1999 Chevrolet Suburban Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost power steering and power braking functionality. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the security system that controlled the fuel pump and fuel injectors had been activated. The contact pulled off the highway and could not restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a service station where he inspected the vehicle and became aware that the distributor had disintegrated causing the vehicle to lose motive power and stall. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer or to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact recently had a mobile mechanic install an aftermarket distributor cap and rotor from an auto parts dealer. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 183,613.

NHTSA ID

11481012

Incident

Aug 16, 2022

Mileage

183,613 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT DEBRIS FROM THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE STARTER AND THE FLY WHEEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTOR HOUSING EXHIBITED CRACKS THAT THE STARTER BOLTS MOUNTED INTO. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 02/12/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10491714

Incident

Nov 15, 2012

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHENEVER THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASS LOCK MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10427746

Incident

Mar 18, 2009

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER SHE MANUALLY ACTIVATED THE WIPERS. THE WIPERS WOULD STOP MOVING, BUT SHE COULD HEAR THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR STILL RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. A FRIEND OF THE CONTACT, WHO IS ALSO A MECHANIC, STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) BECAUSE OF THE MODEL YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,638 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10248787

Incident

Nov 17, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER , AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 120,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188699

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

40,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE EMANATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE CAB. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE ITSELF WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10168722

Incident

Sep 18, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AND THE WIRING HARNESS . WHEN DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AT LEAST SIX TIMES. BEFORE THE WIRING HARNESS BURNED THE DASHBOARD WAS HOT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141703

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS UNLOADING ITEMS AND PUSHED THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT'S WHEN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE WENT HAYWIRE. THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CLICKING SOUND, THE GAUGES WENT OUT OF CONTROL, THE STEREO READ OUT BEGAN FLIPPING THROUGH NUMBERS AND SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE DRIVING LIGHTS THAT SHOULD COME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED THEY FLICKER AND AT TIMES GO OUT. THE ENTIRE SITUATION HAS OCCURRED NOW FOUR TIMES SINCE 09/10/05. I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 07/01/05 AND FROM WHAT THE RECORDS SHOW ON THE VEHICLE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC TO WHERE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED A SERIOUS COLLISION FROM THE DEFECTS OF YOUR VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THIS COULD BE THE RESULT OF A VERY SERIOUS INJURY ACCIDENT OR EVEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I SEE WHERE YOU HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME DEFECT AND CHEVROLET HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. IT IS TIME FOR CHEVROLET TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS DEFECT INSTEAD OF TELLING THE CUSTOMERS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE GAS GAUGE HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND NO LONGER SHOWS ACCURATE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE. I AM KINDLY ASKING CHEVROLET TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR MANUFACTURING OF THEIR VEHICLES AND TO PLEASE PUT THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF YOUR CUSTOMERS FIRST AND FOREMOST BEFORE THE CONCERN OF WHAT IT WILL COST YOUR COMPANY TO CORRECT THIS DEFAULT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137992

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

86,700 mi

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, RIGHT BEFORE GETTING TO A STOP LIGHT AND ON WET PAVEMENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS PUSHING BACK. THE BRAKE AND FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS SHAKING. MORE FREQUENTLY IT WOULD OCCUR WHILE TOWING A TRAILER. WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK THE OS OXYGEN SENSOR, BATTERY AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10119550

Incident

Apr 1, 1998

Mileage

5,500 mi

WE BOUGHT THE USED VEHICLE JAN.04 FROM DEALER, DAY WE PICKED IT UP BATTERY DEAD NEXT MORNING, NOT KNOWN AT TIME WAS BECAUSE DOME LIGHTS WERE FLICKING ON OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. FIRST ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AS SOON AS TURN ON HEADLIGHTS, ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD BLOW, NO DASH LIGHTS, NO TAIL LIGHTS ETC. WE PAID OVER 200 TO HAVE THAT FIXED(SHORTAGE IN PARK LIGHT BEHIND GRILL REPLACED) STILL HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF WHENEVER TO THE POINT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE FUSE WHEN PARKED SO THEY DON'T COME ON AND DRAIN BATTERY. DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM, TAKEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND PAY FOR LABOR TO FIND NOTHING.. ABS BRAKES ARE KICKING IN WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN, NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. I CAN NOT BELIEVE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL AND ABS BRAKES, THAT CHEVY DOES NOT DO A RECALL.. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVROLET AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN IF THIS IS THERE QUALITY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116556

Incident

Jan 19, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

FAILURE OF DOOR LOCKS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK (COMPLETELY RANDOM). IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, CAN TRAP PERSON INSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106429

Incident

Jan 13, 2005

Mileage

55,114 mi

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STARTED SMOKING, AND THE MIRROR CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FLAMES OUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081641

Incident

Jun 26, 2004

CONSUMER STATED THAT ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2004 HEARD THE ALARM GO OFF. SHE WENT TO THE WINDOW, AND SAW VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059820

REPEATED FAILURE OF DIESEL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO STARTER AND 7 OF 8 GLOW PLUGS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053189

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

Mileage

91,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY FUEL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT A FUSE BLEW OUT, CAUSING FUEL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $500.00 TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053971

Incident

Jan 13, 2004

CAR BATTERY LEAKED, STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS, CABLES WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BATTERY LEAKED ON TOP OF BRAKE CABLE. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041153

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

49,081 mi

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. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10032532

Incident

Aug 9, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE. IT STARTED WITH THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING. UNLIKE THE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES, 2 ALTERNATERS, CD PLAYER REPLACED, AC ON/OFF SWITCH REPLACED, TIME DELAY MODULE FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REPLACED, CAR ALARM DISCONNECTED, AND NOW CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. USUALLY WORKS FINE FOR ABOUT 3-6 MONTHS THE I HAVE NOTICED THE FLICKERING (AT NIGHT), AND THE ALT METER DROPS AT IDLE TO ABOUT 12 VOLTS. THIS HAS GONE INTO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOW AND VERY SOON THE WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY THAT AFTER IT EXPIRES, THEY DO NOT COVER PRE-EXISTING PROBLEMS. THEY ARE NOW CONDUCTING A TEST AND CHANGING SOME CONNECTORS ON THE ALTERNATER, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE COST. FLICKERING AT NIGHT IS ONE THING WITH OTHER CARS. RESOLVING A PROBLEM ON A 40K CAR IS ANOTHER. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID

10031113

Incident

Aug 7, 2003

AC DELCO BATTERY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE POSITIVE TERMINAL IS FAILING, AND ACID IS LEAKING ON TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND AIR CONDITIONER ,COMING TO THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND DOWN TO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030117

I WAS DRIVING MY VECHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS. WE GOT OUT AND THE VEHICLE SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025552

Incident

Jul 5, 2003

Mileage

48,700 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER DOOR LOCKS AND 4 OF THE 5 DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE AUTOMATICALLY OVER A 3 WEEK TIME SPAN. THE PART THAT FAILED IS CALLED AN ACTUATOR, WHICH MOVES THE DOOR LOCKS UP AND DOWN. MY TOTAL BILL WAS $900 AND EACH PART COSTS $100. THE LOCAL PARTS DEALERS AND AUTO DEALERS HAVE SAID THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND THE NEW ACTUATORS ARE BEING SOLD AS FAST AS THEY ARRIVE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH GM RECENTLY AND SO FAR NO SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN FILED. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN INHERENT SAFETY RISK WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONE POSTED. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023377

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

I HAVE A DIESEL VERSION OF THE SUBURBAN, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTING THE TWO BATTERIES IS VERY LOOSE AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE CHANNEL DESIGNED FOR IT OVER THE FAN SHROUD. I REPLACE IT EACH TIME, WHILE COMING TO WORK THIS MORNING, I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THEN HEARD AN AWFUL NOISE. I PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE SPARKS FLYING EVERYWHERE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE TRUCK OFF TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE CABLE HAD COME OUT OF ITS PLACE YET AGAIN & FALLEN INTO THE FAN. I WAS LUCKY I SHUT IT OFF WHEN I DID, THERE WAS ONLY A FEW "THREADS" OF COPPER HOLDING IT TOGETHER. HAD IT CUT COMPLETELY IN TWO, THERE MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023233

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FUEL GAUGE IS INCORRECT. THIS STARTED IN NOV 2002. NOW THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEAD LIGHTS DON'T COME ON OR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALL THE DASH BOARD GAUGES START ALL START MOVING BACK AND FORTH. WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON A HIGH PITCHED "AC" STATIC NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE WIRING. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10013861

Incident

Mar 28, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE BATTERY TERMINAL MELTED WHICH CAUSED ACID TO LEAK ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. *JB *JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10007079

TOYOTA OF ORANGE DID NOT STAND BY THEIR GUARANTEE OF "LEMON" USED CARS. I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE FROM THEM AND CONTINUOUSLY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK. I AM NOW PAST THE ELIGABLE TIME LIMIT FOR 'LEMON LAW' BENEFITS AND AM STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT I CANNOT EVEN SELL FOR THE 'KELLY BLUE BOOK PRICE', BECAUSE IT DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

10000086

Incident

Mar 4, 2001

Mileage

29,550 mi