1999 Chevrolet Tahoe: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 552 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (39% of complaints); the 1998 and 2000 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 552 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“driver side seat belt unbuckles randomly for no apparent reason forcing you to re-buckle. to confirm belt was buckled properly i pulled on strap and it would not release. yet driving down road it will unbuckle randomly”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2023
“The contact's son owns a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 All-Terrain TIRES, TIRE SIZES 265/65/18. The contact stated that while his son was traveling at 25 MPH, the left rear driver side tire blew out without warning. The contact's son was not injured. The contact stated that the entire sidewall had blown out from the tire. The contact's son was able to replace the tire with a spare. The contact had reached out to the tire manufacturer where they informed him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T002000 (TIRES). The tire had yet to be replaced. The failure mileage was unknown. Vin was unavailable”Owner report · Tires · Jun 2021
“My 1999 chevy tahoe been giving me problems with the steering wheel snatching the wheel to one side of the road I have liked to wrecked twice because of this I had my tires changed thought it was that had the truck lined up still doing it I think this is a very important safety issue that needs to addressed before sombody gets hurt when the truck snatches it pulls like it out of limit bad but then go's back to its self I noticed it mostly does it in a turn around a curve while on the highway”Owner report · Steering · Jun 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owned a 1999 chevrolet tahoe. While driving 35 mph, the contact had a head on collision with a light pole. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was inured and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to the contact's residence. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure, but did not assist. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet tahoe. While driving various speeds, the brakes would seize and release without warning when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the vehicle shook violently. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2017
“99 tahoe - several times repeatidly - hit brakes- suv starts stopping then brakes pule & no stop-several times came so close rear ending vehicle in front due to pulsing brakes not stopping !!!!!called chevrolet on recall bulletin - says not my vehicle !!!! I get into accident -will be sueing chevrolet with bulletin recall but nothing done !!!! Say' out of my pocket !!!!!”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that the plastic under the ignition switch was melting without warning. The contact also stated that the wires began to melt. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch assembly failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet tahoe. While driving 20 mph, the passenger and driver side air bags deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The contact was able to resume driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“Fuel line leaks .pouring gas out of pressure side .pics below.vehicle 130000 miles.2.brake lines rotting away .rear mount to differential lines.must be replaced.how can this be allowed? 560 dollars in just parts alone.3.gas fill neck rotted and leaks during fueling.had to replace”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2016
“Excessive frame rust, which to date the vehicle only has 73,000 miles. The rust is so bad I will probably stop driving, until I can find a good frame. Large layers are coming off, and can be just crumbled. The rest of the truck is mint, the under body still looks new, the frame is ouch!, not just local areas, the whole frame structure.”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 46 of these complaints and injuries in 37 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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 AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
Remedy: 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 CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy: 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).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRAY INSERT ON THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TRAY INSERT CORRECTS THE NONCOMPLIANCE.
How other years compare
Check your exact Tahoe by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
NHTSA has 552 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (39% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 93,000 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.