RoadVitals

1994 GMC C15

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.
7
Latest Mar 12, 2004
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.
10
Latest Feb 5, 1999
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 GMC C15, most frequently naming the interior & seats, steering and visibility categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Interior & seats571.4%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Visibility114.3%

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

10 campaigns cover this model year

View all 10

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
99V025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Feb 5, 1999
988,587 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
The risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 98065View on NHTSA.gov
96E010000

SEATS

Mar 25, 1996
2,400 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMSView on NHTSA.gov
95V246000

SEATS

Dec 21, 1995
675,661 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLE COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE95050ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE

Opened Sep 22, 1995
Closed Dec 22, 1995

FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT BOLTS LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING.

SEATSLed to recall 95V246000

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Mar 12, 2004

WHILE DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063060
Incident
Feb 5, 2004
Mileage
82,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 10, 1999

THE SEATBACK ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN AGAIN. SEATBACK WAS CORRECTED ONCE UNDER RECALL 96E010000 IN 1997. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SEATBACK HAS BROKEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN ONCE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
852778
Incident
Jun 6, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 1, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLTS BROKE OFF DURING A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
980414
Incident
Mar 2, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 8, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported

HIT FROM BEHIND AND BOTH BUCKET SEATS BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986566
Incident
Jun 24, 1996
Steering
Filed Mar 29, 1996

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO KEEP TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
981383
Incident
Mar 24, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 1995

SEAT FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. TT

NHTSA ID
976162
Incident
Dec 6, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 23, 1995

DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE FLOOR. TT

NHTSA ID
959040
Incident
Jan 4, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC C15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996460—
1995107161.6
1994Viewing7101—
1993722—
1992621—
1991101—
1990221—
1989111—
1988141—
1986020—
1985010—
1982020—
1978110—
1972010—

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.