FaultScore

1999 GMC Sierra window and wiper problems

18 of the 721 complaints about the 1999 GMC Sierra are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 79,700 miles.

A

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 6 33.3%
Glass, Side/Rear 4 22.2%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 3 16.7%
Windshield 2 11.1%
Exterior 1 5.6%
Linkages 1 5.6%
Motor 1 5.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every GMC Sierra year

1993 25 5.3%
1994 118 25.2%
1995 147 31.4%
1996 86 18.4%
1997 24 5.1%
1998 34 7.3%
1999 18 3.8%
2000 16 3.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 160,000 miles BAY City, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, THE FUEL GAUGE WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE DEALER CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE FUEL GAUGE. SECOND, THE PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED A CABLE WAS BROKEN THAT HELD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. A SHIM WAS ADDED TO KEEP THE WINDOW IN STATIONARY POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10158160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles North Rose, NY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

REPEATED ABS BRAKE FAILURE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR PROBLEM(S). HEATER MOTOR MALFUNCTION, REPEATED WIPER ARM REPLACEMENT, TAILGATE HANDLE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10129881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,000 miles Lincoln Park, MI

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 1999 GMC SIERRA. IN 2001 WITH 25000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT FULLY CLOSE. THE LATCH HAD WORN OUT AND WOULD NOT SEAL THE WINDOW COMPLETELY LETTING AIR AND WATER ENTER THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED FOGGING ON ALL WINDOWS OF THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER REGARDLESS IF THE HVAC SYSTEM WAS ON OR NOT. IT CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP A GREAT DEAL AND FORCED ME TO RUN THE DEFROSTER AT FULL POWER. THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. NOW 3 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING WITH THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THEY SAID IT WAS THE ONLY ONE THEY HAD EVER HAD DO THAT, A COMPLETE REVERSAL OVER THE FIRST TIME. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE FACT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED EARLIER THEY PASSED ME OFF TO GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE. AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY HALF FOR THE NEW GLASS REPLACEMENT. AS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS CAUSING FOGGING AND WATER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY STATEMENT AND PAID FOR IN FULL BY GM.

NHTSA complaint #10106519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,400 miles Royal OAK, MI

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

JUST AFTER PULLING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED. SEEING HOW THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 20'S AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE, I PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO A REPAIR SHOP (CURT'S). I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE CABLES SNAP THE WINDOW DROPS AND THE GLASS USUALLY SHATTERS. MINE DID NOT SHATTER. THE WINDOW CABLE WAS FRAYED AND BROKEN. IF ONE COULD SEE MY TRUCK, YOU WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT IS NEW. AS WITH ALL OF MY VEHICLES, I KEEP IT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. THE REPAIR COST OVER $400.00. THIS FOLLOWS THE RECENT BREAKAGE OF THE REAR TAIL GATE CABLES WHICH PITCHED MY WIFE AND I TO THE GROUND. I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THOSE BROKEN CABLES EVEN THOUGH THE CABLES ON 2000-2003 YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #10104030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Panama City, FL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

#1. RT. WINDOW INTERMITTENT. SATISFIED WITH REPAIR #2. ABS SYS. LITE ON. ABS SYS. INOP. COST WAS TO BE $1200, BUT AFTER NEOGATIONS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. (VEHICLE WAS OVER 36 MO. WARRANTY.) I FEEL THIS TYPE FAILURE IS TOO PREMATURE @ 26,00 MI.

NHTSA complaint #10069093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,342 miles Cincinnati, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP DURING OPERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10067588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,874 miles NEW Orleans, LA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TAILGATE STRAPS BREAK FOR NO REASON. I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE WITH IN THE PAST 4 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10059040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Tecumseh, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER DRIVER WINDOW FAILED IN DOWN POSITION. TAILGATE CABLE FRAYED, READY TO BREAK. ABS DEPLOY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AND BUMP HIT ON DRY ROAD RESULTING IN LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THIS VEHICLE IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10045095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sharpsburg, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE TRAVELING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY DURING USAGE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10034157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles Brownsville, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY MOTOR WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10022556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goddard, KS

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT FORUM FOR VOICING THESE CONCERNS BUT I HOPE AND CAN BE ENLIGHTENED ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT MILEAGE OR DATES OF ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS WITHOUT FURTHER STUDY. THE SEATBELTS ON THIS TRUCK WILL LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WITH NO BRAKING. THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER HAS BROKEN FREE FROM THE MECHANISM TWICE. THE DAYTIME LIGHTING DOES NOT WORK THOUGH THE LAMPS AND FUSES ARE IN WORKING CONDTION. THE POWER STEERING PUMP SHEARED A SHAFT IN TWO AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE CLATTERS AND WAS FIXED ONCE BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THE FIX HAS NEVER LASTED MORE THAN HALF OF AN OIL CHANGE(1,500 MILES.) THE HEADLIGHT AND ROTARY DIMMER SWITCHES AND SURROUNDING TRIM ON THE DASH GET EXTREEMELY HOT TO THE POINT OF BURNING. I KNOW I HAVE MISSED SOMETHING, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SO MANY THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #766994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denison, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM ONTO THE DRIVE SHAFT BACKED OFF AND THE WIPER ARM CONTACTED THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM AND STOPPED BOTH WIPERS FROM OPPERATING.

NHTSA complaint #763649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roswell, GA

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE ABS SYSTEM VIBRATES AT A LOW RATE AND VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN APPLYING CONSTANT PRESSURE ON BRAKES. THERE APPEARS TO BE A 2 TO 3 SECOND DELAY BETWEEN THE TIME ABS TAKES OVER AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME CONTROL OVER THE BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS TIME ELAPSE CAUSES YOU TO USE OTHER MEANS FOR AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS VEERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT TO AVOID CONTACT DURING HEAVY BRAKING. THIS PROBLEM WILL ALSO OCCUR IF THE REAR DRIVETRAN LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE DURING LIGHT BRAKING. THE DRIVER HAS TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP TO BE ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS ON THIS VEHICLE ICES UP COMPLETELY DURING WINTER HIGHWAY DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE MIRRORS TO ICE UP COMPLETELY IS USUALLY LESS THAN 15 MINUTES FROM INITIAL START.

NHTSA complaint #758576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kevil, KY

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

CONSUMER STOOD ON TAILGATE AND LET IT GO. HE LANDED ON CONCRETE GROUND. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. HE WASN'T HURT.

NHTSA complaint #883173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelton, CT

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER SWITCHES AND MOTORS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #784727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Castle, DE Crash

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #724860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Southaven, MS

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE AND AIR LEAK IN BOTH EXTENDED-CAB SIDE WINDOWS. WINDOWS DO NOT SECURE PROPERLY AND DEALER HAS REFUSESED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN THE CHEVRELOT EQUIVILANT OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #717602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, TN

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE FRAME OFF THE BACK WINDOW CRACKED, ALLOWING THE REAR WINDOW TO FALL OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, AND IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #844604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 GMC Sierra problems

← Full 1999 GMC Sierra report