1989 GMC Sierra 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 Sierra, 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
- Brakes628.6%
- Seat belts419.0%
- Fuel system29.5%
- Electrical29.5%
- Steering29.5%
- Tires & wheels14.8%
- Driver assistance14.8%
- Engine14.8%
- Other / unspecified14.8%
- Body & structure14.8%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER STOPPED, AND NOTICED HALF OF THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAD SHEARED OFF.*AK
OVER THE 12 YEAR PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS PICKUP WE'VE EXPERIENCED 45 DIFFERENT SERIOUS BRAKING INCIDENTS. THEY ACTUALLY STARTED IN 7/13/89 AND THERE WAS WARRANTY WORK DONE. IN 1990 WE FIRST EXPERIENCED A BRAKING/ GLIDE /STOP INCIDENT THAT TOOK US PAST A STOP SIGN.TRUCK CENTER/HALL TRUCK CENTER DID SOME WARRANTY WORK ON THIS BRAKES ON 5/30/91 @48000. THEY LOST THE GMC PICKUP FRANCHISE. IN 1998 GM CUSTOMER SERVICE GAVE ME CLAIM # 98250220 AND SENT ME TO CURT WARNER BUICK GMC (NOW BELLEVUE BUICK GMC). I GOT GMC BRAKE SERVICE BULLETIN #905E69FROM YOUR AGENCY AND GAVE IT TO THESERV. MGR WHO THEN DROVE IT. HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEMSDRIVING IT AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS..AND SAID HE COULD GET NO ACTION OR HELP FROM GMC. PURSUED AGAIN 5/30/00 WITH GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE..SENT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP LOCATION DIFFERENT NAME AND STAFF.ON 6/5/00 SUBMITTED LETTER WITH LOG OF INCIDENCES. SERVICE MGR SAYS GAVE DATA TO GMC REP WHO WILL CONTACT ME. SOFAR NO ACTION. AM NOT USING VEHICLE AND WON'T LET FAMILY USE. WANT TO SELL. FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. HAVE MUCH DOCUMENTATION AND SEVERAL WITNESSES TO SOME OF THESE BRAKE, GLIDE, STOP INCIDENTS AND SEVERAL REAR WHEEL LOCK UPS WHEN BRAKING. POTENTIALLY LOTS OF MORE MILEAGE AND USE. HEARD GM HAD OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THESE MODELS. CAN YOU HELP ME GET ACTION TO GET THIS VEHICLE IN A SAFE CONDITION? *AK
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 BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, FAIL TO RETRACT AND REACT TO SUDDEN STOP. SEAT BELTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LAW IN MOST STATES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
1) OVER YEARS OF OPERATION;2) BUCKLE FAILED TO CATCH THE SEAT BELT 3) PROBABLY HAVE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE. SUMMARY: SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW THEN ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER THE MAIN ENGINE BEARING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE 100,000 AND ISN'T USED IN ANY EXTREME MANNER EXCEPT TO GO BACK FORTH FROM WORK AND OTHER FAMILY ESSENTIALS. WHAT DO WE DO? WE'VE REPLACED THE PARTS AND ENGINE BUT THESE PARTS JUST DON'T GO OUT ON A WELL MAINTAINED TRUCK. WE DO THE OIL EVERY 3000 AND EVERYTHING... HELP. THANKS MIKE BROWN. *AK
NO SUMMARY.
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
STARTER MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM BLOCK. REPAIR CONSIST OF MOTOR BLOCK REPLACEMENT.*AK
NO SUMMARY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND THE DAY OF 27TH OF FEBRUARY 2010 AND WHEN I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS STICKING LIKE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOCKING UP THEN IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN SO ON THE DAY OF MARCH FIRST 2010 I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GO WILD AND LOCKED UP TO WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT BACK TO THE RIGHT AND IT MADE ME CRASH INTO TWO VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEING STUCK. IT JUST GOT A BRAND NEW POWER STEERING PUMP PUT IN AND IT WAS NOT THAT AND ALL THE TIE RODS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AND IT STILL IS HARD TO TURN NOW AND IT STICKS TO ONE SIDE WHEN ITS TURNED THAT WAY. *TR
STEERING WHEEL STIFF, HARD TO TURN. HAS TO FORCE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER TURNING. TOOK TO MECHANIC & COULD NOT TELL IF GEAR BOX OR NOT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TIRE TREAD FLAPPING AGAINST UNDER WELL OF VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, P23575R15 M/S. CONSUMER WASN'T HURT. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK FIRESTONE P235/75/R15 *MW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW THEN ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER THE MAIN ENGINE BEARING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE 100,000 AND ISN'T USED IN ANY EXTREME MANNER EXCEPT TO GO BACK FORTH FROM WORK AND OTHER FAMILY ESSENTIALS. WHAT DO WE DO? WE'VE REPLACED THE PARTS AND ENGINE BUT THESE PARTS JUST DON'T GO OUT ON A WELL MAINTAINED TRUCK. WE DO THE OIL EVERY 3000 AND EVERYTHING... HELP. THANKS MIKE BROWN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
HIT A POTHOLE ON ROAD AND WHEEL FELL INTO HOLE, THERE WAS ENOUGH DOWNWARD WHEEL TRAVEL TO PULL PARKING BRAKE CABLES TIGHT, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
ORIGINAL PAINT ON VEHICLE IS PEELING.
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 .