1999 Chevrolet Suburban Transmission Problems

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147378

Incident

Dec 27, 2004

Mileage

69,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10086535

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

49,600 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DEALER ON OCT 25TH,2003 AND ON DECEMBER 21ST, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY.I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AT $275 THEN REPAIRS WERE $2,567.95 PLUS RENTAL CAR FEES.DEALER OWNER REFUSES TO CONTACT ME .ALSO DEALER PROMISED TO MATCH MY DOWN PAYMENT OF $2500 AND DID NOT DO SO ON THE CONTRACT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052436

Incident

Dec 21, 2003

Mileage

69,535 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

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030335

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

Mileage

101,000 mi

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?*AK

NHTSA ID

10025623

Incident

Jul 4, 2003

Mileage

97,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10005428

Incident

Dec 30, 2002

Mileage

78,000 mi

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

758296

Incident

Mar 5, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLUNK SOUND WHEN MOVING FOWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND REVVED UP TO 5500-6600 RPM FOR NO REASON WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

785605

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

745387

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

743208

Incident

Jun 8, 2000

CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF AND IN DANGER DUE TO THESE VEHICLES. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

742704

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

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. *AK 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. *SLC

NHTSA ID

880261

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR . SNAPS YOUR NECK. *AK

NHTSA ID

740601

Incident

Feb 5, 2001

THE STEERING GRABS WHEN TURNING RIGHT, VERY DANGEROUS. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT SAME TIME. GMC HAS FAILED ON THIS MODEL . *AK

NHTSA ID

740553

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT, THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ORDER ONE. INITIALLY HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE 90 DAYS, THEN HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER MAKING THEM. I DEPEND ON 4X4, THT WAS THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, A SINGLE MOM WITH THREECHILDREN. PLEASE HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID

740066

Incident

Nov 11, 2000

CONSUMER HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE: FRONT END PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE DRIVING, THERE ARE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED, HOWEVER STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. ENGINE IS BURNING ANTIFREEZE, WHEN CHECKED SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE OIL WAS DOWN 2 QUARTS, VAPOR RECOVERY TANK WAS EMPTY, ANTIFREEZE/WATER LEVEL IN ANTIFREEZE IN RADIATOR WAS DOWN 1 QUART, HEAD GASKETS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND BURNING THE ANTIFREEZE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, COOLANT LEVEL IN RADIATOR DROPPED ONCE THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A MINUTE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST GASES COMING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK OF THE RADIATOR AND THE WATER LEVEL SLOWLY DROPPED IN THE RADIATOR. VEHICLE PULLS DRASTICALLY TO THE LEFT WHILE BRAKING, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND REAR SHOES AND HAS REFACED ROTORS AND DRUMS, PULLING STILL EXISTS, DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE PROPORTIONING VALVE. TRANSMISSION MAKES A TICKING NOISE. A SPECIALIST LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, IT CHARGES AT 15.1 VOLTS DIRECT CURRENT WHICH IS OVERHCARGING THE BATTER, EVEN AFTER VEHICLE RAN FOR 15 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL CHARGING AT 14.71 VOLTS, THE BATTERY HAS FAILED 4 TIMES, IT HAS LEAKED AND CORRODED, CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL GAUGES WENT CRAZY. VEHICLE IDLES HIGH, DEALER REPLACED IDLER AIR CONTROL VALVE. DRIVER SIDE MIRROR WILL NOT TURN SIDE TO SIDE, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY MIRROR SWITCH. *SLC

NHTSA ID

877622

RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. ALSO, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, AND STEERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR (EVO) WAS REPLACED, FUEL TANK SENDER PUMP UNIT WAS REPLACED, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPAIRED. *AK MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WON'T LOCK. *YH

NHTSA ID

873402

Incident

Mar 10, 1999

WE HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE..PAINT DEFECTS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURES, TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, ETC.*AK

NHTSA ID

732669

Incident

Sep 25, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

731974

Incident

Aug 23, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

723388

Incident

Apr 1, 1999

WHEN SHIFTING GEAR INTO PARK TRANSMISSION WENT INTO REVERSE. PROBLEM HAPPENED ON A RANDOM BASIS. DEALER SAYS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

862005

Incident

Feb 2, 2000

BRAKE SHIFT LOCK FAILED AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER CONSUMER, CAUSING INJURY TO THE OWNER. YH (THE OWNER'S NAME IS NOT GIVEN ONLY ATTORNEYS NAME)

NHTSA ID

550962

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.

NHTSA ID

714570

Incident

Nov 24, 1998

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. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

849124

Incident

Sep 3, 1999