RoadVitals

1989 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.
8
Latest Jan 24, 2005
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.
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.
2
1 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 GMC S15, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and interior & seats categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Engine218.2%
  • Electrical218.2%
  • Interior & seats19.1%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Visibility19.1%

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

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
93V008000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Jan 14, 1993
215,052 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.
The risk: IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN ASSEMBLY.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA94029ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jul 29, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1996

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2005

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FRONT LEFT BLINKER. FOR SOME REASON THE OUTSIDE BLINKER STOPPED WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE INSIDE SIGNAL ON DASHBOARD STILL WORKED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10103298
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Engine
Filed May 23, 2004

I BOUGHT A 1989 JIMMY S15 LAST YEAR. DROM THE REPAIR BILLS THAT CAME WITH THE TRUCK THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THIS TRUCK IN THE SHOP COUNTLESS TIMES FOR SURGING. WHENEVER I AM STOPPED AT A LIGHT ETC- THE TRUCK SURGES FORWARD. I AM AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT, ESPECAILLY WITH MY MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE TRUCK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10073033
Incident
May 23, 2004
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 10, 2002
1 injury reported1 death reported

THE CONSUMER (WHO IS NOW DECEASED HAROLD BRIDGES) WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS DRIVING RECKLESSLY, THE CONSUMERS SEAT ADJUSTER RAILING FAILED, WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERE INJURIES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS KILLED, HOWEVER THE MOTHER, ROSA LEYVA IS WRITING IN ON BEHALF OF HER SON EDWARDO LEYVA WHO WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN THE INCIDENT BELIEVES IF GMC WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT RAILING OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE, HER SON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.*JB

NHTSA ID
566619
Incident
Nov 18, 1994
Heating & air conditioningEngineVisibility
Filed Oct 14, 1999

THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MJS

NHTSA ID
548784
Incident
Jul 26, 1999
Suspension
Filed Feb 8, 1996

REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ID
500981
Incident
Feb 8, 1996
BrakesSeat belts
Filed Jun 7, 1995
Crash reported1 death reported

SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING AN ACCIDENT,DRIVER WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
966419
Incident
Jun 4, 1995
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 1995

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
482537
Incident
Apr 1, 1994
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, EA94-029 ACTIVE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION. TT

NHTSA ID
959734
Incident
Dec 19, 1994

Manufacturer communications

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

990730016A

POWER TRAIN

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT

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 S15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002000—
2001100—
2000000—
1999100—
1998200—
1997200—
1996310—
1995310—
1994620—
1993421—
1992331—
1991851—
1990331—
1989Viewing831—
1988221—
1987334—
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.