1993 GMC Sierra

Routine

Owners filed 72 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › motor. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor13
100
Seats10
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer7
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip7
200
Power Train › Automatic Transmission6
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
002
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
010
Engine and Engine Cooling2
001

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

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."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly94V044001
Filed Apr 5, 19942,595 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLES ALTERED BY PAS, INC. HAVE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS THAT CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION, WHICH CRACK THE E-GLASS WRAPPING. THIS STRESS CORROSION CRACKING CAN LEAD TO TANK RUPTURES.

Risk. IF THE TANK RUPTURES, PERSONAL INJURY TO INDIVIDUALS IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy. GM IS OFFERING TO EXCHANGE THESE VEHICLES WITH A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED 1994 GASOLINE 1/2 OR 3/4 TON GM PICKUP. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO EXCHANGE THE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE, GM WILL REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly93V163000
Filed Sep 27, 1993303 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE REAR BENCH SEAT DOES NOT MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS," BECAUSE THE MANUAL LATCH MECHANISM ON THE FOLDING FULL BENCH REAR SEAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK FRAME LOWER CROSS TUBE WITH DOMED HEAD STEEL RIVETS INSTEAD OF THE BOLTS SPECIFIED.

Remedy. THE RIVETS MUST BE REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 8, 2017TX

RECALL SUBJECT: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY REPORT RECEIPT DATE: 04-05-1994 NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 94V044001 MANUFACTURE: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. SUMMARY: VEHICLES ALTERED BY PAS, INC. HAVE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS THAT CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION, WHICH CRACK THE E-GLASS WRAPPING. THIS STRESS CORROSION CRACKING CAN LEAD TO TANK RUPTURES. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE TANK RUPTURES, PERSONAL INJURY TO INDIVIDUALS IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE MAY OCCUR. REMEDY: GM IS OFFERING TO EXCHANGE THESE VEHICLES WITH A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED 1994 GASOLINE 1/2 OR 3/4 TON GM PICKUP. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO EXCHANGE THE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE, GM WILL REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling1 injured
Filed Jul 24, 2013210,000 milesWA

I WENT OUT ONE MORNING AND STARTED MY TRUCK AND HEARD A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I GOT OUT AND OPENED THE HOOD. ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND THE COOLING FAN BLEW APART AND FRAGMENTS OF METAL CAME THROUGH THE PLASTIC SHROUD AND INTO MY FACE AND HEAD CAUSING SERIOUS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL INJURY TO MYSELF. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FAST RESPONSE OF THE PARAMEDICS WHO FLEW ME TO THE HOSPITAL BY CHOPPER. I AM NOW BLIND MISSING AN EYE AND MY FACE AND HEAD ARE SCARED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. PLEASE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THIS TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Mar 25, 2009220,000 milesCA

I PURCHASED A 1993 GMC SIERRA PICKUP FOR MY SON FROM MY FATHER WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY FATHER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT MAKING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES AS WE HAVE DONE AS WELL AFTER PURCHASING IT. MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. LUCKILY HE DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL NOR DID HE CRASH HEAD ON INTO THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED HE COULDN'T GET THE IGNITION TO TURN OFF WITH THE KEY. HAD TO JIGGLE THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE DID THIS WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO OUR HOME AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING IT. *TR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Mar 11, 2006IN

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WITH MY WIPERS ON LOW SPEED, THEY SUDDENLY STOPPED, JUST AS A TRUCK WAS PASSING ME, WITH THE ROAD WATER THROWN ON THE WINDSHIELD BY THE SEMI, I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. I COULD SEE IN MY SIDE MIRROR THAT I WAS CLEAR ON MY RIGHT SIDE, SO I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I ALSO OWN A 1991 3/4 TON SILVERADO WHICH I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE WIPER DELAY FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE NOT TOTALLY STOPPED AS THE SIERRA'S DID. I SPOKE WITH SOME OTHER GM TRUCK OWNERS WHO SAY THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE WIPER SYSTEMS OF THEIR TRUCKS, SOME AS FAR BACK AS 1988 MODELS. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 13, 2005WI

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V159000; GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HOWEVER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *SC *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 20, 200475,000 milesKY

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF OWN THEIR OWN. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. GENERAL MOTOR CORPORATION (GM) ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL ON 1994-1996 GMC LIGHT TRUCKS, AND TRUCK'S WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. *LA

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed May 4, 200474,000 milesTN

DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, CAUSING WIPERS TO STOP RUNNING RANDOMLY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 2004116,438 milesNM

Equipment
Filed Jan 15, 20041,500 milesCA

#1 TRANSMISSION. SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO NUETRAL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MUST COAST OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURN OFF ENGINE, WAIT, RESTART AND CONTINUE ON. NARROWLY CAUSED A COLLISION WITH A SEMI TRUCK WHILE COASTING TO SIDE OF ROAD. COMPLAINED TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW TRANS IS LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR AND WON'T SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR. #2 PAINT. STARTED CHIPPING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OLD AND LESS THAN 2500 MILES. DEALERS SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ROOF IS NOW RUSTED THROUGH AND HEADLINER IS HANGING DOWN. DEALER AND ZONE REP SAY GMC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE AND REFUSE TO REPAIR AND REPAINT. #3 SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND IS VERY LOOSE. IT WOULD NOT PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER AND ZONE REP DENY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR EXCEPT AT MY EXPENSE. #4 RADIO. RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES BY THE DEALER SINCE NEW AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR IT AGAIN. VOLUME MUST BE TURNED UP ALL THE WAY TO BE HEARD. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH EVERY RADIO THEY SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED.

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004150,000 milesMO

REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 4 TIMES, RECALL ON SEATS WERE FIXED BUT BOLTS KEEP BREAKING SO I BOUGHT NEW SEATS OF A DIFFERNT STYLE AND REPLACED THEM AFTER A 5 YEAR PROBLEM. PAINT HAS BEEN FLAKING OFF THE TRUCK FOR APPOXIMATELY 4 YRS AND I CANT GET THE DEALER OR GM TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS PAINT PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THE TRUCK WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BUT THE TOP OF THE CAB AND THE BED IS ALL THAT NEEDS PAINTED, AND THEY WERE NOT DAMAGED IN ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 2, 200472,000 milesOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM. THIS RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER, AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO START WORKING. RECALL 03V15900 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Dec 15, 2003CA

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 20031,500 milesCA

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST HIM $4000.00 AND TO REBUILD AN OLD ONE WOULD BE $3000.00. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE ONGOING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND FEELS THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE LOWERED. NOT ONLY HAS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ,BUT THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD LINER THAT NOW HANGS DOWN WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ROOF LEAKING, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AS WELL AS THE RADIO SYSTEM. *CB THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A BROKEN SEAT BACK RECLINER, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN ALIGNMENT. *JB

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 13, 200337,000 milesCA

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RETRACT. SEAT BELT IS VERY LOOSE AND WOULD NOT PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER AND GMC ZONE OFFICE REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND/OR REPAIR THE RETRACTOR EXCEPT AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *LA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 200339,350 milesCA

TRANSMISSION. COMES OUT OF DRIVE WHILE MOVING AND TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. DRIVER MUST COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF ROADWAY, STOP, TURN OFF ENGINE, WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES THEN RESTART ENGINE. CAN CAUSE A COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES WHILE COASTING TO THE EDGE OF ROADWAY. HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO GMC FOR 10 YEARS WITH NO CORRECTION OF PROBLEM. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A COLLISION WHILE COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *LA

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Nov 2, 200387,510 milesIN

FAILURES IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RADIO,DASHBOARD LIGHT (SPEEDOMETER, ETC.),WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *LA

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Sep 12, 2003115,000 milesUT

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING PROBLEMS ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS A RECALL ON SIMILAR VEHICLES BUT THE CONSUMER'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *PH

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 5, 2003VA

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER, IT DID NOT APPLY TO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 4, 2003PA

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 280 000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WA SNOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly1 injured
Filed Oct 15, 2002CA

THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS UNSECURING THE BELT BUCKLE ATTACH TO THE SEAT. WHEN SHE LIFT UP THE BUCKLE UP THE BELT RETRACTED FAST AND HIT HER INSIDE OF THE MOUTH STRIKING HER FRONT TOOTH. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

20 of 72 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201761010Routine
20166210Routine
201553610Routine
20141011220Do not drive
201339310Routine
201229220Routine
201143200Routine
201034120Routine
200937100Routine
200868200Routine
200759220Routine
200653630Routine
20051171120Routine
20041881050Routine
2003206912Fatalities reported
2002249720Above average
2001264725Fatalities reported
20004431232Fatalities reported
1999600921Fatalities reported
1998190080Routine
1997238050Above average
1996246230Above average
1995261600Above average
1994190320Routine
1993 — this page72310Routine
199230420Routine
199112200Routine
199018220Routine

Compare every Sierra 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: Aug 11, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.