1994 GMC 1500 Visibility Problems

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)

NHTSA ID

10093778

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10088255

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

Mileage

122,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075870

Incident

Jan 24, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENLY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063389

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

Mileage

145,000 mi

WIPERS ON MY 1994 GMC PICK-UP DO NOT WORK AT ALL TIMES WHEN REQUIRED. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ROUTINELY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. GMC ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE; HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR RECALL ORDERS, MY CONTACT WITH GMC PRODUCED NEGATIVE RESULTS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10049372

Incident

Dec 29, 1998

Mileage

100,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNTIONED STOPED WORKING. HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE SINCE THEN.

NHTSA ID

10007720

Incident

Jun 16, 1997

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016363

Incident

May 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH IN THE RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST SHUT OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO BRAKE. DRIVER HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN WIPER OPERATION. *AK THIS PART WAS RECALLED #98V150, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORK. *JG

NHTSA ID

8014684

Incident

Jan 12, 2002

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR WIPERS. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S. *AK

NHTSA ID

889600

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR JUST QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

864851

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HEARD A BUZZING NOISE IN THE MOTOR. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

849594

Incident

Sep 26, 1999