FaultScore

1999 Chevrolet Suburban airbag problems

15 of the 861 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban are about the airbag system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 154,500 miles.

F

15

Complaints

14

Crashes

0

Fires

10

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 11 73.3%
AIR Bags 4 26.7%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1995 21 3.5%
1996 17 2.8%
1999 15 2.5%
2001 20 3.3%
2002 12 2.0%
2003 20 3.3%
2004 14 2.3%
2005 10 1.6%
2007 146 24.1%
2008 96 15.8%
2009 38 6.3%
2010 52 8.6%
2011 66 10.9%
2012 26 4.3%
2013 28 4.6%
2014 15 2.5%
2015 11 1.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 133,000 miles Belevedere, IL Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND ANOTHER PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR ABRASIONS AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS INJURED BUT THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES WAS UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000. UPDATED 03/03/11

NHTSA complaint #10372658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Fairbury, NE Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DEER ACCIDENT, LOST CONTROL RAN HEAD ON INTO THE CURB, HIT A SIGN. FRAME IS BENT, WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED AND CAVED IN, FRONT PUSH GUARD IS BENT, AND FRONT PASSENGER FENDER WELL IS CAVED IN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!!!

NHTSA complaint #10287421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Fairbury, NE Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DEER ACCIDENT, LOST CONTROL RAN HEAD ON INTO THE CURB, HIT A SIGN. FRAME IS BENT, WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED AND CAVED IN, FRONT PUSH GUARD IS BENT, AND FRONT PASSENGER FENDER WELL IS CAVED IN. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!!!

NHTSA complaint #10287421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Lehigh Akers, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SUFFERED A CONTUSION ON HER LEFT LEG AND BRUISES ON HER RIGHT LEG. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

NHTSA complaint #10194121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leeton, MO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO MY RECENT MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON MAY 8, 2003. THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD MY RIGHT AWAY. I WAS DRIVING A 1999 CHEVROLET SRUBURBAN. I SERVED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, INTO A RESIDENCE YARD, STRIKING A TREE HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE CORRESPONDED WITH GMC VIA E-MAIL UNTO NOT MY SATISFACTION. I REQUESTED MY VEHICLE HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION CONDUCTED, AS I WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE BASICALLY BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT IF THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FUNCTIONING IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY TRUCK THEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAGS PER A CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER AND THAT MY ACCIDENT DID NOT, MEET THE CRITERIA FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I HIGHLY DISAGREE WITH GMCS EXPLANATION AND CRITICIZE THE LACK OF PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMACY AND CONCERN. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED MORE FROM ONE OF THE BIG 3 AUTO CORPORATIONS. MY VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRONT LEFT FRAME RAIL. THE IMPACT ALSO WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO RAISE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE OF THE GROUND AND SET IT DOWN A FOOT TO THE LEFT OF THE INITIAL IMPACT. THIS HAS ALSO LEFT ME WITH DOCUMENTED INJURIES CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO WORK. MY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLES AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS DIMINISHED TO SAY THE LEAST. THIS MATTER HAS NOT BEEN HANDLED NOR COMPLETED TO MY SATISFACTION. I EXPECTED AT LEAST AN OFFERING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION CONDUCTED. THIS WOULD ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD WORK IN THE EVENT I NEED IT AGAIN. I AM AT A STAND STILL AND I AM POSITIVE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION RELATED TO FAILED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND GMC CHEVY SURBURBAN. I HAVE ALSO SEEN A RECALL ON THE INTERNET WHICH MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER RELATED TO AIRBAGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10029300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sugar Land, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA complaint #8018517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shoreview, MN Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 20MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8001742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Andover, KS Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

60 MPH CROSS WIND BLEW THE SUBURBAN HEAD ON INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES, WENT INTO THE DITCH, THE FRONT END HIT AGAIN THE VEHICLE WENT UP THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EMBANKMENT AND STOPPED IN A FIELD. ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE FRAME NOT REPAIRABLE, THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRAME BENT INTO A DIAMOND SHAPE. FRONT CROSSMEMBER BENT AND ENGINE MOVED UPWARDS AT A 10 DEGREE ANGLE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #753287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrison, AR Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH VEHICLE HIT A FIRE HYDRANT, THEN A TREE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. IMPACT WAS MIDDLE OF FRONT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #896346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #889110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma City, OK Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DID NOT SEE RED LIGHT DRIVING SOUTHBOUND AT INTERSECTION OF ROCKWELL AVENUE AND NW 50TH STREET. HIT DRIVERS SIDE OF FORD F350 EXTENDED CAB PICK-UP TRUCK TRAVELLING EAST BOUND ON NW 50TH. APPLIED BRAKE AND STARTED TO TURN LEFT TO AVOID COLLISION JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. ESTIMATED SPEED AT IMPACT 35-40 MPH. AIR BAGS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER) DID NOT DEPLOY. CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED OR DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #742904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amarillo, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HER LANE, HITTING HER HEAD-ON, AND PUSHING VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER LANE. VEHICLE HIT TELEPHONE POLE, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. CHEVROLET HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #877320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Marcos, CA Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS STRUCK HEAD-ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO ENTERED FREEWAY THROUGH EXIT. UPON IMPACT, FRONT DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #876094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allentown, NJ Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON FRONTAL INTERSTATE SPEED IMPACT. DEALER DISCLAIMED SERIOUSNESS. DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT ANY ADULT IN THE CAR... HOWEVER, THERE WERE CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN BACK. KEEP SPARE SET OF KEYS IN HAND AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #731578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Altamont, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MPH AND ACCIDENTLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING NECK INJURY/SHOULDER INJURY AND BACK INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #829803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Chevrolet Suburban problems

← Full 1999 Chevrolet Suburban report