Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 50 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 50, in the owner's own words
BRAKE 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 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.
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.
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
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
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A LOW SPEEDS THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM CAME ON AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS A PLASTIC ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE RING WITH WIRES ATTACHED TO THE STEERING SENSOR WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HIS VIN ON ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.
MY 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN ABS ENGAGE AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC AT 5-10MPH CAUSING NEAR MISSES WITH HOMES AND BUSINESSES.. RECALL FOUND ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE ABS AND WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ALTHOUGH MY PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NON-COVERED VIN NOTED. CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOOK BACK MORE THAN 10 YEARS. CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO STATE NHB HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY DUE TO MY VEHICLES AGE AND MILEAGE. THEY SUGGEST I REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND SAVE THE RECEIPTS JUST IN CASE THE NHB ISSUES A RECALL IN THE FUTURE. ONSET OF PROBLEM AT 40,000 MILES. MUCH WORSE MORE RECENTLY. CURRENTLY 60,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR
WAS PREPARING 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500 FOR TRIP. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES BEFORE THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY, THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. DROVE HOME SLOWLY. WHEN PARKED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. LOOKED UNDER CAR AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE METAL BRAKE LINE. FLUID IN BRAKE RESERVOIR FRONT COMPARTMENT ALMOST EMPTY. APPEARS METAL BRAKE LINE CRACKED AND LEAKED NEAR MANIFOLD ABOVE AXLE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT NEVER CAME ON UNTIL STOPPED. I COULD ONLY TELL THERE WAS A PROBLEM BY BRAKE FEEL AND THEN PEDAL MOVING TO FLOOR. I HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM YET BUT WILL MOST LIKELY REPLACE ALL METAL BRAKE LINES. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND NEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY. COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON FAMILY VACATION. FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE REGARDING NHTSA ACTION # EA11001. MY SUBURBAN HAS THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 ( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FRONT LOCK WHEEL SPEED SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. SEND TO DEALER 10-19-2010 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
ON 9/15/10, I WAS ADVISED OF A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR A FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON MY 1999 CHEVY SUBURBAN. I RESEARCHED THE RECALL AND LOCATED THEM AT NHTSA #05V379000 AND NHTSA ACTION # PE05020. IT SEEMS THAT MY BRAKE PULSATES WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. AFTER CONTACTING CHEVROLET CORPORATION AND NUMEROUS DEALERS, I WAS ADVISED THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, I WAS ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT THE REPAIR CAN BE MADE AT MY EXPENSE AT ANY CHEVY DEALER. *TR
JULY 21, 2010 MY 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN'S BRAKES FAILED UNDER NORMAL USAGE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, RESULTING IN EXTREME LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. IT WAS SAFELY PARKED WITHOUT INJURY OR ACCIDENT. A BRAKE LINE FAILED DRAINING THE BRAKE FLUID. THE REST OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND WAS IN WORKING ORDER. THE BURST FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE TUBING WAS DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 201,400 MILES, MOSTLY IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA, WHICH IS NOT AN AGGRESSIVE CORROSION ENVIRONMENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THE SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED ALL BRAKE LINES BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION, NOT JUST THE ONE THAT FAILED. THE TOW AND REPAIR COST $1105. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION AND FAILED PARTS. THIS UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY FAILURE IS DESIGN - MANUFACTURING RELATED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED; THE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD COVERED BY CHEVROLET. THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR INJURY/ACCIDENTS. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY COST TO REPAIR THE CORROSION BRAKE LINE FAILURE. *TR
STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS. ABS APPEARS TO ACTIVATE GREATLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO MAIN BRAKE LINE FROM FRONT TO REAR WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. *TR
WHEN SLOW STOPPING 5-10 MPH SPEED, THE ABS ENGAGES REQUIRING PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. *TR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL OF PE-05020 AND 05V379000. LOW SPEED ACTIVATION OF THE ANTI LOCK ABS. GENERAL MOTORS STATES"THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS NOT ON THE RECALL, IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO". CORRECTION TO THE REPORTED RECALL ON 2000 TO 2002 MODELS IS FOR THE "DEALER" TO CLEAN APPLY ANTI RUST AND THEN GREASE TO THE HUB AND RELUCTOR. THE RECALL AND CORRECTION HOWEVER DOES NOT APPLY TO THE 1999 CHREVOLET SUBURBAN EVEN THOUGHT THE VEHICLE IS USED IN THE "SALT BELT". LOW SPEED ACTIVATION CAN AND MAY LEAD TO INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH. THE DEALERS REFUSE TO CORRECT TEH PORBLEM DUE TO THE 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IS NO ON RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 200 TO 2002. *TR
MY 1999 CHEVY SUBURBAN K1500 EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME CHARACTERISTICS AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V379000 . IT HAS 175K MILES, I LIVE IN MICHIGAN, AND THE ABS HAS BEEN KICKING IN AT LOW SPEEDS IN DRY CONDITIONS FOR ABOUT 15K MILES. WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/1999/GMC/SUBURBAN AND HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/1999/CHEVROLET/SUBURBAN+1500 ARE LOADED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS - 1999 MODELS WITH ABS ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
1999 SUBURBAN LT LOW SPEED BRAKE FAILURE!. ABS KICKS IN AT 1-10 MPH, GROANING SOUND ACCOMPANIES PEDAL VIBRATION AND NO STOPPING POWER. STARTED AT ABOUT 100K. PADS REPLACED BRAKES INSPECTED CONTINUES TO HAPPEN BRAKES PULL, WEAR TOO QUICKLY, VIBRATE AT TIMES. POOR BRAKING SYSTEM FOR SUCH A LARGE HEAVY WEIGHING TRUCK. THIS MODEL SUBURBAN HAS MANY DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY GM. *TR
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.
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