RoadVitals

1995 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.
10
Latest Jul 15, 1996
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.
7
Latest Aug 10, 1998
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.
3
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 GMC C15, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and airbags categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 2 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Brakes440.0%
  • Driver assistance220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Steering110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%

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

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

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
98V187000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Aug 10, 1998
55,272 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS. THE FRONT, INNER CORNER OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CONTACT THE BODY SILL EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONSTANTLY. THIS MOVEMENT CAN CAUSE A DISCERNIBLE NOISE AND, OVER TIME, CAN WEAR A HOLE IN OR CRACK THE FUEL TANK AT POINT OF CONTACT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A DISTINCT FUEL ODOR IF THE TANK WERE FILLED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HOLE OR CRACK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR WEAR AND, EITHER INSTALL A SPACER BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER, OR IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
97V037000

SEATS

Mar 7, 1997
624,433 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
The risk: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
96V057000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Apr 4, 1996
379,004 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
The risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE95052ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONS

Opened Oct 25, 1995
Closed Mar 22, 1996

ODI OPENED THIS PE ON NOVEMBER 13, 1995 BASED ON AN OWNER COMPLAINT CONCERNING A SEPTEMBER 1995 ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 1995 1/2 TON GM PICKUP TRUCK.THE VEHICLE OWNER ALLEGED THE BOLT USED TO JOIN THE 2-PIECE STEERING SHAFT WAS MISSING.THE SHAFTS THEN SEPARATED AND STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS GATHERED INFORMATION FROM STAFF AT THE FOLLOWING: AUTO COLLISION INSURANCE COMPANIES, THIRD-PARTY PRODUCTS LIABILITY INDUSTRY, INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS, INVOLVED VEHICLE OPERATORS, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ACCORDING TO GM, THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHAFTS WERE CHANGED FOR THE 1995 C/K MODELS AT THE START OF THE 1995 MODEL YEAR.THE CHANGE WAS MADE TO INCORPORATE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEMS FOR THE C/K10/20 WITH GVWR OF LESS THAN 8500 LBS.HOWEVER THE CHANGE WAS MADE FOR ALL C/KS. FOR THE 1995 MODEL YEAR, THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH A BOLT THROUGH THE COLUMN SHAFT AND THE UNIVERSAL JOINT COUPLING.NO NUT WAS REQUIRED.THIS CONNECTION WAS MADE AT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FACILITY AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS SHIPPED TO THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PLANT.THIS JOINT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAB.THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS CONNECTED TO THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE STEERING GEAR AT THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE CONFIGURATION OF THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS CHANGED AT THE START OF THE 1996 MODEL YEAR, WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF 1996 STEERING COLUMNS PULLED AHEAD IN THE 1995 MODELS ASSEMBLED AT THE OSHAWA AND FT. WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS.THE UNIVERSAL JOINT OF THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED WITH A POT JOINT.THIS CHANGE WAS MADE TO UTILIZE A JOINT MANUFACTURED INTERNALLY INSTEAD OF EXTERNALLY SUPPLIED UNIVERSAL JOINT.THE POT JOINT STYLE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS MADE WITH A THROUGH BOLT AND NUT.THIS CHANGE WAS EFFECTIVE FOR 1995 VEHICLES ASSEMBLED AT FT. WAYNE AND OSHAWA IN OCTOBER 1995 AND FOR ALL 1996 VEHICLES. ODI'S ANALYSIS FOUND THAT, OF THE 24 FIELD REPORTS, 14 INVOLVE VEHICLES PRODUCED AT THE FT. WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT.ALL 7 OF THE ACCIDENTS INVOLVE TRUCKS BUILT THERE, AS WELL.HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE FT. WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANT PRODUCES APPROXIMATELY THE SAME NUMBER OF VEHICLES AS THE OTHER SUBJECT VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THIS FINDING CAN NOT BE EXPLAINED ON THE BASIS OF VEHICLE POPULATION AND EXPOSURE.ODI, WITH THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, IS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS PHENOMENON.ODI DOES HAVE INFORMATION INDICATING THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS INFREQUENTLY AND VERY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.FOR THE 24 FIELD REPORTS, INCLUDING THOSE REPORTING ACCIDENTS, A FAILURE OCCURRED, ON AVERAGE, 129 DAYS AND 3900 MILES AFTER THE TRUCK WAS BUILT.BASED ON INFORMATION FROM ALL SOURCES, CURRENT THROUGH NOVEMBER 1995, ODI HAS FOUND THAT ONE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED INVOLVING A SUBJECT VEHICLE BUILT SINCE JULY 8, 1995, - A PERIOD OF 257 DAYS.THE DATA REVIEWED INDICATES ACCIDENTS, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO THE SUBJECT FAILURE, OCCUR EVEN EARLIER IN ACCIDENTS, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO THE SUBJECT FAILURE, OCCUR EVEN EARLIER IN THE LIFE OF A SUBJECT TRUCK, AT AN AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 103 DAYS. FINALLY, BASED ON THE 115 WARRANTY AND FILED REPORTS COMBINED, THE INCIDENT RATE IS 12/100,000 VEHICLES.OF THE 115 REPORTS, 69 INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT AT THE JANESVILLE AND FT. WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS (35 AND 34 RESPECTIVELY).THE JANESVILLE FAILURE RATE IS 15/100,000 AND THE FT. WAYNE RATE IS SLIGHTLY LOWER AT 14/100,000. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN INDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF T

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 15, 1996

THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM DEALING WITH RECALL 96V051000. *AK

NHTSA ID
986881
Incident
Jun 17, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 1996

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED.THE VEHICLE HAS ABS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986723
Incident
Jun 14, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 19, 1996

WENT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY DON'T HVE ANYTHING ON THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT REMEDY IT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985877
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Mar 25, 1996

THE RECALL LETTER STATES THAT THE WORK BE DONE IN 5DAYS. THEY PICKED UP THE TRUC 7 DAYS LATER AND THE RECALL PART WAS NOT FIXED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
981146
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 1995
Crash reported

ABS: WHILE TOWING A TRAILER IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC, DRY SURFACE; ABS WOULD NOT ALLOW WHEEL LOCK UP; RAN INTO ANOTHER TRUCK; SOLELY BECAUSE OF ABS FAILURE. TT

NHTSA ID
976524
Incident
Oct 25, 1995
Brakes
Filed Nov 27, 1995
Crash reported

ABS BRAKES FAILED WHILE PULLING IN DRIVEWAY-HIT ANOTHER AUTO BUT NO INJURIES. TT

NHTSA ID
975406
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

HAD ACCIDENT AND DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY- INJURIED BACK. TT

NHTSA ID
972076
Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 1995

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, LOSS OF BRAKING SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA ID
968973
Incident
Jul 4, 1995

Manufacturer communications

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

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

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—
1995Viewing107161.6
19947101—
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.