Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 36 | 43% |
| Tires | 9 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 4% |
| Engine | 2 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2% |
| Air bags | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE NEW. YOUR PARTIAL RECALL FIX FOR STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS ONLY IS INADEQUATE. MAKE ME WONDER ABOUT UNDUE GM INFLUENCE. JUST BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TRUCKS HAVE P
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ABS ENGAGING LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR. NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL OF 805,000, AS NOT IN A RUST BELT STATE.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE ALL WINTER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT OUT AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT OBSERVED
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
BROKEN OR MISSING EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS. POTENTIAL FOR CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKS INTO THE DRIVING COMPARTMENT. UPON RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. WIT
NHTSA complaint: Engine
RUSTED BRAKE LINES ! DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, HIT BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN INTO A DRIVE, BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES AT ALL, I FOUND THE BRAKE LINE GOING TO THE REAR HAD BROKEN BY THE GAS TANK, BRAKE LI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I STARTED TO BACKUP OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY AND SAW WHERE BRAKE FLUID WOULD SHOOT OUT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED UNDER THE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS AFTER FILLING TANK - IT READS EMPTY IMMEDIATELY AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER AT ANY FUEL LEVEL. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR TRAVELING ANY LONG DISTANCE AS YOU ARE NOT QUITE SURE HOW MUCH FUEL
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AN
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 58 | average |
| Depreciation | 78 | good |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 36 of them (43%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.