RoadVitals

1999 GMC Suburban Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
13
Latest Jul 30, 2003
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 285 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 GMC Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Jul 30, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH 1999 GMC SUBURBAN TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT.*MR DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID
10031839
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
53,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 2003

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025175
Incident
Dec 11, 2002
Mileage
70,101 mi
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed May 8, 2003

THE RIGHT REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL BROKE TWICE AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKE. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED ACID AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TRAY TO RUST *MR *AK

NHTSA ID
10018246
Incident
Jul 27, 2001
Mileage
16,913 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 2003

PREMATURE TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,667 MILES DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF SUN GEAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THE SHAFT COLLAR BROKE OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE REPLACEMENT PART FROM GM HAS THE COLLAR TO HUB MATING STRENGTHENED FROM THE FACTORY ORIGINAL, SO IT IS KNOWN IN GM THIS PART HAS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE FACTORY. I WAS AND AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS WAS A TERRIBLE FINANCIAL BURDEN AT A BAD TIME. CONTACTING GM WAS NO HELP - "IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY". FURTHER COMPLAINTS TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AUTO LINE RETURNED SAME ANSWER - OUT OF WARRANTY". THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BABIED AND WELL CARED FOR. NO TRAILERS HAVE BEEN TOWED AND NO OFF-ROAD USE. RIDICULOUS A $41,000 VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO 3 OTHER SUBURBAN OWNERS IN MY SMALL TOWN AND ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T SOMEONE FORCE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAILURE> I WARN PEOPLE ABOUT PURCHASING SUBURBAN'S NOW WITHOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10010634
Incident
May 15, 2002
Mileage
60,667 mi
BrakesEngineSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 11, 2002

HAVE OWNED '90GMC C1500 P/U & '99 GMC C1500 SUBURBAN IN PAST 12 YEARS; BOTH VEHICLES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS W/ FRONT BRAKE PULL/WEAR; SUSPENSION; BRAKE PIPES; ENGINE/TRANS. HESITATION, HANG....; CORRODED + BATTERY CABLES, BATTERIES; LEAKING HVAC DUCTS; AND ON & ON. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES 12+/- YEARS OF DOCUMENTED BRAKE PROBLEMS ACROSS VEHICLE LINES/MODELS NOT WARRANT A MASSIVE RECALL AND/OR COMPENSATION TO OWNERS FOR OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ENGINEERING, MATERIALS, ETC.....????!!!! I SUPPOSE THE FORD/FIRESTONE PROBLEMS TOOK PRECEDENCE? CAN YOU SAY "CLASS ACTION"??*AK

NHTSA ID
767024
Incident
Apr 17, 2002
Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 2002

I REALY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOME ONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS ON MY TRUCK. I PROBBABLY DID NOT FILL OUT THE APPLICATION CORRECTLY ,BUT I PAID TO MUCH MONEY ON THIS TRUCK TO BE HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEMS. PLEASE CALL SO THAT I CAN SEND SOME COPIES THAT THAT I SENT TO THE MANUFACURER. ENGINE HAS ALSO FAILED TO START ABOUT 30 TIMES WITH THE FIRST ONE IN THE SHOW ROOM OF DEALER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
766069
Incident
Aug 22, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jan 25, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE ENGINE WAS ON AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND WENT BACKWARDS. CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT WAS DRAGGED UNTIL VEHICLE STOPPED. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
8002873
Incident
Jun 29, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 30, 2001

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE AUGUST 2000. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIRST TWO TRANSMISSIONS UNDER A WARRANTY, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH COVERED THIRD TRANSMISSION.*AK CONSUMER STATES EACH TRANSMISSION WAS BRAND NEW.*JB

NHTSA ID
889364
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Feb 8, 2000

VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION/ ENGINE, TRANSAXLE,RING AND PINION,GEAR/ENGINE BEARING/BRAKE BOOSTER/ FRONT BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS,AND SUSPENSION.CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING TRAILOR OR WITH LOAD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
856530
BrakesSteeringTransmission
Filed Sep 2, 1999
Crash reported3 injuries reported

VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT COLUMN WAS STRUCK BY THE PASSENGER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SENT INTO REVERSE. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCKUP AND THE CONTROL MECHANICAL LOCK ON THE WHEEL COLUMN WAS LOCKED INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN WITH NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHILCE STARTED TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL AND THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE IN SAFTEY BELTS EXCEPT MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS INT THE BACK SEAT ASLEEP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. IT TOOK RESECUE CREWS TO REMOVE MYSELF THE DRIVER AND DAUGHTER WHO WAS TRAPPED IN THE BACK. WE WERE TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. ALL FIVE PASSENGERS WERE RELEASED WITH ONLY MINOR BRUISES AND CUTS. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND WHY A SAFETY FEATURE IS NOT PROVIDED TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING ACCIDENTLY PUT INTO REVERSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN DRIVE. PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
710855
Incident
Aug 26, 1999
Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 1999

VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE CAUSING COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID
547956
Incident
Jan 25, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Mar 29, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSED GEARS TO LOCK UP. *YC

NHTSA ID
544647
Incident
Aug 3, 1998
BrakesFuel systemSuspension+1 more
Filed Dec 28, 1998

FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO LOUD NOISES. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT DID NOT SHIFT GEARS AUTOMATICALLY, ROUGH SWITCH. ABS BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IN ADDITION, TWO TIRES REPLACED IN THE REAR DUE TO VIBRATION OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND ARE ATTEMPTING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
832698
Incident
Oct 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 .