RoadVitals

1994 GMC Sierra Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
190
Latest Oct 28, 2019
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.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 3, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 190 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 GMC Sierra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 190 · page 1 of 8

Interior & seats
Filed Oct 28, 2019

SEAT BACK PIVOT PIN BROKE. THE SEAT CAN ONLY RECLINE. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 95V246000. BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW UP WHEN SEARCHED. WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED? THIS IS A 1994 GMC SIERRA SLE. THANKS

NHTSA ID
11271485
Incident
Oct 1, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 15, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH TO THE BUCKLE. ALSO, THE STRAP THAT GOES ACROSS THE DRIVER'S CHEST WOULD NOT ADJUST TO HIS HEIGHT. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH COLE BUICK GMC (6600 S WESTNEDGE AVE, PORTAGE, MI 49002, 269-323-3200) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID
11244131
Incident
Jul 22, 2019
Mileage
145,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE OWNER WHO STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10433666 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *CN UPDATED 12/12/11

NHTSA ID
10433674
Incident
Oct 29, 2011
Mileage
125,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 11, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V150001 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) BU THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10429410
Incident
Nov 17, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 8, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT SUPPORTING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE SEAT BACKS TO FALL BACKWARDS. HE REPAIRED THE ISSUE HIMSELF AFTER PURCHASING ANOTHER SET OF BOLTS FROM THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO. RECENTLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,377 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10268220
Incident
Jun 18, 2007
Mileage
120,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 13, 2006

I AM EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY WIPERS NOT WORKING ON A 1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET AND WITHOUT THE AID OF THE WIPERS WORKING PROPERLY VISIBILITY IS NEAR ZERO. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO WARNING SIGNALS ARE GIVEN WHEN THE WIPERS WILL OR WILL NOT WORK. MOST RECENTLY I CALLED A GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT WITH THE AGE OF THE TRUCK THIS PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR. THIS LEFT ME THE FEELING THAT THEY (GENERAL MOTORS) WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE. AT THIS POINT THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10162302
Incident
Jul 13, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V150001, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 6/19/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10159358
Incident
Jun 8, 2006
Mileage
145,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 28, 2006

CONSUMER 1994 SIERRA 1500 WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ON AND OFF. *TS THE STARTER WAS ALSO REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10155147
Incident
Mar 8, 2005
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 2005
Crash reported

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONDITION WERE WORSE WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE 4- WHEEL DRIVE MODE THE ABS SYSTEM W AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE MODE A PROBLEM WOULD ALWAYS OCCURRED WHEN BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE TRIED TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, BUT COULD NOT EVEN THOUGH BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, BACK BRAKE DRUMS, ALL OF THE BRAKE LININGS, AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS TOLD HIM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *SC . *AK

NHTSA ID
10138491
Incident
Sep 30, 2005
Mileage
54,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 28, 2005

RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINE GOING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE TO REAR BRAKES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134448
Incident
Aug 28, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 19, 2005

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A GMC SIERRA 1994. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. VEHICLE HAD A CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT MAY HAVE COME LOOSE . CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE WAS GONE ABOUT JULY 17, 2005. THEN, CONSUMER CHECKED THE SPARE MOUNTING DEVICE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE BROKE DUE TO RUST. CABLE LOOKED AS IF IT RUSTED T AND FAILED. ALSO, CONSUMER OWNED A 1989 GMC PICKUP WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE TIRE MISSING ON 1994. THEN CHECKED AND FOUND THAT 1989 VEHICLE ALSO HAD SPARE TIRE, AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE. CONSUMER'S SON HAD A 1993 GMC WITH THE SAME TIRE MOUNTING DEVICE FOUND THAT SPARE TIRE WAS AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE ANY OF THE VEHICLES LOST THE SPARE TIRES, OR HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING. CONSUMER ONLY DROVE ON BLACK TOP ROADS, AND DID NOT USE VEHICLE OFF ROAD. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD A 2002 ENVOY WHICH HAD THE SAME MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE SPARE, AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR WITH ENVOY AS WELL.*AK SPARE TIRE MOUNTING CABLE ASSEMBLY REUST OUT. *TT

NHTSA ID
10129711
Incident
Jul 17, 2005
Mileage
185,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 27, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATES THAT HE OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA AND THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT. CONSUMER GOT ONTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SAW THERE WAS RECALL 98V15001 FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL . *AK

NHTSA ID
10126697
Incident
Mar 15, 2005
Visibility
Filed Apr 5, 2005

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE RAIN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER NHTSA RECALL 98V150001. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD FIRMLY HIT THE WIPER MOTOR WITH HIS HAND 2 OR 3 TIMES. THEY WOULD START THEN STOP DURING THE RAIN. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10115137
Incident
Jul 15, 2002
Mileage
110,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 20, 2005

I'M PUTTING THE 3RD TRANNY IN MY 94 GMC SIERRA TRUCK. I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS, I KNOW OF SOME PEOPLE HAVEN THE SAME THING WRONG ON THERE GMC AND CHEV TRUCKS FROM THE YEARS 90-2000 TRUCKS. ITS MOSTLY WITH 2ND AND OVER DRIVE. LIKE I SAID THIS WILL BE THE 3RD, THE COMPANY THAT PUT THE 2ND TRANNY IN TOLD ME THAT THESE TRANNY HAVE A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS WITH 2ND AND OVER DRIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10107594
Incident
Jan 31, 2004
Visibility
Filed Jan 17, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT STOP. SOMETIMES THEY STOP MID-WIPE. SOMETIMES THEY CHANGE SPEEDS WITHOUT MY CHANGING THE SETTINGS. CALLED GMC WHEN I DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL.*JB

NHTSA ID
10106471
Incident
Jan 11, 2005
Visibility
Filed Jan 5, 2005

NHTSA RECALL 98V150001/ CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARE ON THEY WILL NOT GO OFF, AND CONSUMER MUST PLAY WITH THE WIPER SWITCH FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY WILL TURN OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THEM ON THEY WILL NOT OPERATE. CONSUMER JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, AND PROVIDED THE VIN TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS TELLING CONSUMER THE RECALL WAS OUT DATED, AND WANTED CONSUMER TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, AND MAYBE REIMBURSED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10106810
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
Mileage
110,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 5, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER HE NEVER RECEIVED IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10101230
Incident
Oct 20, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2004

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, AND AT ANY TIME. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID
892029
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jul 26, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE , I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL AS DESCRIBED ON YOUR WEBSITE , THE WIPERS WILL NOT START QUITE FREQUENTLY AND STOP WHEN THEY WANT TO . THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AGO . PLEASE ADVISE !*AK

NHTSA ID
10082669
Incident
Apr 10, 2003
Visibility
Filed Apr 12, 2004

RECALL 98V15001, WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067000
Incident
Mar 29, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 8, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING (INTERMITTENT PROBLEM) OR WILL NOT STOP ONCE STARTED. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GMC REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL FOR 1994 PICKUP TRUCKS, BUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER -- EVEN THOUGH I WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL. THE RECALL IS COVERD BY GMC TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 03023 AND REFERS TO PROBLEMS WITH SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD. I CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE FACT THAT THE RECALL APPLIED TO MY MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE BUT THAT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL WAS CONFIRMED. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE IDENTIFIED DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10065752
Incident
Mar 6, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Mar 23, 2004

TAILGATE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. CABLE BENDS, CORRODES AND BREAKS, ALLOWING TAILGATE TO FALL FREE. ALSO CAUSES A SCRACH LINE ALONG BOTTOM OF TAILGATE. SAME AS ON THE 2000 TO 2004 TRUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063676
Incident
Feb 15, 2004
Mileage
150,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 23, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, BUT THE MOTOR CONTINUED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10061093
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Visibility
Filed Mar 8, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING AND STUCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION WHEN IN USE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD WAS BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061554
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 9, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPS OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10053754
Mileage
65,000 mi

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.

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