RoadVitals

1988 GMC Sierra

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.
6
Latest Aug 10, 2004
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.
2
Latest Aug 11, 2008
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 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

  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Driver assistance116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%
  • Transmission116.7%

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

2 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
08E050000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 11, 2008
1,921 units potentially affected
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
K2 MOTOR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
93V119000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Aug 2, 1993
341,364 units potentially affected
The defect: SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
The risk: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE91133ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE

Opened Oct 1, 1991
Closed Dec 5, 1991

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURE

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 10, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, . AFTER PULLING OVER AND EXITING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10087615
Incident
Aug 9, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 12, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. UNIROYAL LARADO ALL SEASON. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING A 24 FOOT TRAILER, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT UNIROUAL LAREDO TIRE 37000 MILES ON, SIZE LT 245/75R16C, DOT#AN11DAU143, TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *YD

NHTSA ID
8005526
Incident
May 1, 1994
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 18, 2001

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE ACC.ELERATOR BRACKET BROKE AT THE POWER STEERING PUMP/I ALSO HAD A CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN THAT USED THIS SAME BRACKET AND IT BROKE ON ME AT THE SAME EXACT SPOT. *AK

NHTSA ID
750710
Incident
Jun 26, 2000
Suspension
Filed Nov 3, 1998

ALIGNMENT KIT AND ADJUSTMENTS WERE NOT INSTALLED ON VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID
542415
Transmission
Filed Aug 24, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH SPRAYED TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING A FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
827161
Incident
Aug 16, 1998
Brakes
Filed Dec 23, 1997

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY BECOME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE BRAKES, THEY CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
819423

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.

01570

SUSPENSION:REAR

SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN

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 Sierra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017610037.8
2016620—
2015536050.3
201410112053.9
2013393051.4
2012292051.1
2011432042.2
2010341045.6
2009371041.7
2008682250.8
2007592050.2
2006536052.7
200511711048.1
200418810051.8
20032069558.4
20022497865.4
20012647966.2
200044312965.4
199960091065.3
19981900246.8
19972380034.6
19962462358.9
19952616360.6
19941903048.9
1993723051.6
1992304052.6
1991122039.9
1990182051.4
1989162154.7
1988Viewing621—
1987100—
1983200—
1982100—
1979001—
1977200—
1976200—

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.