Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 GMC S15
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
218.2%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Engine & Cooling
218.2%
Equipment & Accessories
19.1%
Seats
19.1%
Seat Belts
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Lights
19.1%
Suspension
19.1%
Brakes
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 3Dec 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 GMC S15
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94029Opened 29 Jul 1994Closed 31 Jul 1996ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Prescott, AZ1 injured1 killed
SEATS
THE CONSUMER (WHO IS NOW DECEASED HAROLD BRIDGES) WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS DRIVING RECKLESSLY, THE CONSUMERS SEAT ADJUSTER RAILING FAILED, WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERE INJURIES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS KILLED, HOWEVER THE MOTHER, ROSA LEYVA IS WRITING IN ON BEHALF OF HER SON EDWARDO LEYVA WHO WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN THE INCIDENT BELIEVES IF GMC WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT RAILING OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE, HER SON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.
NHTSA complaint #566619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayesville, NCCrash1 killed
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL/SKID.
NHTSA complaint #966419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayesville, NCCrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING AN ACCIDENT,DRIVER WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY.
NHTSA complaint #966419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicopee, MAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, EA94-029 ACTIVE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION. TT
NHTSA complaint #959734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Bonne Terre, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FRONT LEFT BLINKER. FOR SOME REASON THE OUTSIDE BLINKER STOPPED WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE INSIDE SIGNAL ON DASHBOARD STILL WORKED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10103298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henrietta, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 1989 JIMMY S15 LAST YEAR. DROM THE REPAIR BILLS THAT CAME WITH THE TRUCK THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THIS TRUCK IN THE SHOP COUNTLESS TIMES FOR SURGING. WHENEVER I AM STOPPED AT A LIGHT ETC- THE TRUCK SURGES FORWARD. I AM AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT, ESPECAILLY WITH MY MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10073033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prescott, AZ1 injured1 killed
SEATS
THE CONSUMER (WHO IS NOW DECEASED HAROLD BRIDGES) WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS DRIVING RECKLESSLY, THE CONSUMERS SEAT ADJUSTER RAILING FAILED, WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERE INJURIES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS KILLED, HOWEVER THE MOTHER, ROSA LEYVA IS WRITING IN ON BEHALF OF HER SON EDWARDO LEYVA WHO WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN THE INCIDENT BELIEVES IF GMC WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT RAILING OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE, HER SON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.
NHTSA complaint #566619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hastings, MN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY AND NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN A THICK YELLOW STICKY GAS/FLUID CAME OUT OF VENTS AND COATED THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE TRYING TO DEFROST. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hastings, MN
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITION FAILED DUE TO FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #500981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Friendship, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #482537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayesville, NCCrash1 killed
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL/SKID.
NHTSA complaint #966419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayesville, NCCrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING AN ACCIDENT,DRIVER WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET FROM VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FATALITY.
NHTSA complaint #966419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicopee, MAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, EA94-029 ACTIVE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION. TT
NHTSA complaint #959734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.