10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 30,933 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I purchased 2 1999 Chevy Suburban, I had to replaced both rear end, rear end seal, and my transmission is bumping into 2nd gear I have always purchased Chevrolet vehicle for my entire family. I have spent over 3, 000 dollars between both Suburban, I would like to know what is the problem with the 1999 Suburban, I had to have both trucks towed. How much more would I have to spend before the Chevrolet manufacturer realized that these are some defective parts in that year model.
- Jackson, MS, USA
Our 1999 Chevrolet Suburban had an automatic transmission that began slipping from 800 miles. Every time my wife took it to the dealer they said that they could not find anything wrong with it, nor could they duplicate the problem. The slipping only happened periodically and I would have been surprised if they could have duplicated it. She was also told by the dealer that this may be something that is normal with a computerized transmission. Maybe it was just a delay. Well, on Dec 27, 2004 our transmission decided to act very strange and would not shift beyond 3rd gear. We took it to the dealer and it was locked up in 3rd gear. At this point the car was a year and a half and approx 33,000 miles past warranty. The dealer needed to speak to GM about any warranty coverage since it was beyond the warranty. GM said they would only cover half of it since it had not been brought in regarding the transmission in approx 26,000 miles. It had continued to slip but the info given to my wife was that maybe this was normal, so she had not addressed it further. Then we ended up needing a new transmission and they would not cover it completely. Now here we are a year after that and I find bunch of service bulletins with the same problem. Obviously I am not the only one that has had this problem, nor will I be the last. I believe that this info should be researched and looked into. It just does not seem right. To top this off my brand new transmission is also doing the same slipping and I can guarantee that we will take it in every time it slips, no matter who says it may be normal.
- Chatsworth, CA, USA
Transmission failure in 1999 K1500 Suburban with 49600 miles while towing 18 foot lightly loaded box trailer on level ground. Towing was in accordance with instructions in owners manual to tow in overdrive. Transmission failed 150 miles after starting tow. Subsequent checking over internet and with friends has revealed many others have experienced same type failure. Chev dealer states that there is no factory service bulletin concerning transmission failures. Failure appears to be do to excessive heat build up.
- Oakton, VA, USA
1999 Chevy Suburban transmission problems before 50,000 miles. Starter problems before 60,000 miles. Both had to be replaced. Battery corroded. Truck constantly having to be jump started. Wiring system power locks giving out when over heated.
- Rowland Heights, CA, USA
At just over 100000 miles, we lost 3rd gear. This ofcourse happened in traffic going up a hill. I have read several complaints regarding the Suburban transmission. Just wanted to share the warning signs: Transmission began to "slip" several days prior to the total loss of 3rd gear. In stop and go traffic situations, when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, truck seemed to slip into neutral. RPM would rev and after backing off the accelerator seemed to straighten up. However, not long after, vehicle would not shift into 3rd. With an automatic, that leaves very few options when in the middle of traffic. I had manually shift from 1st to 2nd and manually down shift. Luckily, I was not on the highway; I was able to stay below 40mph and drive in 2nd and got it home. Now we are looking for further information that may help levy the cost of fixing the problem. Looks like GM is aware and refuses to recall.
- Cumming, GA, USA
I was driving and my vehicle (1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2wd) made a loud noise and vibrated for a few seconds, my check engine light came on and my vehicle would not shift into second gear until I let off the accelerator. I took my car to an automotive shop where the hooked up a machine to see why the check engine light had come on. The machine told them it was my transmission shift silenoid. When I went to leave in my vehicle from the automotive shop it would not go into reverse. I then had to take it to a transmission shop have an expensive complete transmission overhaul on a vehicle with only 97,000 mi. I shopped around at several transmission shops and was told this was very common in Chevy/GMC Suburban's and trucks made from 1997-2000. If this is the case, why isn't GM recalling the vehicles for repairs?
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Since new the vehicle has exhibited erratic shifting during acceleration. Often the vehicle accelerates briefly when brakes applied. Transmission failed while on vacation at 78,000 miles.
- Elizabethtown, KY, USA
The transmission shifted very hard into 2nd gear. When I came to a stop and went to go the vehicle would not shift into second gear. It would prceed into third gear after the engine would rev up to a higher RPM. I contacted several transmission shops and a dealership. They all said that I lost the 2nd/4th gear intemediate shaft which also included the reverse gear also. This is on a 700R4 transmisson. They all said GM knew about the problem but would not do a recall on that model year because of the extenive use of that tranmission in all of their vehicles. They said that almost all of the transmission had the faulty intermediate shaft. This could cause a serious problem for some vehicle owners if the transmission failed at an inopportune time, especially in an emergency that they had to reverse quickly. I had the transmission replaced at a local shop at a very high expense. I thought I would submit this due to the amount of vehicles that used this transmissionin that year and for the safety of the owners.
- Shawnee, OK, USA
No summary listed for abov evehicle.
- Brandywine, MD, USA
Engine light came on had this checked came up with transmission slippage. Took to dealer said that Chevy says that it is better to replace transmission with a new one because the problem is not visible when looking at the tranmission.
- Rosalia, KS, USA
Consumers are being ripped off and in danger due to these vehicles. No safety defect.
- Magnolia, TX, USA
Transmission shifts hard between 1st and 2nd gear. Snaps your neck.
- Lakewood, AK, USA
The steering grabs when turning right, very dangerous. Transmission failed at same time. GMC has failed on this model.
- Magnolia, TX, USA
When brakes are applied front pulls to left, and sometimes to right. This also happens when a bump in road is hit. Dealer has worked on this vehicle a number of times, but problem has not been solved. Consumer also complains of soft pedal, steering wheel also pulsates when braking, dealer has switched rotors from side to side, replaced out of round rotors, replaced front brake pads twice, and resurfaced rotors and drums, dealer rotated tires and vehicle still pulled. Steering wheel found off center. Center seat recliner handle broke, dealer replaced handle. Vehicle experienced oil leak. Driver door power switch loose in door. Reverse low planetary gear was broken causing a grinding noise at low gear, valve body and gear were scored due to metal in transmission. Air pump replaced due to being very noisy.
- Canoga Park, CA, USA
Transmission problem with my car was evident for close to a year. The car would buck or hesitate when entering into traffic from a stopped postion. It went from occasionally happening to occurring many times a day. It was not acknowledged by the dealers mechanics until they drovethe cawr and it happened to them. I was almost involved in a very serious accident with a tanker truck as I pulled out of a coffee shop parking lot. I had my two young children with me. I went to make a left turn out of the lotand the car moved forward, then hrsitated/bucked and the I could feel the tranmission catch and the car proceeded. Had the tranmission let go, as the mechanics told us was a real possibility, I would have been broad-sised by the tanker truck. And the accident would have appeared to be caused by me for pulling out into traffic. I have talked with other Suburban owners and have heard tothers complain about thetranmission. Please look into this.
- Falmouth, MA, USA
The truck has had a severe vibration in the front end since it was delivered I returned the vehicle to the delivering dealer with 845 miles on it for service. The vehicle stayed at the dealership for 11 days the drive shaft was removed and sent to be trued it was then reinstalled. The original factory tires were removed and replaced the front end was aligned. This same procedure has been repeated a 2 other dealers trying to correct the problem. Late in 1999 the truck was at day's Chevrolet and the service manager ben larue showed my husband a similar 1999 up on a lift that the torison bar support and assembly could be bent with a pair of vice grips the metal is inferior. The front end of the this vehicle has been braised at the torision bar assembly it has had the ends of the torison bars grounded down and returned to us as fixed. Chevorlet has just had their last repair attempt and they took the front end apart and packed with grease to correct the noise and vibration it did not work. We still here the noise in the front end it still vibrates at highway speeds and is very annoying. The transmission has slipped since the vehicle had about 8,000 miles on it every time we take it in we are told they cannot duplicate the problem. It still will slip at low speeds up a steep incline it will also roll when put in park. The brakes have always been an issue with this vehicle I reported this on the first time back for repair. The vehicle has leaked on the left side at the 2nd door and the rear doors. The vehicle has had a ticking vacuum noise since the day it was new the dealerships told us they know it is annoying but do not how to fix it. This vehicle is not safe it vibrates it will not stop and Chevrolet will not do a thing about it we have been through BBB and currently pursuing lemon law.
- Kennesaw, GA, USA
When shifting gear into park transmission went into reverse. Problem happened on a random basis. Dealer says that nothing is wrong with the vehicle.
- Rolling Hill, CA, USA
Front brakes have been replaced three times, each time one of the calipers was reported to have frozen or stuck, so that only one front brake was working. The rear brakes were first reported to have a rearmain seal leak, but later found to never work. The transmission failed after only 29000 miles while the vehicle was being test driven by the mechanic checking the brakes.
- Apple Valley, CA, USA
Equipped with a tow package while pulling a trailer, the rear end goes out and the gears lock up. Then vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may result in a crash. Dealer cannot determine the cause.
- Desoto, TX, USA
- Billerica, MA, USA