Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1999–2006
1st generation Silverado (GMT800)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20265,705 complaints, 4,742 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 50,000 and 120,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 166 complaints (3.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 26,910
- 25%
- 50,000
- Median
- 81,692
- 75%
- 120,000
- 90%
- 160,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 111 | 2.3% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 53 | 1.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 70 | 1.5% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 102 | 2.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 105 | 2.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 84 | 1.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 97 | 2.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 161 | 3.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 169 | 3.6% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 184 | 3.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 221 | 4.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 150 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 195 | 4.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 205 | 4.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 165 | 3.5% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 183 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 211 | 4.4% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 178 | 3.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 189 | 4.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 170 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 178 | 3.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 121 | 2.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 125 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 113 | 2.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 156 | 3.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 101 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 91 | 1.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 92 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 75 | 1.6% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 61 | 1.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 75 | 1.6% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 42 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 80 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 42 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 47 | 1.0% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 43 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 45 | 0.9% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 22 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 35 | 0.7% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 29 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 166 | 3.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,705 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999–2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and 4,742 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 50,000 and 120,000 miles. The median is 81,692 miles.
The most-reported areas are the brakes (22.9% of complaints, typically around 106,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (20.8% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), the electrical system (14.0% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Brakes106,000median 106,000 miles, middle half 75,000 to 140,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 101,000
- Electrical system70,000median 69,800 miles, middle half 47,000 to 95,000
- Steering39,000median 38,750 miles, middle half 20,000 to 75,000
- Body structure105,000median 104,842 miles, middle half 80,000 to 150,000
- Transmission and driveline75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 104,000
- Airbag system99,000median 99,021 miles, middle half 62,000 to 138,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 1,307 | 22.9% | 106,000 | 75,000–140,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 1,188 | 20.8% | 70,000 | 44,000–101,000 |
| Electrical system | 798 | 14.0% | 70,000 | 47,000–95,000 |
| Steering | 266 | 4.7% | 39,000 | 20,000–75,000 |
| Body structure | 221 | 3.9% | 105,000 | 80,000–150,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 214 | 3.8% | 75,000 | 45,000–104,000 |
| Airbag system | 205 | 3.6% | 99,000 | 62,000–138,000 |
| Suspension | 157 | 2.8% | 78,000 | 42,000–109,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 131 | 2.3% | 73,000 | 42,000–107,000 |
| Fuel system | 120 | 2.1% | 85,000 | 52,000–127,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 81,692 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The brakes account for 22.9% of complaints (1,307 reports, 1,246 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 106,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,000 and 140,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 20.8% of complaints (1,188 reports, 1,018 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,050 and 101,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 14.0% of complaints (798 reports, 681 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 95,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.7% of complaints (266 reports, 208 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 38,750 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,227 and 75,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 3.9% of complaints (221 reports, 178 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,842 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 80,217 and 150,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.8% of complaints (214 reports, 174 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 103,872 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2003 model year drew the most — 960 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 462. The median year sits at 677.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 5,705 complaints filed against this generation, 413 reported a crash; 116 reported a fire; 264 reported an injury; 26 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.2% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 50,000 and 120,000 miles, with a median of 81,692. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the brakes and the hydraulic brake circuit are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 70,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Instrument Cluster 2003–2007
Stepper-motor failure in the gauge cluster causing gauges to stick, read wrong or drop to zero; the fuel-level sender also fails from sulfur deposits.
Brakes / ABS 1999–2002
ABS wheel-speed sensor and EBCM faults causing unwanted low-speed ABS activation and extended stopping distance; subject of NHTSA recall action on 1999-2002 GM trucks.
Steering 1999–2007
Intermediate steering shaft wear producing a clunk or knock on turn-in; a very high-volume TSB item.
Transmission 1999–2007
4L60E clutch pack and sun-shell failures, worsened by towing.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 711 | 500 |
| 2000 | 731 | 574 |
| 2001 | 627 | 491 |
| 2002 | 620 | 534 |
| 2003 | 960 | 854 |
| 2004 | 951 | 830 |
| 2005 | 643 | 560 |
| 2006 | 462 | 399 |
What owners reported
There have been consistent problems with this vehicle since we bought it on june 18, 1999. The frame and suspension looked as if it was driven in a salt bath - totally rusted. Saw this right after buying it but the dealer would not do anything. We have never received any recall notices. The worse thing that happened…
1999 · 553 miles · Brakes
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The service engine, brake light and ABS lights have been illuminated since the vehicle was purchased. The parking brake does not work normally. The dealer stated that the electrical system had to be replaced and all related recalls were previously repaired. The…
1999 · 24,000 miles · Electrical system
On several different occasions my 1999 Chevrolet silverado 1/2 ton would have a malfunction with the antilock braking system. The problem would occur when i was braking to stop at an intersection or driving into a parking space. Every time the system would have the tendency to increase in speed when applying the…
1999 · 27,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup customer states that he received a recall letter for the ABS and after getting brakes fixed the pickup started having problems with starting idling**cc the consumer took the vehicle back to dealer, who then stated the ABS motor was running constantly and the fuse needed to be…
1999 · 29,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 4,742 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page