1994 GMC 1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 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
- Visibility1133.3%
- Interior & seats412.1%
- Brakes412.1%
- Electrical412.1%
- Steering26.1%
- Seat belts13.0%
- Tires & wheels13.0%
- Transmission13.0%
- Other / unspecified13.0%
- Engine13.0%
- Fuel system13.0%
- Body & structure13.0%
- Powertrain (other)13.0%
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP ([XXX]) GM HAS 2 RECALLS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS ON 1994 AND NEWER PICKUPS AND SUVS (RECALL 98043 AND SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 02054A). MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM NOTED IN THE RECALLS: INTERMITTENT WIPER OPERATION RESULTING FROM CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER MOTOR CONTROL'S PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AT ITS CONNECTION TO THE WIRING HARNESS. BUT, BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THOSE IN THE RECALL, I AM LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN. I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO FIX IT. AND, MY BRIEF INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER GM OWNERS IN THE SAME SITUATION ... THE SAME PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL BUT LEFT IN THE COLD BY GM BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER EXCLUSIONS. MY CALL TO GM REVEALED THAT THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT CERTAIN PLANTS, BECAUSE ONLY THOSE PLANTS USED PARTS FROM "DEFECTIVE BATCHES." THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (BAD SOLDER JOINTS) SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN ISSUE (FAILURE TO MITIGATE VIBRATION, TOO RIGID A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND PCB?), NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT (BAD BATCH OF MATERIAL, IMPROPERLY SOLDERED JOINT?). SAME SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER? WHEN I PRESSED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ON THIS QUESTION (VIN NUMBER AND PARTS BATCH ARE IRRELEVANT IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, WHICH I THINK IT IS), I GOT THE PROVERBIAL RUN-AROUND. AND, MY WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN INTERMITTENTLY SEVERELY LIMITIING VISIBILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. GMC NOTIFIED ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT RECALL EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
A FAULTY BOLT CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO BREAK. WHEN THE BOLT BROKE IT WAS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD *NLM
SEAT LATCH WAS REPAIRED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 94C62, OCT. 20,1997. SINCE THEN HAS BROKEN AGAIN ON 0CT. 2,1999. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES WILLNOT HOLD WHEN THEY GET HOT, PEDAL IS SOFT AND GOES AL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THIS CONVERSION VAN FRONT BRAKE PADS ONLY LASTS 14000 THIS IS THE 4TH SET OF BRAKE PADS.*SLC
BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. FRONT BRAKES DO ALL THE BRAKING, REAR BRAKES ARE IN NEW CONDITION AFTER 90000 MILES. *AK THE DRIVELINE EXPERIENCES A CLUNK. THE TRIP SETTER IS FAULTY, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLACED THE DASH/GAUGE ASSEMBLY. *SLC
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK IVED TRIED EVERY THING TO FIX THEM AND I CANT SEEMED TO FIND THE PROBLEM I WAS WONDERING IF THE WIREING OR BRAKE SWITCH WERE RECALLS
CONSUMER STATES HE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HIS GMC 1500 ONCE HE PUTS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTS THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT IS TIME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF HE CANNOT CUT IT OFF. IT IS HARD TO ENGAGE THE THE SWIFT LEVEL TO PARK AND REMOVE THE KEY. HE IS KILLING THE STARTER. CONSUMER HAS WORKED ON TRUCKS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT FORTY MPH WENT TO CHANGE LANES, AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH. *AK
STEERING IS TOO SENSITIVE WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS WILL NOT RELEASE. THEY ARE STUCK OR JAMMED. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO FASTEN SEATBELTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE DRIVERS SIDE. BUT, PASSENGER'S SIDE STILL IS NOT USABLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TREAD SEPARATED OFF TWO NEW UNIROYAL LAREDO P235/75R15M+S TIRES WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED ON THE GMC PICKUP. *AK (DOT NUMBER: APHLF3U343 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF GARAGE, AND IT ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE INTO A TREE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WHEELL FELL OFF DUE TO WHEEL STUDS BREAKING OFF. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE NEW ENGINE MADE NOISE,GEARS SLIPPING WITH ODOR FROM COMPARTMENT (POOR PERFORMANCE), RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE POWER FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. (MJS)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS CRACKED, CAUSING GASOLINE TO SEAP THROUGH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE NEW ENGINE MADE NOISE,GEARS SLIPPING WITH ODOR FROM COMPARTMENT (POOR PERFORMANCE), RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE POWER FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. (MJS)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. FRONT BRAKES DO ALL THE BRAKING, REAR BRAKES ARE IN NEW CONDITION AFTER 90000 MILES. *AK THE DRIVELINE EXPERIENCES A CLUNK. THE TRIP SETTER IS FAULTY, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLACED THE DASH/GAUGE ASSEMBLY. *SLC
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .