Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1991 GMC S15
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
758.3%
Seat Belts
216.7%
Electrical System
18.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
18.3%
Engine & Cooling
18.3%
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.
Oct 1995peak 3Sep 1999
NHTSA investigations into the 1991 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.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Medfield, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1) OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AT 37K MILES & WOULDN'T PASS STATE EMISSION INSPECTION, WHOLE SYSTEM REWIRED. OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AGAIN AT 73K MILES, NEW SENSOR INSTALLED. OXYGEN SENSOR FAILING AT 117K MILES. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPLACED YET. (2) ABS SYSTEM FAILED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY-NO DETAILS FROM DEALER). ABS FAILED AGAIN AT 37K MILES. CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. ABS FAILED AGAIN AT 117K MILES, SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF SEVERAL WHEEL SENSORS. ABS SYSTEM ISSUE AT 140K MILES - SENSORS AND BACKING PLATES (?).
NHTSA complaint #711064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medfield, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1) OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AT 37K MILES & WOULDN'T PASS STATE EMISSION INSPECTION, WHOLE SYSTEM REWIRED. OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AGAIN AT 73K MILES, NEW SENSOR INSTALLED. OXYGEN SENSOR FAILING AT 117K MILES. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPLACED YET. (2) ABS SYSTEM FAILED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AND FIXED (UNDER WARRANTY-NO DETAILS FROM DEALER). ABS FAILED AGAIN AT 37K MILES. CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. ABS FAILED AGAIN AT 117K MILES, SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF SEVERAL WHEEL SENSORS. ABS SYSTEM ISSUE AT 140K MILES - SENSORS AND BACKING PLATES (?).
NHTSA complaint #711064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Jack, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILED; ELECTRONIC DASH PANEL BURNED UP; AND THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #780630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Jack, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ABS FAILED; ELECTRONIC DASH PANEL BURNED UP; AND THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #780630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Jack, OH
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
ABS FAILED; ELECTRONIC DASH PANEL BURNED UP; AND THE REAR AXLE SHAFT BEARING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #780630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Spri, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #539710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwall, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BECOME INOPERATIVE, NO LONGER FUNCTIONS , ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND REMAINED ON, DEALER WILL CHANGE ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #808662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Linn, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE ON THE ABS BRAKES, THE LIGHTS STAY ON THE DASH.
NHTSA complaint #982965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Linn, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE ON THE ABS BRAKES, THE LIGHTS STAY ON THE DASH.
NHTSA complaint #982965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anchorage, AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE BACK SEAT BELT BUCKLES DON'T HOLD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #976082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Germantown, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR PASSENGER CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
NHTSA complaint #974203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Federal WAY, WA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE, RENDERING ABS INOPERATIVE, WITHOUT WARNING. TT ELECTRONICS INSIDE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND THE UNIT WAS NOT SERVICABLE.
NHTSA complaint #973363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.