUBURBAN IN PAST 12 YEARS; BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS W/ FRONT BRAKE PULL/WEAR; SUSPENSION; BRAKE PIPES; ENGINE/TRANS. HESITATION, HANG....; CORRODED + BATTERY CABLES, BATTERIES; LEAKING HVAC DUCTS; AND ON & ON. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES 12+/- YEARS OF DOCUMENTED BRAKE PROBLEMS ACROSS VEHICLE LINES/MODELS NOT WARRANT A MASSIVE RECALL AND/OR COMPENSATION TO OWNERS FOR OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ENGINEERING, MATERIALS, ETC.....????!!!! I SUPPOSE THE FORD/FIRESTONE PROBLEMS TOOK PRECEDENCE? CAN YOU SAY "CLASS ACTION"??*AK

NHTSA ODI #767024

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

FOR A BRAND NEW SUBURBAN I DON'T FEEL IT SHOULD BE HAVING MAJOR PART PROBLEMS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766317

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2002
Power Train

I REALY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS ON MY TRUCK. I PROBBABLY DID NOT FILL OUT THE APPLICATION CORRECTLY ,BUT I PAID TO MUCH MONEY ON THIS TRUCK TO BE HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEMS. PLEASE CALL SO THAT I CAN SEND SOME COPIES THAT THAT I SENT TO THE MANUFACURER. ENGINE HAS ALSO FAILED TO START ABOUT 30 TIMES WITH…

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I REALY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS ON MY TRUCK. I PROBBABLY DID NOT FILL OUT THE APPLICATION CORRECTLY ,BUT I PAID TO MUCH MONEY ON THIS TRUCK TO BE HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEMS. PLEASE CALL SO THAT I CAN SEND SOME COPIES THAT THAT I SENT TO THE MANUFACURER. ENGINE HAS ALSO FAILED TO START ABOUT 30 TIMES WITH THE FIRST ONE IN THE SHOW ROOM OF DEALER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766069

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Power TrainCrashInjury

WHILE ENGINE WAS ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WENT BACKWARDS. CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT WAS DRAGGED UNTIL VEHICLE STOPPED. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8002873

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2000. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIRST TWO TRANSMISSIONS UNDER A WARRANTY, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED THIRD TRANSMISSION.*AK CONSUMER STATES EACH TRANSMISSION WAS BRAND NEW.*JB

NHTSA ODI #889364

Official recalls

1

00V122000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Apr 27, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEMS MAY NOT MEET THE NECK EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRAY INSERT ON THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRAY INSERT CORRECTS THE NONCOMPLIANCE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.