1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that there was a gap between the cab and the bed of the vehicle, and that the subframe of the vehicle was corroded. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact did not believe that the diagnostic result was not relative to the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that there were rust spots underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
I WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEN THE GARAGE WENT TO LIFT THE TRUCK THE FRAME BUCKLED. THERE WAS SO MUCH RUST DAMAGE THAT THE FRAME WAS SOFT IN NUMEROUS PLACES. THE 1999 SILVERADO Z71 1500 TRUCK IS AN LT WITH ONLY 104,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. IT LOOKS AND RUNS GREAT! THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT 10 YEARS AGO AND I REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES.
THE FRAME BROKE RIGHT OVER THE REAR END. . I SEEN THE BED OF THE TRUCK WAS NOT LINING UP WITH THE CAB ONE DAY.
THE FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE THAT IS MOUNTED UNDER THE REAR OF VEHICLE FELL OFF INTO TRAFFIC WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN, ON A FLAT, SMOOTH CONCRETE CITY STREET AT 4 MPH.THE TINY CABLE THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS IS A DEADLY HAZARD! SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED BY THIS FLAW EVENTUALLY
THE FRAME RAIL ON THE LEFT SIDE IS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES UNDER THE CAB AREA. THE FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE CAB SAGS 1 IN LOWER WHERE THE CAB MEETS THE BOX. BODY LINES NO LONGER MATCH UP. THERE IS NO REASON A 18 YR OLD TRUCK WITH A MINT CONDITION BODY AND ONLY DRIVEN APPROX 17500 KM PER YEAR SHOULD BREAK THE WAY IT DID. THIS PERFECTLY GOOD STEP SIDE TRUCK IS NOW USELESS AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I BOUGHT A 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH 77,000 ACTUAL MILES THAT WAS FOR SALE ON CRAIGSLIST. THE GENTLEMAN ADVERTISED THE TRUCK IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH NO RUST. WHEN I TEST DROVE THE TRUCK, I NOTICED IT NEEDED NEW A EXHAUST, AND SHOCKS. THE FOG LIGHTS WERE BROKEN, AND THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES WERE EXTREMELY CLOUDY. THIS IS NORMAL ON A OLDER VEHICLE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SETTING IN THE GARAGE, SINCE I DROVE IT HOME. THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME THAT ALL THE RECEIPTS ARE IN THE GLOVE BOX, FROM WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THE TRUCK. I WENT THROUGH THE RECEIPTS, AND MOST OF THEM WERE FROM OIL CHANGES. SINCE I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE TRUCK, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO A TUNE-UP, AND CHANGE ALL THE FILTERS AND FLUIDS. I SPENT OVER A $1,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR, ON SHOCKS, EXHAUST SYSTEM, TURN SIGNAL LENSES, FOG LIGHTS, FILTERS, FLUIDS, SPARK PLUGS, AND IGNITION WIRES. I JACKED THE TRUCK UP, SO THAT I COULD REPLACE THE EXHAUST. WHEN I CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK, I NOTICED THE FRAME AND FRAME CROSS MEMBERS WERE EXTREMELY RUSTY. THE TRUCK WAS ADVERTISED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH NO RUST! I STARTED REMOVING THE OLD EXHAUST, AND MY HAND WENT THROUGH ONE OF THE FRAME CROSS MEMBERS. THE GAS TANK HANGS FROM THIS PARTICULAR FRAME CROSS MEMBER. HOW CAN THE TRUCK BODY BE SO NICE, BUT THE FRAME BE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT? IF WE HAD STATE INSPECTIONS, THERE'S NO WAY THE TRUCK WOULD PASS INSPECTION! I HAVE A 1995 GMC SIERRA THAT'S NEVER HAD ANY BODY RUST, OR RUST ON THE FRAME! I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND FOUND OUT IT'S COMMON FOR THE FRAMES TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT ON THE GM TRUCKS BUILD FROM 1999 - 2007. THERE'S MILLIONS OF THESE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD, AND THE FUEL TANK, SPARE TIRE, OR REAR-END COULD EASILY FALL OFF! WHY ISN'T GM RECALLING THESE TRUCKS, AND REPLACING THE RUSTED OUT FRAMES? I HAVE A 2007 FORD F150 THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY BODY RUST, OR FRAME RUST!
AFTER ALL THE RUSTED PARTS; FUEL TANK THAT STRAP TANK FELL OUT. BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH LOST BRAKES AND NOW WE ARE TOLD FRAME HAS RUSTED THAT CAUSE OUR FUEL LINE TO RUPTURED. WHEN WILL GENERAL MOTORS STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE TRUCKS THAT ARE RUST BUCKETS.
FRAME BROKE DUE TO RUST BEHIND THE CAB. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF CORROSION AND COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE FRAME RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 12/9/14*CN UPDATED THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE REPAIR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THEREFORE, WOULD NOT COVER THERE REPAIR COST. THE REPAIR COSTS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT AS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/1/2015 *JS
TOOK MY 1999 CHEVY EXT CAB IN FOR SERVICE. PUT IT ON THE LIFT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE FRAME CRACKED. NOTIFIED GM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND WHEN I ASKED THEM WHO WAS PAYING THE BILL THEY TOLD ME I WAS. UNABLE TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T ALLOW WELDING ON THE FRAME IN THIS STATE. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH MANAGEMENT AND LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. NEVER GOT IT FIXED BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TAG TO DO IT I AM GOING TO RUN IT TO THE JUNK YARD TO GET READ OF IT. I HAVE KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NEVER ANY RECALLS. PLEASE LET PEOPLE KNOW NOT TO BUY GMS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL JUNK AND GM WANT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THEM. *TR
FRAME IS RUSTING ALONG WITH BUMPER AND ROCKER PANELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME FRACTURED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,425. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE FROM THE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN EXTREMELY LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CROSS MEMBER WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
LAST YEAR WE FOUND OUT WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BACK HALF OF THE FRAME OF OUR 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO. WE TOOK IT IN FOR A REPAIR AND WHEN THEY WENT TO TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE BACK END, THE FRAME FELL APART IN HIS HANDS. I AM HEARING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SAYING THEY'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COST US $2500 TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED. I FEEL GM SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE FRAMES AND DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEM AND NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS, THIS CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF THESE FRAMES DECIDE TO FALL APART ON THE ROAD WHILE THE PERSON IS DRIVING. I'M SURE IT'S HAPPENED ALREADY. MY HUSBAND IS LAID OFF AND THIS MONEY WOULD OF COME IN HANDY TO PAY OUR BILLS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU CONTACT GM AND HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF. WHEN WE GOT OUR NEW FRAME WE WERE TOLD THEY HAD SOLD AT LEAST 7 OTHERS IN THE TIME FRAME WE BOUGHT OURS. THIS IS OUT OF CONTROL. I JUST HEARD OF ANOTHER CASE JUST BEFORE I TYPED THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE HELP US! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE FRAME RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXT. CAB 4WD. IT HAS NUMEROUS CRACKS IN THE FRAME BEHIND THE CAB. WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN! I READ UP ON BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. 1999-2002 HAS THE SAME FRAME CRACKING COMPLAINTS! THEY ARE NOT RUSTING! JUST CRACKING. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID NHTSA DETERMINES THE RECALLS. TOYOTA HAD ONE FOR FRAME PROBLEMS IN THERE TRUCKS. THIS MODEL YEAR OF CHEVY AND GMC DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SUB FRAME COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BUT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A $2000 DISCOUNT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS EXTREMELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
THE FRAME ON MY 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 1500 REG. CAB HAS RUSTED OUT AND HAS A WHOLE/CRACK IN IT BY THE CROSSMEMBER, AND IS UNSAFE. I REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE LINES SEPT. 09 BECAUSE OF RUST. THIS VEHICLE HAS 9 WINTERS ON IT AND 130K, THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE GM IS NOT AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY HELP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BENEATH THE DRIVER SIDE BETWEEN THE BOX AND THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,354 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 169,439. UPDATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 03/09/11
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB 4WD PICKUP. IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME NEAR THE GAS TANK HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS FINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS A LOT LATELY.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 32 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.