1989 GMC S15 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 1989 GMC S15, 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
- Engine218.2%
- Electrical218.2%
- Interior & seats19.1%
- Exterior lighting19.1%
- Seat belts19.1%
- Suspension19.1%
- Brakes19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
- Heating & air conditioning19.1%
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
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
THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, EA94-029 ACTIVE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING AN ACCIDENT,DRIVER WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY. *AK
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
REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING AN ACCIDENT,DRIVER WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MJS
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 .