Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
The frame and suspension has overly corroded. The frame is falling apart so bad that when I shut the driver's door chunks of metal fall to the ground. I've had it assessed and they say it should not be this bad. Even in Michigan
FRAME FAILED. CRACKED AT TORSION BAR CROSS SUPPORT BOTH SIDES. IN THAT SECTION CAN PUSH SCREWDRIVER THRU FRAME. ENTIRE FRAME FLAKING LARGE CHUNKS, SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF. HAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED GAS TANK STRAPS, NEW SS BRAKE LINES. FUEL LINES NOW RUSTING THROUGH. SANDWICH PLATED WITH STEEL/BOLTS. FRAME REPAIR MORE THAN VALUE OF TRUCK. HAS 108,000 MILES, ABOUT 1/2 OF MILES I EXPECTED TO GET OUT OF IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE FRAME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
I HAVE A 1999 SILVERADO 1500, IN THE PAST FEW DAY I'VE BEEN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL AREA. TODAY I PUT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ON JACK STANDS IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE NOISE, AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL AND TIRE I NOTICED THE FRAME BEHIND THE TIRE HAS HOLES RUSTED THROUGH AND IS PAPER THIN. THEN I NOTICED A PLATE WELDED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME APPARENTLY BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER BEHIND THE PLATE THE FRAME HAS BEEN BROKE . I THEN CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT TOO HAS A PLATE BUT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD. NOW, GROWING MORE INTERESTED I BEGAN POKING AT THE FRAME WALLS AND IN MANY PLACES ITS CHIPPING AND GOING THROUGH LIKE ICE. I AM NOT A RICH MAN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD LAST LIKE YOU WOULD THINK A FRAME SHOULD. A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD A 1979 CHEVY TRUCK AND SOLD IT, EVEN NOW THE FRAME IS IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN A TRUCK THAT IS 20 YEARS NEWER. GM NEEDS TO BE THE HONORABLE COMPANY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY WERE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I TURNED AND WENT INTO LOT (THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE) AND THEN FLAT PARKING LOT. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK PUSHED INTO THE CAB AS THE FRAME SNAPPED. THERE ARE 12 OTHER KNOWN INSTANCES THAT HAVE NOTIFIED GM AND THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ACTION TO CORRECT. MY 3 YR SON WAS IN THE TRUCK WHEN THIS OCCURRED AS WELL AS MY WIFE AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT INJURED. *TR
THE FRAME CRACKED ON BOTH REAR FRAME RAILS BETWEEN THE LEAF SPRINGS. *TR
I TOOK MY 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHO, UPON ATTEMPTING TO LIFT THE VEHICLE ON A HOIST, INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY LOWERED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT ONTO ANOTHER SERVICE AREA WITH A PIT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED FROM UNDERNEATH WITHOUT THE USE OF A HOIST. THE SERVICE REPAIR TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THE SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRAME AND ADVISED ME NOT TO SINK ANY MONEY INTO REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME DUE TO FRAME BREAKAGE. I WAS TOLD BY A FORMER ENGINEER AT GM THAT THE FRAMES WERE SOURCED TO MAGNA CORPORATION AND THAT BRAND NEW VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING FRAME BENDING WHEN BEING LOADED AND CLAMPED DOWN ON DELIVERY TRUCK TRAILERS. THE SUPPLIER MUST HAVE COMPROMISED THE MATERIALS AND PROCESSING OF THE TRUCK FRAMES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE CONTRACT FROM GM. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF BOTH GM AND THE SUPPLIER OF THE TRUCK FRAMES. I ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN 2011 DUE TO THE BRAKE LINES RUSTING FROM THE OUTSIDE, WHICH WOULD ALSO INDICATE COMPROMISED MATERIALS AND PROCESSING. I NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO THE NHTSA ON THIS SITE ABOUT BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXTERNAL RUST FOR 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCKS JUST LIKE MINE. I AM AFRAID THAT MANY OF THOSE VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE NOT YET NOTICED THAT THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TRUCK FRAME FAILURE DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT RUST PROBLEM EXHIBITED BY THESE VEHICLES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE STRUCTURAL COMPONENT AND BRAKE LINE FAILURES WILL RESULT IN MANY VEHICLE CRASHES AND THE UNSUSPECTING VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS WILL INEVITABLY HAPPEN UNLESS THE NHTSA STEPS IN AND FORCES AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF 1999 THROUGH 2006 CHEVY SILVERADO VEHICLES. *TR
1999 SILVERADO EXCESSIVE ROT ON FRAME JUST ASIDE OF FUEL TANK, LOWER CHANNEL OF FRAME GONE STARTING TO CRACK GOING VERTICAL. ALSO REAR SPRING PERCHES ROTTED TO POINT OF NO REPAIR.. TRUCK IS STREET DRIVEN NEVER OFF ROAD AM SECOND OWNER OF TRUCK. HAVE HAD OLDER CHEVYS WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS AS THIS. GOOGLE FRAME ROT 99 SILVERADO ITS NOT JUST MINE CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE..."WE HAVEN HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THAT ON THAT VEHICLE" SHOULDN'T FRAMES LAST LONGER? *TR *KB
BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT DUE TO CORROSION WHEN PULLING TO A STOP LIGHT, WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK W/O INCIDENT. THIS WAS 8AUG09. REPAIRED ON 12AUG09. ON 5AUG11 WENT TO REPLACE SHOCKS THINKING THEY WERE SHOT, PROBLEM DISCOVERED, ENTIRE SHOCK MOUNT RAIL ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND IS HANGING IN THE AIR. MILEAGE: 148876. ON 30SEP11 GAS TANK DROPPED TO THE GROUND DUE TO CORROSION OF FRAME, AND ALSO EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE ROTTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND NOW HANGING, THERE ARE ALSO SOME CRACKS IN THE FRAME, MILEAGE 149476. THERE IS NO RUST OR DAMAGE TO THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK AT ALL. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE A NEW TRUCK. THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A FORD. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY. FROM WHAT I SEE, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM KNOWS ALL ABOUT AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT ALL THESE TRUCKS. GM SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE EVERYONE'S FRAMES ON TRUCKS LIKE MINE THAT HAVE PERFECT BODIES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND MY ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT HAS CAME ON RECENTLY. THE BRAKING ON MY TRUCK IS NOT VERY GOOD IN WET CONDITIONS. I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON CHEVY TRUCKS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD JUST REMOVE THE FUSE. I WAS TOLD IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY, AND IT IS A COSTLY FIX. I THINK FOR ONCE CHEVROLET SHOULD STEP UP AND PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT MY DASH CLUSTER, WHICH I HAD ALSO FOUND IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THE ODOMETER WILL GO OFF AND ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE, AND THE GAS GAUGE FREQUENTLY GOES UP AND DOWN, AND THE FUEL LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE REAR END SUSPENSION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM *SCC THE DEALER REBUILT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *JB
WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES PUT ON MECHANIC NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ALIGNMENT PROBLEM RUINED LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE SIDEWALLS WERE CRACKING ON ALL THE TIRES. DEALER SAID THE TIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN. THERE SHOULD BE A STANDARD FOR REPLACEMENT PART.
THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER OFTEN AND THEY ADMITED THEY COULD NOT GUARNTEE THEY HAVE FIXED THE FRONT END THE SERVICE MGR CROSSED HIS FINGERS AND WITH A RESPONSE THAT HE HOPE SO WE DONT DRIVE THE TRUCK OFTEN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT EITHER THE WHEELS LOCKING UP OR THE BRAKES FAILING, HE SAID THEY TIGHTED A BOLT ON THE SUBFRAME AND THAT FIXED THE FRONT END BUT A GM ENGR TOLD ME THAT TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SUBFRAME ONLY VEHICLES WITH UNIBODIES USE SUBFRAMES, I HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL SERVICES AND RESPONSES IF NEEDED. *AK
THE SEAT BELTS ARE PREMATURELY LOCKING. *MJS
BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AS WELL AS WINDOW REGULATOR'S WITH LESS THEN 3000 MILES ON THE PICK UP AND THE DEALER HAS HAD OTHER TRUCKS OF THE SAME TYPE WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WHICH DUPLICATES MINE.
WHEELS CANNOT BE ALIGNED DUE TO THE WASHER WHICH IS WELDED ON. REPLACED TIRES LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM PURCHASE, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *AK *ML
TRUCK VIBRATES AT HWY SPEED 65-70 SINCE PURCHASE. REPLACE GENERAL TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES TO NO AVAIL.
STEERING SHAFT BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING RATTLE IN STEERING WHEEL. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING 45-65 MPH EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND TIRES WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH OR ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A VERY HARD VIBRATION WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND CRASH. MANUFACTURER HAS A TSB BULLETIN 99-43-09-002 STATED THAT IT WASA MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BOLT ON RIGHT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ASSEMBLY FAILURE. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED.
WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES IN NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS VEHICLE HESITATES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND NEARLY RESULTING IN A COLLISION. ALSO A GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISE OCCURS IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THE DEALER STATES IS NORMAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE IS SOME NOISE WITHIN THE STEERING. ALSO, WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE, AND THE TIRES ARE OUT OF BALANCE. ALSO, WHEEL IS BEND. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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