RoadVitals

1986 GMC K2500

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.
3
Latest Nov 5, 2003
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 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.
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 GMC K2500, most frequently naming the engine, suspension and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Engine222.2%
  • Suspension222.2%
  • Body & structure111.1%
  • Other / unspecified111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%
  • Fuel system111.1%

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

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
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

Safety investigations

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

EA92041ClosedEngineering Analysis

FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY

Opened Dec 8, 1992
Closed Mar 9, 1995

There is no summary currently available

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structureEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Nov 5, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S RADIATOR, ENGINE, FRONT AXLE, REAR AXLE AND OTHER PROBLEMS.*MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE ENGINE WAS A 305 INSTEAD OFF THE FAVORED 350. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE USED ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED PROBLEM. THE FRONT AXLE HAD PROBLEMS. THE REAR AXLE IS THE OLD STYLE AND THE FLUID IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. AN ALTERNATIVE WAS SUBSTITUTED BUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 32 DEGREES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP INTO HIGH GEAR. IT ALSO WORE OUT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLE BEARING. THE SUSPENSION WAS SOFT. THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN CHANGE A FEW TIMES BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE TAIL GATE HINGE WAS CORRODED AND THE NUTS FELL OFF. THE REAL TAIL LIGHTS WERE CROSS WIRED SO IF ON WENT OUT THEY BOTH WENT OUT. THE SEAL AROUND THE TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AND ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE HOUSING. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10048156
Fuel system
Filed Aug 7, 2003

COMPLAINT REGARDING 1986 GMC K-2500. *MR THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 1986 AND THOUGHT IT WAS NEW, BUT IT WASN'T. IT WAS ORIGINALLY REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA AND HAD COME WITH A 1978 CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND WAS REBUILT, AND WAS SOLD TO A COMPANY IN CANADA. THE VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY BROUGHT INTO THE US, THEN RESOLD AS COMMERCIAL SALES. (ALL LEGAL) THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REPLACEMENT, SUCH AS THE GAS TANK WHICH HAD FAILED. *SCC *JB *CB

NHTSA ID
10034019
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
EngineOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jan 21, 2000

OWNER IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING INFORMATION ON SOURCE OF ORIGIN OF THE VEHICLE,POSSIBLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CHANGE. YH

NHTSA ID
550494

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC K2500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996142049.7
1995102150.0
1994721—
1993230—
1992130—
1991432—
1990241—
1989341—
1988144—
1987001—
1986Viewing311—
1985011—
1984011—
1983011—
1982011—
1981011—
1980011—
1979011—
1978011—
1977011—
1976011—
1975011—
1974011—
1973011—
1972011—
1971031—
1970011—
1969030—
1967010—

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.