RoadVitals

1999 Chevrolet Tahoe Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
26
Latest Mar 25, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 552 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.

Owner reports naming suspension

The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words

Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2016

THE FRAME HAS GOTTEN VERY RUSTY AND THE REAR AXLE U BOLTS HAVE RUSTED SO MUCH THAT THEY BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10851624
Incident
Mar 25, 2016
Mileage
126,688 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 2, 2015

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST, WHICH TO DATE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES. THE RUST IS SO BAD I WILL PROBABLY STOP DRIVING, UNTIL I CAN FIND A GOOD FRAME. LARGE LAYERS ARE COMING OFF, AND CAN BE JUST CRUMBLED. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS MINT, THE UNDER BODY STILL LOOKS NEW, THE FRAME IS OUCH!, NOT JUST LOCAL AREAS, THE WHOLE FRAME STRUCTURE.

NHTSA ID
10787851
Incident
Nov 2, 2015
Mileage
73,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 24, 2015

I HAVE 99 TAHOE I PURCHASED NEW, I KNOW ITS OLD , BUT ITS WAS ALWAYS A 3RD VEHICLE, ONLY 188,000 MILES ON IT, JUST WRITING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE ENTIRE FRAME RUSTED OUT ,ALWAYS GARAGED, BRACKETS FOR SHOCKS ETC, SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN THESE CARS CAN LAST LONGER THEN THIS, CAR WAS IN BEING SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES,AND NOT ONCE DID THEY SAY THERE WAS ANY ISSUES. *JS

NHTSA ID
10690455
Incident
Feb 20, 2015
Mileage
188,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 6, 2011

THE SWAY BAR IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE BROKE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE RIGHT ARM OF THE SWAY BAR TO HANG BY ITSELF WHILE THE REST OF THE SWAY BAR IS STILL CONNECTED THROUGH THE FRONT AND ACROSS TO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394485
Incident
Apr 6, 2011
Mileage
170,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Oct 25, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS. THE ABS WAS ACTIVATING AT LOW SPEEDS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY REPLACED THE ABS SENSORS. ALSO, THE ROTORS AND HUBS WERE REPLACED, ALLOWING THEM TO ACCESS THE SENSORS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2005. SHE WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED TODAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140738
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 1, 2005

I DOING RESEARCH I NOTICED ANOTHER COMMON COMPLAINT FROM OTHERS ABOUT SOMETHING I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, MY STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I AM CHANGING LANES, MY STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TURN MORE THAN I WANT TO. THIS CAUSES A REAL SHARP TURN, AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL ONE DAY LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP MY VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE WITH ME. IS THERE SOMETHING I NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS? I ALSO SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT ABS FAILURE AND WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT, ALSO.*AK

NHTSA ID
10108394
Incident
Dec 15, 2004
Mileage
120,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 13, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE AXLE LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. COMSUMER INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEIZED UP AND SNAPPED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10103597
Incident
Dec 11, 2004
Suspension
Filed Nov 26, 2003

SEVERE SHAKING STARTING AT 50 MPH. SHAKING AND LOSS OF POWER WHEN GOING UP HILL. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047662
Incident
Oct 5, 2003
Mileage
86,977 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 3, 2003

THE VEHICLE HAD NO STABILITY WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MOVED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10015098
Incident
Mar 30, 2003
Suspension
Filed Aug 16, 2001

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS AUTO I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A FRONT END PROBLEM. THE AUTO DEALER KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS NOTHING. SENSING IT WAS A MALE/FEMALE PROBLEM I TOOK MY SON IN ONE DAY AND THEY FINALLY LOOKED AND SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD "GLAZED BRAKES". THE SIUTATION DID NOT IMPROVE AFTER THE SO CALLED FIXED IT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I NOTICED SOMETHING VERY FUNNY ABOUT THE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE TIRES ROTATED SO THERE WOULD BE NOT REASON FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND BUBBLING ON ONE TIRE ONLY. I THEN TOOK THE AUTO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT END WAS OUT OVER 3/4" AND COULD NOT BE ALIGNED WITHOUT PROPER MANUFACTURER ADJUSTMENT OF THE HOLES. THEY REFUSED. CHEVY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM BY MANUFACTURING THE ELONGATED HOLE ON THE 2000 MODEL. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NEITHER CHEVY OR MY DEALERSHIP WOULD ASSIST US. I WAS ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND HAVE IT DONE BEFORE I HAD A MAJOR FRONT END BLOW OUT. PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE START READING ABOUT TAHOES AS WELL AS FORDS.*AK

NHTSA ID
750607
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Suspension
Filed Feb 28, 2001

MY TAHOE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS 6 TIMES FOR A KNOCKING OR CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING STOPPING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED BOTH REAR SPRINGS,SHACKLES, U-BOLTS AND RE-TOURQUED THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS, TRANS CROSS MEMBER BOLTS, FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAPS AND BRACKETS TO PROPER SPECS. THE VEHICLE CONTIUES TO MAKE THIS NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
741706
Incident
Sep 15, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jan 18, 2001
Crash reportedFire reported

WHEEL BEARING SIEZED UP, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
878466
Incident
Dec 23, 2000
Suspension
Filed Nov 6, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE TWICE.*AK THE CUSTOMER THINKS THE PRE SET FRONT END COULD BE POSSIBLE CAUSE. *YH

NHTSA ID
874478
Incident
Nov 6, 2000
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Oct 10, 2000
Fire reported

NEIGHBOR CALLED CONSUMER AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, INVESTIGATOR FEELS FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CLAIM 59-V593-419. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900587
Incident
Oct 9, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 28, 2000

THIS VEH. HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES AND PROBLEM IS THE SAME. AT HIGH SPEEDS THE FRONT END VIBRATES. WHEN YOU GO AROUND A CURVE AT CERTIN SPEED AND HIT A BUMP YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME . ONE TIME I LOST PARTIAL CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT 75MPH. THEY HAVE BLAMED THE TIRES (ALTHOUGH THEY REPLACED THEM 5 TIMES) THEY HAVE REALIGNED THE FRONT, BALANCED THE TIRES ENDLESSLY AND TRIED EVERYTHING THEY COULD THINK OF AND ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. THIS IS TRULY A DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD AND IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE ONE OF THESE DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ID
732739
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jul 18, 2000

TRUCK PULLS TO ONE SIDE, BRAKES SHOES FOUND TO BE CRACKED, MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS

NHTSA ID
9000631
Suspension
Filed Dec 21, 1999

VEHICLE HANDLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS UNSTABLE, IT FLOATS ALL OVER THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
716301
Incident
Mar 8, 1999
Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING VIBRATION WHENEVER IT REACHES HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 OR MORE MPH. VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURS. CAN NHTSA HELP INTHIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
845377
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jul 8, 1999

A MALFUNCTION WITHIN STEERING 4 WHEEL FRONT SENSOR SENDS FALSE SIGNALS, CAUSING UNANTICPATED STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENTS AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
841951
Suspension
Filed Jun 30, 1999

VEHICLE SHAKES WHILE DRIVING. HAD REPLACED FOUR SETS OF TIRES. BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP, AND NOTHING CAN BE FOUND. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
841466
Incident
May 12, 1998
Suspension
Filed Jun 16, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
707594
Incident
Apr 11, 1999
Fuel systemExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jun 15, 1999

WHEN WE TOOK DELIVERY OF VEHICLE, WE NOTICED IT WAS SITTING AT AN ANGLE TO THE GROUND (IT SAGGED DOWN 1 1/2 TO 2 INCHES ON THE LEFT REAR) IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE BODY WAS TWISTED. WE WERE ASSURED THAT ANY PROBLEM WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. WE TOOK BACK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, 4 TIMES WE GOT A RENTAL VEHICLE TO USE. THE FIRST TIME WE LEFT THE VEHICLE, THEY CHANGED THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT HAD A 9 GAL. DENT IN IT ALTHOUGH THE SKID PLATE HAD NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER; THE BUMPER WAS MISALIGNED; THE TAILLAMP WAS PROTRUDING AS WELL AS THE REAR-LOWER PORTION OF THE PASSENGER'S REAR WINDOW(TOO MUCH GLUE) AND THE TIRES WERE CUPPING. THEY HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO ALIGNED AND BALANCE TIRES, HOWEVER WE HAD A GOODYEAR DEALER REBALANCE THOSE SAME TIRES TO GET THE VIBRATION OUT TO NO AVAIL. COURTESY SWAPPED DIFFERENT RIMS AND TIRES FROM ANOTHER TAHOE. NOW IT VIBRATES EVEN MORE! WE WERE TOLD TO BE @ COURTESY ON 6/14/99, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A MACHINE THAT WOULD PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MACHINE AND INSTEAD SENT A MECHANIC ON A ROADTEST WITH US. WE WERE POINTING OUT THE VIBRATION TO HIM. HE THEN TOOK US OUT IN ANOTHER '99 TAHOE, THIS TIME THE RIDE WAS SMOOTH, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT HAD A LOW SPEED VIBRATION(WHICH IT DID NOT). WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT THEY COULD WORK SOME FIGURES ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IF WE GAVE THEM $2,500.00 MORE DOLLARS, WE COULD GET THE IDENTICAL VEHICLE ON THEIR LOT. FIRST OF ALL, WE SPENT MORE THAN THE STICKER PRICE AND HAD THE ADD-ONS TAKEN OFF WITH NO CREDIT GIVEN TO US FOR THAT. SECOND OF ALL WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE W/ ONLY A FEW MILES ON IT. AFTER WE GOT IN THE TRUCK TO GO HOME(AFTER IT WAS PAID FOR), WE NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD 732 MILES ON IT!!! THEY SOLD A DAMAGED DEMO AS A NEW VEHICLE. MOST OF THE MILES PUT ON THIS TRUCK ARE FROM RUNNING IT UP TO PHOENIX AND BACK. WE HAD PRE-ARRANGED SERVICE TIMES AND WERE TURNED AWAY SEVERAL TIME

NHTSA ID
707588
Incident
Apr 21, 1999
Suspension
Filed Mar 23, 1999

TRUCK HAS A CLUNKING SOUND AND NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.

NHTSA ID
704820
Incident
Dec 22, 1998
Suspension
Filed Nov 17, 1998

LEAF SPRINGS HITTING NERF BARS. PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED DON HEWLETT CHEVROLET DEALER OCTOBER 13, 1998 WITH 11,694 MILES DURING 12K MILE CHECKUP. DURING REVIEW WE CHECKED ANOTHER TAHOE WHICH ALSO HAD THE EXACT WEAR/DAMAGE MARKINGS ON THE NERF BARS. REFERRED TO COVERT DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT COVERT DEALERSHIP, THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS TO BE INSPECTED/REPAIRED. SERVICE MANAGER (DANNY NICHOLS) INDICATED THE NERF BARS ONLY FIT ONE WAY AND NO ADJUSTMENT IS POSSIBLE. I'M CONCERNED THAT CONTINUED DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE NERF BARS DESIGN GOING TOO FAR BACK UNDER THE VEHICLE ALLOWING THE LEAF SPRINGS TO BOTTOM OUT AND DAMAGE THE NERF BARS WILL CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD. DAMAGE TO NERF BARS MAY IN TIME CAUSE CORROSION AND WEAK SPOTS WHICH MAY BREAK WHILE PASSENGERS ARE EXITING / ENTERING VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, CONTINUED WEAR AND TEAR BY LEAF SPRINGS CONTACTING NERF BARS MAY CAUSE BENT LEAF SPRINGS AND NOISE FROM BENT LEAF SPRINGS. I HAVE NOT CHECKED ANY SUBURBANS BUT THEY MAY ALSO EXPERIANCE THIS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
700701
Incident
Nov 17, 1998
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 13, 1998

VEHICLE DRIFTED HARD TO THE RIGHT. AFTER REPAIRS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE WANDERED ON THE ROAD. ALSO, THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING, MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THE PROBLEM WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
830712
Incident
May 1, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .