1994 GMC C15

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seats. It has been recalled 10 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seats4
101
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1
000

10 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch99V025000
Filed Feb 5, 1999988,587 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS, CREW CABS, UTILITY TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POLARITY OF THE WIRING FOR THE ZERO ADJUST BRAKE SWITCH REVERSED FROM WHAT WAS SPECIFIED ON THE SWITCH DRAWING. WITH THE REVERSED POLARITY, THE CONTACTS IN THE BRAKE SWITCH CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE BRAKE SWITCH WILL PERFORM NORMALLY UNTIL THE BRAKE SWITCH CONTACTS WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE DRIVER.

Risk. THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND REVERSE THE WIRING.

Seats96E010000
Filed Mar 25, 19962,400 vehiclesVehicle Safety Systems

Defect. THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.

Seats95V246000
Filed Dec 21, 1995675,661 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLE COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.

Seat Belts › Front95V242000
Filed Dec 13, 199540 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEMS WITH NO ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS AND MAY NOT MEET THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RETRACTOR PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY(S) WITH ONE HAVING THE NEWLY DESIGNED ENERGY-MANAGEMENT TWIN-LOOP SYSTEM.

Seat Belts › Front95V241000
Filed Dec 13, 1995630,099 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. IF BOTH THE LAP-BELT AND SHOULDER-BELT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES RELEASE AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, ACCELERATION FORCES CAN CAUSE THE BUCKLE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE AND ALLOW THE BUCKLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE LATCH.

Risk. IF THE BUCKLE RELEASED, THE SYSTEM WOULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT PROTECTION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STITCHING THAT CREATES THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP IN THE SHOULDER BELT(S).

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel95I005000
Filed Dec 13, 199460,000 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, VANS AND MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONICALLY FUEL INJECTED 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION PART 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL DRIVEABILITY OF THESE VEHICLES.

Risk. CERTAIN VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT SOME DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS SUCH AS POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, STALLING, MISFIRE, POOR HOT OR COLD STARTING, EXTENDED CRANKING OF A HOT ENGINE, OR STALLING AFTER START. TRUCKS WITH MANUALTRANSMISSIONS CAN EXHIBIT POOR ACCELERATION FROM START OR COULD STALL DURING DECELERATION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL SOME RECENTLY DEVELOPED ENHANCEMENTS WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL DRIVEABILITY OF THESE VEHICLES.

Visibility › Windshield94V212000
Filed Oct 26, 199429 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT WINDSHIELD OPENING PINCH-WELD-FLANGE PRIMER. THIS PRIMER WILL NOT PROPERLY ETCH THE PAINTED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE SEPARATION OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE VEHICLE DURING COLLISION INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY FOR ALL PERSONS INVOLVED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE WINDSHIELD AND REINSTALL IT USING THE CORRECT PRIMER.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm94V060000
Filed Apr 5, 199430,148 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TIGHTENED BELOW THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. LOW TORQUE ON THIS NUT MAY ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FATIGUE AND BREAK. THE BOLT BREAKAGE CAN CAUSE THE LEFT HAND CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE LEFT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRAME REAR NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Seats93V216000
Filed Dec 14, 19931,375 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SEATS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE UPPER SLAVE HINGE TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, OR WITHOUT BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE SEAT TO THE SEAT ADJUSTER. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FNVSS NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS."

Risk. THE MISSING BOLTS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO BECOMELOOSE AND IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT MAY SUBJECT THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASEDRISK OF INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT SEATS FOR MISSING BOLTS AND INSTALL BOLTS IF REQUIRED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages93V152000
Filed Sep 15, 199370,154 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS MISSING, MISPOSITIONED OR NOT PROPERLY SEATED.

Risk. BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE THE STOP LAMPSWITCH AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSH ROD TO DISCONNECT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL,RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE OPERATION, AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. INSPECT VEHICLES TO ASSURE THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSH ROD RETAINER IS PRESENT AND FULLY SEATED IN ITS CORRECT POSITION.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Mar 12, 200482,000 milesIN

WHILE DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK

Seats
Filed Nov 10, 1999FL

THE SEATBACK ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN AGAIN. SEATBACK WAS CORRECTED ONCE UNDER RECALL 96E010000 IN 1997. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SEATBACK HAS BROKEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS BROKEN ONCE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 8, 1996TX

HIT FROM BEHIND AND BOTH BUCKET SEATS BROKE. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Mar 29, 1996PA

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO KEEP TURNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Seats
Filed Mar 7, 1996LA

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Dec 6, 1995AR

SEAT FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE. TT

Seats
Filed Jan 23, 1995TN

DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE FLOOR. TT

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19964600Routine
199510700Routine
1994 — this page71000Routine
19937200Routine
19926220Routine
19911010Routine
19902210Routine

Compare every C15 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 5, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.