The 1999 GMC Sierra has 11 recalls, the most serious involving steering bolts that can loosen over time and eventually break free, leaving the steering gear unsecured and the wheel unresponsive, alongside a brake hose that can wear against the wheel rim until brake fluid leaks and front braking is lost.
Several other brake concerns round out a heavy cluster of braking recalls. A front brake pipe can contact the body cross sill and eventually wear through, causing a low pedal and longer stopping distances. The anti-lock brakes can activate unexpectedly at low speeds, also stretching stopping distances in a way that raises crash risk. On manual transmission models, the parking brake friction lining can wear down to the point where it no longer holds the vehicle in place when parked.
The seatbelt retractors in some vehicles lock up at higher force levels than the safety standard requires, and some retractors may have internal damage that causes them not to lock at all in a crash, either of which raises the risk of injury to front-seat occupants.
The tailgate support cables can corrode and fracture under load, which may not be visible through the plastic sheathing covering them. If both cables fail, the tailgate drops and strikes the rear bumper. Vehicles with 4.8L or 5.3L engines have a separate recall covering an incorrect exhaust gas recirculation valve that can cause those engines to exceed emissions standards.
