RoadVitals

1985 GMC 1500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Sep 23, 2003
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 GMC 1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Transmission125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HYDRAULIC BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE WHEEL OFF AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE HOSE FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK AGE AND HEAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE HOSE TO EXPAND INWARD BECAUSE OF THE CLAMP SUPPORT AROUND IT, BECAUSE IT DID NOT EXPAND OUTWARD WHICH SHUT OFF THE NORMAL FLOW OF BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE DID NOT BRAKE EVENLY FOR THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM , BUT NOW WITH THE NEW HOSES, THE VEHICLE NOW BRAKES AS DESIGNED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10037644 · filed Sep 23, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS TURNING VEHICLE IN SNOW WHEN IT STALLED OUT. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. THE CAB AREA OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *AK

NHTSA ID 835870 · filed Mar 15, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS TURNING VEHICLE IN SNOW WHEN IT STALLED OUT. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. THE CAB AREA OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *AK

NHTSA ID 835870 · filed Mar 15, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART. *AK

NHTSA ID 10039720 · filed Sep 10, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .