1986 GMC K2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 GMC K2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
OWNER IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING INFORMATION ON SOURCE OF ORIGIN OF THE VEHICLE,POSSIBLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CHANGE. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
OWNER IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING INFORMATION ON SOURCE OF ORIGIN OF THE VEHICLE,POSSIBLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CHANGE. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER IS HAVING TROUBLE OBTAINING INFORMATION ON SOURCE OF ORIGIN OF THE VEHICLE,POSSIBLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CHANGE. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .