Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 GMC Sierra 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 | 10 | 28% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 22% |
| Tires | 3 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 6% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
2 YEARS AGO I HAD ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE DUE TO RUST AT A COST OF $1000.00 I BELIEVE THE CAUSE WAS POOR METAL IN THE BRAKE LINES AND THE WAY THE LINES ARE ATTACHED TO THE BODY & FRAME HELP TO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TRUCK WAS IN SHOP FOR UNRELATED MAINTENANCE. BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MOVING TRUCK OUT OF SERVICE BAY. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVEABLE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE AS LOWER QUALITY MATERIAL WAS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
GOT HARD ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A DEER THAT HAD JUMPED OUT OF A DITCH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES GAVE OUT. DEALER REPLACED ALL THE ROTTED LINES TO THE TUNE OF 1250.00. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
BRAKES FAILED AS BRAKE LINE CORROSION ALLOWED FLUID LEAK. THIS WAS FIRST OF MULTIPLE LINE FAILURES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THREE DIFFERENT FACTORY LINES FAILED THEN ONE TRANSMISSION LINE. THIS TRUCK IS NOT USED DURING
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WENT UP TO STORE AND FOUND OUT BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR. HAD TO AVOID WRECKING. HAULED IT HOME. PURCHASED AND PUT IN NEW MASTER CYLINDER. WENT TO BLEED THE FIRST BRAKE AND FOUND A RUSTED BREAK LINE O
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HEARD A LOAD CLUNK. WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE OF THE BANGING AND FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE HAD RUSTED SO BAD IT BROKE IN HALF. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I WAS PULLING MY HORSE TRAILER AND WENT TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND MY TRUCK BRAKES WENT OUT AND I COULD NOT STOP. I ENDED UP BEING PUSHED INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST WENT OFF A CLIFF. MY STEP DAD CAME AND GOT MY TRAILER AN
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC C2500 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1999 GMC Sierra 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 | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 58 | average |
| Depreciation | 74 | 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 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 10 of them (28%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) 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 80/100, 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: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.