RoadVitals

1985 GMC C/K Pickup

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
2
Latest Nov 12, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 GMC C/K Pickup, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system2100.0%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP02003ClosedDefect Petition

FUEL TANK SYSTEM

Opened Apr 3, 2002
Closed Jun 13, 2002

MR. JERE L. BEASLEY, AN ATTORNEY WILL BEASLEY, ALLEN, CROW, METHVIN, PORTIS & MILES, P.C. IN MONTGOMERY, AL, PETITIONED NHTSA ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002, TO VACATE ITS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH GENRAL MOTORS CORPORATION FOR EA92-041 AND TO ORDER AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THE 1973-1987 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE FUEL TANK MOUNTED OUTBOARD OF THE FRAME RAILS.ON MARCH 7, 1995, THE FORMER SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DOT, FEDERICO PENA, SIGNED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH GM RESOLVING NHTSA'S DEFECT INVESTIGATION, EA92-041, INVOLVING AN ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR 1970-1991 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS.SECRETARY PENA CONCLUDED THAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND BEST FURTHERS DOT'S INTEREST IN VEHICLE SAFETY.NHTSA SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED IT DEFECT INVESTIGATION.THE SETTLEMENT ALLOWED THE PARTIES TO AVOID TIME-CONSUMING, COSTLY LITIGATION OF A COMPLEX MATTER THAT RAISED DIFFICULT FACTUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES, AND OFFERED AN OPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC.THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED INFOMATION, DIFFERENT IN KIND FROM THAT CONSIDERED BY THE AGENCY IN THE PAST, THE LEADS US TO CONCLUDE THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE REOPENED.THERFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2021

The contact owned a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The contact stated that her husband noticed fuel leaking from a hole and rust on the tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's husband replaced the fuel tank. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11440282
Incident
Nov 12, 1998
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2021

The contact owns a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking fuel due to the hanger straps being rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the fuel tank and hanger straps were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,066.

NHTSA ID
11440281
Incident
Jan 16, 2018
Mileage
92,066 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC C/K Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002502—
2001402—
2000602—
1999802—
1998111149.4
1997250238.2
1987001—
1986101—
1985Viewing201—
1984001—
1983001—
1982001—
1981001—
1980001—
1979002—
1978102—
1977002—
1976002—
1975002—
1974002—
1973002—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.