1994 GMC Sierra

Routine

Owners filed 190 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › motor. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
110,000 milesMedian miles at failure

27 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor62
100
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer45
010
Seats14
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
100
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump5
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
001
Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack4
001
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System3
013
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer98V150001
Filed Jul 1, 19981,557,585 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

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).

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seats
Filed Oct 28, 2019200,000 milesGA

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

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 15, 2019145,000 milesMI

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.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 31, 2011125,000 milesMD

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

Visibility
Filed Oct 11, 201140,000 milesOH

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.

Seats
Filed May 8, 2009120,000 milesTX

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.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 13, 2006100,000 milesOH

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 8, 2006145,000 milesNJ

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Mar 28, 2006PA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Oct 4, 200554,000 milesPA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Hydraulic › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Aug 28, 2005IN

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

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Aug 19, 2005185,000 milesMI

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 27, 2005OH

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Apr 5, 2005110,000 milesFL

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 20, 2005OR

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jan 17, 2005AZ

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jan 5, 2005TX

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Jan 5, 2005110,000 milesID

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2004IL

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 26, 2004PA

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

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Apr 12, 200425,000 milesPA

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

20 of 190 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
1994 — this page190320Routine
199372310Routine
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: Jul 1, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.