RoadVitals

1993 GMC C1500

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.
21
Latest Jan 29, 2010
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.
1
Latest Feb 1, 1993
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.
0
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 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 GMC C1500, most frequently naming the interior & seats, visibility and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Visibility624.0%
  • Electrical312.0%
  • Brakes28.0%
  • Body & structure28.0%
  • Engine14.0%
  • Suspension14.0%
  • Tires & wheels14.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Feb 1, 1993
1,702,880 units potentially affected
The defect: UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
The risk: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 93-C-07View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Jan 29, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GMC SIERRA C-1500 WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BENCH BOLTS BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE OVER 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10303244
Incident
Jan 2, 2010
Mileage
200,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 18, 2004

I HAVE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR THE A COUPLE OF YEARS. I FINALLY DECIDED TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH GMC PICKUPS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS WHEN IT IS A LITTLE DAMP OUTSIDE BUT THERE IS NO SET PATTERN. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THEM WORKING FINE AND THEY JUST STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095930
Incident
Oct 17, 2004
Mileage
63,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 3, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS START AND STOP FOR NO APPAENT REASON.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086083
Incident
Jul 30, 2004
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 23, 2003

THE PAINT IS JUST BLISTERING OFF VEHICLE HOOD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016395
Incident
Apr 20, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 3, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE WOULD DO.*AK

NHTSA ID
891923
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 20, 2001

UPON RETURNING TO THE ROAD FROM A SERVICE STATION, THE TRUCK DEVELOPED A SHIMMY. AS I PROCEEDED DOWN THE ROAD, THE VIBRATING GOT WORSE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT COULD NOT SEE A PROBLEM. UPON RETURNING BACK TO THE ROAD, THE VIBRATING BECAME MORE SEVERE. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT ONTO AN ACCESS ROAD AND INTO A SERVICE STATION PARKING LOT. ONCE I ENTERED THE PARKING LOT, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POP. IT WAS THEN THAT I DISCOVERED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. THE BLOW OUT CAUSED A 6-8 INCH GASH IN THE BLACKWALL OF MY TIRE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURED. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ROUGHLY 7-8 MONTHS AGO ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE TIRE. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A THIRD TIRE BECAUSE IT DEVELOPED A VERY LARGE BUBBLE NEAR THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BLACKWALL. I AM GETTING TO WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS LONG AS THOSE TIRES ARE ON IT. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRES WHICH WE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW AT A PRO-RATED COST. THIS NUMBER WILL NOW INCREASE TO 3 BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TODAY. I AM JUST THANKFULL THAT NO-ONE GOT INJURED IN EITHER BLOW OUT. BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT MAY CHANGE IF THE LAST WILDNERNESS TIRE FROM THE ORIGINAL SET PURCHASED DETERIORATES LIKE THE OTHERS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD66AW2300 TIRESIZE: 30X9.50R15)

NHTSA ID
747166
Incident
Jun 20, 2001
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Feb 21, 2001

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE RAINING RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

NHTSA ID
559784
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 13, 2000
2 injuries reported

SEATBACK BOLTS FAILED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SURGE FORWARD. DEALER HAS REPAIRED BOLTS UNDER A RECALL; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK IN BOTH CASES THE SEAT REAR FRAME REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAILED WELD JOINTS. *YH

NHTSA ID
874797
Incident
Aug 1, 1996

Manufacturer communications

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

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

666309

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ENGINE HARD TO START (REPLACE FUEL PUMP PULSATOR). *TW

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 C1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996150037.2
1995320146.9
1994250135.4
1993Viewing211043.9
1992171044.4
1991512
1990721
1989421
1988612
1987001
1986011
1985111
1984011
1983011
1982011
1981021
1980011
1979011
1978011
1977011
1976011
1975011
1974031
1973011
1972001
1971001
1970011

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.