12 of the
32 complaints about the 1994 GMC 1500 are about the
glass, mirrors and wipers — 38% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
122,000 miles.
D
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Motor
650.0%
Windshield Wiper/Washer
541.7%
Switch/Wiring
18.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Fort Collins, CO
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP ([XXX]) GM HAS 2 RECALLS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEMS ON 1994 AND NEWER PICKUPS AND SUVS (RECALL 98043 AND SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 02054A). MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM NOTED IN THE RECALLS: INTERMITTENT WIPER OPERATION RESULTING FROM CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER MOTOR CONTROL'S PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AT ITS CONNECTION TO THE WIRING HARNESS. BUT, BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THOSE IN THE RECALL, I AM LEFT TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN. I HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO FIX IT. AND, MY BRIEF INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER GM OWNERS IN THE SAME SITUATION ... THE SAME PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL BUT LEFT IN THE COLD BY GM BECAUSE OF VIN NUMBER EXCLUSIONS. MY CALL TO GM REVEALED THAT THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT CERTAIN PLANTS, BECAUSE ONLY THOSE PLANTS USED PARTS FROM "DEFECTIVE BATCHES." THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM (BAD SOLDER JOINTS) SEEMS TO ME A DESIGN ISSUE (FAILURE TO MITIGATE VIBRATION, TOO RIGID A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND PCB?), NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT (BAD BATCH OF MATERIAL, IMPROPERLY SOLDERED JOINT?). SAME SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM THE SAME FAILURE ON THE SAME PART WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER? WHEN I PRESSED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ON THIS QUESTION (VIN NUMBER AND PARTS BATCH ARE IRRELEVANT IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, WHICH I THINK IT IS), I GOT THE PROVERBIAL RUN-AROUND. AND, MY WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK. *NM UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10093778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 122,000 milesWilliamsburg, VA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN INTERMITTENTLY SEVERELY LIMITIING VISIBILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. GMC NOTIFIED ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT RECALL EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10088255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tonkawa, OK
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10075870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesPalatka, FL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENLY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10063389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesClifton, IL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS ON MY 1994 GMC PICK-UP DO NOT WORK AT ALL TIMES WHEN REQUIRED. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ROUTINELY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. GMC ACKNOWLEDGED OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE; HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR RECALL ORDERS, MY CONTACT WITH GMC PRODUCED NEGATIVE RESULTS.
NHTSA complaint #10049372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallup, NM
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNTIONED STOPED WORKING. HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE SINCE THEN.
NHTSA complaint #10007720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gallup, NM
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNTIONED STOPED WORKING. HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE SINCE THEN.
NHTSA complaint #10007720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bostic, NC
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #8016363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sumrall, MS
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH IN THE RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST SHUT OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO BRAKE. DRIVER HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN WIPER OPERATION. *AK THIS PART WAS RECALLED #98V150, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORK.
NHTSA complaint #8014684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Collins, CO
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR WIPERS. VEHICLE AT DEALER'S.
NHTSA complaint #889600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bishopville, SC
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR JUST QUIT WORKING, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY.
NHTSA complaint #864851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sheridan, WY
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HEARD A BUZZING NOISE IN THE MOTOR. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #849594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.