FaultScore

1999 Chevrolet Silverado headlight problems

22 of the 2,104 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado are about the lighting — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 83,000 miles.

A

22

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Headlights 12 54.5%
Brake Lights 5 22.7%
Exterior Lighting 2 9.1%
Interior Lighting 1 4.5%
Tail Lights 1 4.5%
FOG Lights 1 4.5%

Lights across every Chevrolet Silverado year

1999 22 27.5%
2000 15 18.8%
2001 11 13.8%
2002 12 15.0%
2003 10 12.5%
2004 10 12.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 116,262 miles Jacksonville, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

REAR BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED THE FUSE, AND HIT THE STOP PEDAL. FUSE ONCE AGAIN BURNED OUT AGAIN. REMOVED REAR LAMPS. REPLACED FUSE AGAIN HIT BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN FUSE BURNED OUT AGAIN. ALL MOST HIT IN THE REAR. THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DOES WORK, OTHER LIGHT IN THIS SOCKET DOES WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10156658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,700 miles Jewell Ridge, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS AT 5-10 MPH. A NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS INSTALLED IN 2002, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. BOTH FRNT HUB SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE, THEY WERE BOTH REPLACED ON EACH SIDE. ALSO,REPLACED REAR TAIL LAMP.

NHTSA complaint #10150732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Garden City, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT FAILED (I GO BY MILEAGE TO KNOW IF I NEED FUEL OR NOT). DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHEN YOU GO TO LOOK TO CHANGE LANES (DEALER COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM--SO IT'S NEVER BEEN FIXED). PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS UP IF YOU JUST LEAN FORWARD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW (WAS TOLD THIS WAS A MECHANISM FOR A BABY SEAT--DIDN'T THINK CAR SEATS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE FRONT SEAT). RIGHT SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP BURNED OUT A LONG TIME AGO. ABS MODULE FAILED (HAD TO PULL THE FUSE SO THE PUMP WOULDN'T BURN UP) THEREFORE THE TRUCK NO LONGER HAS ABS. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL HUB FAILED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE IN THE NON-CONSUMER MAINTAINABLE BEARING (THE WHOLE HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED). THE WATER PUMP HAS ALREADY FAILED (REPLACED THAT). THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP HERE & THERE. THE ACCELERATOR STICKS CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO JAM ON IT IN PARKING LOTS & OTHER PLACES WHERE IT'S JUST NOT SAFE TO BE DARTING FORWARD. THIS MODEL YEAR WAS JUST A BAD YEAR FOR GM. THEY NEED TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE WORST GM VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED (AND I'VE BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER ALL MY DRIVING YEARS).

NHTSA complaint #10086771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,000 miles Griffin, GA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN INDICATOR LIGHT PROBLEM (SHIFT INDICATOR AND ODOMETER). THE DASHBOARD WAS TOTALLY DIGITAL, AND THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10057936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Allen, TX Crash

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WHICH I PURCHASED ON 01-06-2001, WITH 25,587 MILES ON THE ODOMETER READING. BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THIRD LIGHT (CAB STOP LIGHT) WORKS. BLINKERS WORK,AND BACK UP LIGHTS WORK. ALL FUSES ARE GOOD. REPLACED BREAK LIGHT BULBS. FIRST OCCASION, I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE ADVISING ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE DEALER(HUFFINES CHEVROLET STATED THAT A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I HAD TO PAY A $250 DEDUCTIBLE. SECOND OCCASION I HAD TO PAY $280 AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIRD OCCASION, IT HAS BEEN ONLY SIX MONTHS SINCE LAST REPAIR WAS MADE. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE OF THIS DATE 11-13-03. STILL TRYING TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THE BREAK LIGHTS TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR THE REASON THAT EXPENSES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FOR THE THIRD TIME IS UNSATISFACTORY.

NHTSA complaint #10046868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE REAR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING . DEALER REPLACED THEM AT 40.000 MILES. ONCE AGAIN IT HAPPENED AT 59,000 MILES. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10022966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colo Spgs, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH IS GOING BAD IN MY TRUCK AND I REALLY NEVER USE THE SWITCH. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL , WILL CHEVY TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? ALSO THE PULLEY OR COMPRESSOR FOR THE HEATING AND AIR MAKES A NOISE WHEN I USE THE AIR SYSTEM IN MY TRUCK. I OWN A 1999 CHEVY SILVERADO Z71, AND I FEEL CHEVY SHOULD HELP ME OUT AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS. ALSO THE FOG LIGHTS HAVE NEVER WORKED ON THE TRUCK AND DANIELS WOULD NOT FIX THEM FOR ME.

NHTSA complaint #10018459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green BAY, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DRIVER'S DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED BULB.

NHTSA complaint #564251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green BAY, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DRIVER'S DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED BULB.

NHTSA complaint #564251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belmore, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED 4-5 TIMES. WHEN APPLIED, BRAKE HOLDS VEHICLE, BUT PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS. *AK DAYTIME RUNNING BULB BLEW OUT AFTER IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. REAR WINDOW ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING, POWER WINDOW WAS SLOW GOING UP. TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A CLUNK NOISE, TRANSAXLE SHAFT REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. FRONT BRAKE HOSE EXPERIENCED AN ABRASION. VEHICLE WAS LEANING, DEALER ADJUSTED FRONT TORSION BAR.

NHTSA complaint #8002964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peru, ME

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, FRONT END OF VEHICLE LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS TORQUED SIDEWAYS AND BROKEN APART, CAUSING THE FRAME TO HAVE 2 BREAKS, THIS CAUSED THE FRONT TO LOCK UP, ALSO PRIOR TO THIS CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A DELAY BETWEEN THE FORWARD AND REVERSE, WHEN A BUMP WAS FELT WHEN ACCELERATING, CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A CLUNK NOISE, DEALER DRAINED AND REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID TWICE. THE ENGINE SPUTTERS IN 4 WHEEL LOW AND THERE IS A WHINE NOISE OR PULLEY NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE FRONT SEAT ARM REST FELL OFF. THE LEFT FRONT DAYTIME LAMP WAS FULL OF WATER DUE TO THE ASSEMBLY BEING IMPROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY. THE BRAKES PULSATED AND PEDAL FELT SOFT, DEALER STATED THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER WAS STICKING AND THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE CORRODED BADLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR. THE ELECTRIC BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE, DEALER INSTALLED A NEW PLUG, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THE POWER WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE. THE LEFT DOOR CREAKS DUE TO FRONT DOOR LINK BEING LOOSE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SIGN A WAIVER BECAUSE OF THE PLOW BEING PLACED ONTO THE EXTENDED CAB, THIS WAS BECAUSE THE INSTALLATION WAS NOT RECOMMENDED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS UNTIL AFTER THE INSTALLATION AND THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8002780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerville, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK BRAKES OUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #898322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerville, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

BRAKE LIGHTS HAD FAILED, AND HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR AN UNKNOWN TIME PERIOD. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT A SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS, BOTH HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND STILL DO NOT WORK

NHTSA complaint #898222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerville, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BRAKE LIGHTS HAD FAILED, AND HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR AN UNKNOWN TIME PERIOD. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT A SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS, BOTH HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND STILL DO NOT WORK

NHTSA complaint #898222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Barney, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE FOLLOWING HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED: 5.3 L ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FOUR OXYGEN SENSORS, 1 STARTER SENSOR, 1 CRANK SENSOR, 1 WINDOW REGULATOR, REAR AIR-VENT ASSEMBLY, 1 SHAFT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, 1 HEADLIGHT BRACKET, 1 KNOCK SENSOR, 4WD SWITCH, 1 CLAMP FOR REAR WINDOW. VEHICLE IS 15 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 32 DAYS OF IN-SHOP SERVICE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 4 TIMES IN 14 DAYS. ON 12/4, VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. ENGINE HAD A SPARE PART LEFT IN AT MANUFACTURING AND WAS DESTROYED FROM THE PART FLYING AROUND INSIDE. ABS HAS ENGAGED TOO SOON IN THE PAST AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #737522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chowchilla, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, AT NIGHT, DEALER STATED "THIS IS NORMAL" SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER RECYCLING EVERY 90 SECONDS. SURE IS ANNOYING

NHTSA complaint #729265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lorton, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

I WORK ON A MILITARY BASE AND AM REQUIRED TO DIM HEADLIGHTS WHEN PASSING THROUGH A GUARD GATE. THE AUTOMATIC HEADLAMPS CANNOT BE DISABLED. GM CLAIMS THIS MEETS ALL 1999 SAFETY STANDARD AND WILL NOT FIX THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE YEAR 2000 MODEL TRUCK CAN HAVE THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS DISABLED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. WHILE I FEEL THIS IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO DRIVER SAFETY I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ALL THE MPS, GUARDS, POLICE THAT EXPECT NOT TO BE BLINDED BY DRIVERS APPROACHING A GUARD GATE OR CHECKPOINT. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE. DAVE SCHULTZ.

NHTSA complaint #713569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseville, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MULTIPLE TIMES, BOTH HI AND LO BEAMS. ONLY WAY TO GET THEM BACK WAS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE COMPLETELY, AND THIS ONLY WORKED SOME OF THE TIME. PROBLEM LIKELY A RESULT OF THIS DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING TO FIX AN INSTRUMENT PANEL SQUEAK WHICH CAUSED A SHORT. DEALER NOW ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #712895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY COME ON ,THERE IS NO WAY TO CUT THESE LIGHTS OFF UNLESS YOU TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF.

NHTSA complaint #848374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNK, UN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE DESIGNED TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN OFF AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING, DESIGN CREATES PROBLEMS ON OCCASIONS TO CONSUMER. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scappoose, OR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. HEADLIGHTS WORK OFF LIGHT SENSOR THAT AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES BETWEEN DAY LIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS. NO WAY TO DEACTIVATE THIS FEATURE. ONCE HEADLIGHTS COME ON WITH THE "AUTO" FEATURE, THERE IS NO WAY TO SHUT THEM OFF WITHOUT TURNING OFF IGNITION. HEADLIGHTS GO ON/OFF DURING DAYTIME IF YOU ARE IN SHADE OF BUILDINGS OR TREES. ANNOYS OTHER DRIVERS WHO THINK YOU ARE "FLASHING" HEADLIGHTS AT THEM. IN ADDITION, IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOU MAY NEED TO TURN OFF HEAD LAMPS (AT A BOAT RAMP FOR EXAMPLE) TO KEEP FROM BOTHERING OTHERS, THERE IS NO WAY TO SHUT OFF HEAD LAMPS WITHOUT TURNING OFF IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #709705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tempe, AZ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT ON FEATURE CANNOT BE DEFEATED IF REQUIRED TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT SUCH AS AT US CUSTOMS BORDER CROSSINGS WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT. ALSO THE DRIVER CANNOT TURN OFF HEADLAMPS AT NIGHT IN PLACES SUCH AS RV PARKS, DRIVE IN MOVIE THEATERS, PARKING LOTS BOOTHS ETC.

NHTSA complaint #709372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Chevrolet Silverado problems

← Full 1999 Chevrolet Silverado report