RoadVitals

1987 GMC S15

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 Mar 4, 1999
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 May 24, 2006
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.
4
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 1987 GMC S15, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 NHTSA investigations name 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

  • Engine133.3%
  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Steering133.3%

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
06E049000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 24, 2006
27,176 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CK MOTORSPORT, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
87V021000

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Feb 25, 1987
60 units potentially affected
The defect: INNER TIE ROD TO RELAY ROD NUTS ON STEERING LINKAGE MAY BE IIMPROPERLY TORQUED AND NOT CRIMPED.
The risk: LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO INNER TIE RODDISENGAGEMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A TRUCKCRASH.
The remedy: REPLACE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE90039ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILURE

Opened Feb 5, 1990
Closed Jun 29, 1990

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION
EA89003ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR AXLE SHAFT

Opened Nov 7, 1988
Closed Aug 24, 1990

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION
PE88047ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

REAR AXLE FAILURE

Opened Apr 19, 1988
Closed Nov 7, 1988

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION
PE88002ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FRCTR OF P/S PUMP BRCKT

Opened Oct 9, 1987
Closed Apr 22, 1988

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 1987 GMC S/T MODEL TRUCKS MAYEXPERIENCE FRACTURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUPPORT BRACE. THISCONDITION CAN IN TURN LEAD TO POSSIBLE FRACTURE OF THE POWER STEERINGPUMP MOUNTING BRACKET AND/OR LOSS OF THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY DRIVEBELT. LOSS OF THE DRIVE BELT WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF A/C, GENERATOR,POWER STEERING ASSIST AND WATER PUMP OPERATION.ANALYSIS: THERE ARE NO REPORTS IN THE ODI LETTER FILE REGARDING THISPROBLEM.ALTHOUGH G.M. HAS 153 COMPLAINTS, MOST OFWHICH ARE WARRANTY CLAIMS, ONLY TWO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED THATWERE ALLEGDLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE P/S SYSTEM. P/S ASSIST FAILURESHOULD NOT NEGATE STEERING CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN APPRECIABLEINCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.======

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Mar 4, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
704015
Incident
Dec 20, 1998
Steering
Filed Nov 19, 1998

A FEW MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT LOW IDLE,I CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE SUPPORT BRACKET FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LOOSE.THE 2 BOLTS THAT SECURE IT TO THE ENGINE HAD BOTH SHEARED OFF,THIS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE VIBRATION TO OCCURE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP.

NHTSA ID
700751
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 1998

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS.

NHTSA ID
534059

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC S15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002000—
2001100—
2000000—
1999100—
1998200—
1997200—
1996310—
1995310—
1994620—
1993421—
1992331—
1991851—
1990331—
1989831—
1988221—
1987Viewing334—
1986333—
1985113—
1984024—
1983024—
1982032—
1980100—

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.