RoadVitals

1991 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.
12
Latest Nov 4, 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.
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the brakes, exterior lighting and seat belts categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Brakes654.5%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%
  • Steering19.1%
  • Tires & wheels19.1%
  • 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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

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

Visibility
Filed Nov 4, 2004

RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DURING INCLEMENT CONDITION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10099378
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2004

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THEY FAILED TO STOP THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY. THIS RESULTED AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS FAILURE HAS PROCESSED OVER TIME. THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND DETERIORATES. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 16,000 MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 24,000 MILES. THE SECOND TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, TWO WERE TURNED AND TWO WERE REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10082179
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
Filed Jan 15, 2004

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON PAINT RECALL. MY FATHER CONTACTED GMC ABOUT HIS PAINT BUT HIS WARRANTY WAS UP. HE HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS, HE IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE PAINT IS LITERLY PEELING OFF.

NHTSA ID
10068917
Incident
Sep 15, 1992
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 14, 2003

BUBBLES WOULD DEVELOP ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. SIZE LT 26575R16.*AK

NHTSA ID
10033936
Incident
Jul 16, 2003
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2003

THE BOLTS WHICH HELD THE STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE HAD COME LOOSE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT PART, HOWEVER THE ENTIRE COLUMN HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO APPLY AN "ADHESIVE" TO PREVENT THE COLUMN FROM DROPPING. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED IT WAS COMMON FOR THE BOLTS TO COME LOOSE. *TS *DT *JB

NHTSA ID
10005968
Incident
Jan 23, 2003
Mileage
122,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 27, 2001

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE DRYED OUT AND CLOUDED OVER GREATLY REDUCING VISABILITY.*AK

NHTSA ID
744647
Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2000

METALLIC BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING A FLUID LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
869046
Incident
Aug 29, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jul 1, 1999

SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH. WHEN TRING TO LATCH A PIECE FALLS OUT OF THE HOUSING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
841574

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.

020730024A

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

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
1991Viewing122039.9
1990182051.4
1989162154.7
1988621
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.