RoadVitals

1993 GMC C3500

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.
4
Latest Aug 26, 1998
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.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 GMC C3500, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, powertrain (other) and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Tires & wheels218.2%
  • Powertrain (other)218.2%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Engine19.1%
  • Steering19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%

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

2 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
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
93V016000

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 26, 1998

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED APPROXIMATELY 12+/- FAILURES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN WHICH THE TIRE TREAD HAS SEPERATED FROM THE CASING, IN SOME CASES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT VEHICLES, OPERATED ON THE HIGHWAYS. THEY HAS APPROXIMATELY 50-75% TREAD LEFT. IN MOST INSTANCES THEY WERE BEING OPERATED IN DESERT AREAS WHERE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES WERE OVER 100 DEGREES.

NHTSA ID
541842
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 9, 1997

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED (4) OR (5) TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
807371
Incident
Nov 11, 1995
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 13, 1995

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *SD

NHTSA ID
500217
Incident
Sep 7, 1995
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Apr 10, 1995

THREE UV JOINTS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
482982
Incident
Jan 24, 1995

Manufacturer communications

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

455006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

UNKNOWN

CAMP/93C06

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 1993 GMC TRUCK VANDURA 3500 MODELS MAY HAVE BEEN SHIPPED WITH HOOD HINGES MANUFACTURED FROM AN UNSPECIFIED STEEL. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HINGES. *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 C3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996210—
1995511—
1994821—
1993Viewing420—
1992230—
1991222—
1990031—
1989131—
1988112—
1987012—
1986112—
1985012—
1984012—
1983011—
1982011—
1981011—
1980011—
1979011—
1978011—
1977011—
1976011—
1975011—
1974021—
1973001—
1972001—
1971031—
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.