I purchased this truck new in 1999 and have watched it rust away. Why they didn't use better metal or even stainless steel. My brake lines have rusted so bad that one or more is leaking along frame rail underneath drivers seat. Many other owners in this region seem to have same problems. I'm glad it was in my driveway when it became dangerous to drive. Also the ABS module stopped working and had to pull the 60 amp fuse to disconnect at 60,000 and truck now has 121,000 miles. Gmc sierra 1500 4wd brake lines are rusting away what a shame. Driveshaft going to rear axle is made of aluminum and looks brand new still. Again stainless steel should have been used for important brake lines. Just wonder how many accidents have occurred due to this problem. That is all and hope for a recall.
The worst 1999 GMC C/K Series problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes4
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes4
Recalls 1
Seat belts: front: anchorage
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The seat belts fail to conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
- Risk
- The seat belts may not restrain an occupant properly in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both the front driver and passenger seat belts with new seat belts.
Recall number 00V097000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1999 GMC C/K Series
Defect investigations
Parking brake failure
In a letter dated april 20, 2005, gm notified the federal safety agency that it had decided that defects that relate to motor vehicle safety exist in certain model year (my) 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series (pbr parking brake system) and my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series (trw parking brake system) pickups with manual transmissions.according to gm, some of these vehicles may have conditions that cause the friction linings to wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.gm's action covers an estimated total of 142,585 vehicles.dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with the pbr parking brake system and install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly on vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system. A total of 58 non-duplicative complaints were received by odi and gm concerning the approximately 59,000 my 1999-2002 c/k 1500 series pickup trucks with the pbr parking brake system.these included 22 alleged rollaway incidents, resulting in a rate of 38.5 rollaway incidents per 100,000 vehicles.odi is aware of 24 complaints regarding the my 2001-2005 c/k 2500 and 3500 series manual transmission trucks recalled by gm, including 5 alleging rollaway incidents.though the conditions described in gm's letter are also present in the c/k trucks with automatic transmissions, the rollaway rate in those vehicles was similar to those observed in peer vehicles studied by odi in this investigation.this engineering analysis is closed. For additional information, see the attached closing report.
EA04011
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake system's torque below that needed to immobilize the vehicle.gm has attributed this accelerated wear to foreign material intrusion and a failure of the brake shoe to properly self-center within its brake drum.effective with the start of my 2003 production, a newer reduced force hold-down clip was introduced to facilitate brake shoe disengagement from the drum surface.this part is also available at the service level for the my 1999-2002 vehicles.gm has indicated that the paking brake is intended to operate in conjunction with the transmission to immobilze parked vehicles, and that in many cases, accelerated parking brake lining wear is caused by rough use, vehicle modifications, and driving with the parking engaged. Odi has upgraded the preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis to gather further information concerning parking brake usage factors and the circumstances surrounding the seventeen reported vehicle crashes.
PE03057
Brake hose abrasion
Front brake hose abrasion by tire/wheel rim may lead to rupture under pressure and diminished brake system performance.
PE99003
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 GMC C/K Series 18
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Saab/hummer/gm: diagnostic tips/recommendations when power steering pump replacement is necessary....
- Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on, transmission stuck in third gear, instrument cluster inoperative
- A no reverse, no second gear, or no fourth gear condition
- Malfunction indicator lamp on with a P0300 set and a misfire
- 6.5L L49 L56 L57 L65 diesel engine requiring fuel injection pump replacement
- Rough idle after start, and/or a service engine soon (SES) light
- A failure of the electronic diesel fuel injection pump, leaking to complaints of poor performance or fuel...
- Some customers may experience a failure of the electronic diesel fuel injection pump
- Subject regarding exhaust system rumble / rattle noise
- Some owners with vehicles built before january 15,1999 may comment on a harsh 1-2 upshift and may also...
What 1999 GMC C/K Series owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Blew a brake line while backing a boat into the water..... Thank goodness no one was in the water and that the truck stopped before completely submerging. The brake lines all look terrible.... I'm not a mechanic but I do most of my own mechanical work on my trucks all my life.... Once I paid attention to them, all of my brake lines are in horrible shape!! Bad news here.... People are gonna die from this.
Loss of brakes due to corroded brake lines. Happened twice. Sections of brake line replaced. (although I indicated 15 MPH at time of "incident", the brakes were already not functioning properly when, on the way to the service station, I bumped a car which cut in front of me.) reported issue to you since I saw article in 4/11/10 hartford courant. Have not replaced entire brake line due to difficulty in accessing it and related expense.
My 1999 gmc suburban was taken in for braking problems to a gmc dealership. Upon backing at slow speeds a spring tension release is heard and loss of braking abilities occur for three to five seconds. When coming to a stop at forward speeds a forward impulse occurs after having fully stopped while foot remains upon the brake. Yes, an involuntary lurch forward. Dealerships response? Master cylinder. Same condition on leaving dealership. Returned. Mechanics response. "can't duplicate problem." gmc customer assistance response? Abs recall doesn't fall within your year. I insist this is happening with my vehicle. Please direct my path to get gms attention.
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Questions about the 1999 GMC C/K Series
Is the 1999 GMC C/K Series reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 1999 GMC C/K Series, 4.0 times a typical C/K Series model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 GMC C/K Series?
Brakes, with 4 complaints.
How many recalls does the 1999 GMC C/K Series have?
1 recall, covering seat belts.
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