RoadVitals

1985 GMC C35

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.
1
Latest Jan 30, 1995
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.
3
Latest Dec 13, 1991
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1985 GMC C35, most frequently naming the suspension category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 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

  • Suspension1100.0%

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

3 campaigns 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
91V217000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Dec 13, 1991
166,624 units potentially affected
The defect: THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK STARTING AT THE REAR FLANGE AND PROGRESSING TO THE BALL JOINT MOUNTING HOLE AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CONTROL ARM.
The risk: IF THE BALL JOINT SEPARATES FROM THE CONTROL ARM, A LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: INSTALL A RESINFORCED BRACE TO THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
87V002000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jan 20, 1987
86,152 units potentially affected
The defect: TRUCKS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST.
The risk: GREATER THAN ACCEPTABLE FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER ACOLLISION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SHIELD TO THE FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL SHIELD TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
85V156000

WHEELS:RIM

Nov 26, 1985
861 units potentially affected
The defect: THE WHEEL MAY DEVELOP CRACKS BETWEEN THE DISC AND RIM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AND IS NOT NOTICED, THE CRACK COULD INCREASE AROUND THE RIM, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE RIM FROM THE DISC, LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: REPLACE WHEELS HAVING THE SUSPECTED MANUFACTURING CODE NUMBER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE87043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT

Opened Aug 7, 1987
Closed Jan 14, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS OF THE 65 COMPLAINTSFORWARDED BY GM ON THIS ISSUE REVEALS THAT 15 OF THE COMPLAINTS MAY BESAFETY RELATED.COMPLAINTS IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AS A RED HOT EXHAUSTSYSTEM OR MUFFLER FAILURE WERE NOT COUNTED.GM ALSO INCLUDED NUMEROUSCOMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO FUEL EXPULSION IN THE MOTOR HOME CHASSIS.THEYWERE NOT COUNTED SINCE THAT PROBLEM IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION.CONCERNING BRUSH FIRES RESULTING FROM THE HIGH EXHAUST TEMPERATURES, GMSTATESOUR FIELD EXPERIENCE, AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTSPERTAINING TO THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE, INDICATES TO US THAT OUR CUSTOMERSARE OBSERVING THE PRECAUTIONS CONTAINED IN OUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND AREEXERCISING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS.ANALYSIS:THE ALLEGED DEFECT ORIGINATES WITH THE GENERATION OF HEAT IN THEEXHAUST SYSTEM.HIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES ARE OCCURRING AS A RESULT OFSTRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) REQUIREMENTS WHICH WENTINTO EFFECT IN 1985 FOR VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS.THEHIGHER EXHAUST TEMPERATURES CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY TEMPERATURESWHICH MAY RESULT IN FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURIZATION AND A HIGHER POTENTIAL FORTHE EXPULSION OF LIQUID FUEL UPON REMOVAL OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAP.INADDITION, OTHER SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS SMOLDERING ITEMS IN PICK UP BEDS,BURNT TIRES AND MUDFLAPS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.SINCE SOME MODELS ARE ALREADYBEING INVESTIGATED, AND COMPLAINT DATA IS SPARSE ON OTHER MODELS, THE NEWEA SHOULD BE DIRECTED ONLY TO VEHICLE MODELS C AND K WHICH UTILIZE THEHEAVY DUTY (VEHICLES WITH A GVW IN EXCESS OF 8,500 LBS) EMISSION SYSTEM.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Jan 30, 1995

PASSENGERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS REFUSED FOR D RIVERS SIDE BROKEN CONTROL ARM (91V-217). *AK

NHTSA ID
959318
Incident
Jan 26, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC C35 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996360—
1995081—
1994291—
1993021—
1992011—
1991011—
1990021—
1989011—
1988121—
1987001—
1986031—
1985Viewing131—
1984030—
1978020—
1973010—
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.