RoadVitals

1994 GMC Sierra 1500

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.
13
Latest Sep 8, 2021
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.
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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.
0
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.
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Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 GMC Sierra 1500, most frequently naming the visibility, tires & wheels and driver assistance categories. 3 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Visibility1066.7%
  • Tires & wheels213.3%
  • Driver assistance16.7%
  • Fuel system16.7%
  • Powertrain (other)16.7%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 13
Visibility
Filed Sep 8, 2021

The contact owns a 1994 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motor intermittently failed to operate without warning. The contact then discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V150001 (Visibility). The dealer was notified of the recall and the contact was informed that they did not see a recall on his vehicle. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The contact had attempted to reach the manufacturer but had no success. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 204,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11432158
Incident
May 1, 2021
Mileage
204,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 12, 2018

I HAD WROTE SOMETHING THAT HAD LIKE 4500 CHARACTERS AND YOU GUYS DID NOT ALLOW ME TO SEND IT THIS IS RIDICULOUS I WILL HAVE TO CUT AND PASTE AND SEND IT IN A EMAIL

NHTSA ID
11093507
Incident
Nov 10, 2017
Visibility
Filed Sep 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE TO SQUEEZE THE CONNECTOR BOX FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN MINUTES WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V150001 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11024284
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Visibility
Filed May 7, 2017

WIPERS WILL WORK SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT.

NHTSA ID
10983908
Incident
May 5, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH FOUR GOODYEAR WRANGLER AUTHORITY TIRES, TIRE SIZE LT265/75R16. THE DOT NUMBER FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS PJW8H01V0515. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DOT NUMBER WAS PJW8H01V5214. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE DOT NUMBER WAS PJW8H01V4614 AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DOT NUMBER WAS PJW8H01V3414. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE SIDEWALLS ON THE TIRES WERE UNEVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,420.

NHTSA ID
10745781
Incident
Jul 3, 2015
Mileage
210,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 10, 2013

I HAVE NOTICED THROUGH OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE THAT I OWN. A GMC 1500 SIERRA PICKUP TRUCK (1994-2013), THAT THE VEHICLE WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING OR NOT COME ON AT ALL (INCLUDING THE WASHER). *TR

NHTSA ID
10505784
Incident
May 4, 1998
Mileage
44,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V150001 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

NHTSA ID
10477239
Incident
Sep 26, 2012
Mileage
161,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 25, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA 1500 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE STEALTEX A/T (LT245/75/16). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SIDE WALL HAD ALSO SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO AN AUTO SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.

NHTSA ID
10414957
Incident
Jul 19, 2011
Mileage
159,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

04-06-04-051F

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

PIE-0043

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CHEVROLET:GMC: ENGINEERING INFORMATION-FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR, DTCS P0446, P0451 OR P0454 SET. GMC ENGINEERING IS ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ABOVE CONCERN. *PE

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 Sierra 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026742051.7
2025931048.2
20243261356.2
20234283363.0
20225456365.8
20215337468.5
202044312369.7
201961910268.5
20182967055.5
20173515056.4
20163407159.1
20157139259.5
20147379257.8
20131153254.3
20121073255.7
20112845255.6
20101674255.6
20092344255.9
20083792357.7
20072613356.4
20061442047.5
20051773048.2
20042125047.9
20031804052.3
20021664261.9
20011405259.5
20001813258.8
19991584257.2
1998594053.3
1997835043.4
1996500—
1995300—
1994Viewing130029.4

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.