FaultScore report
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1989 GMC Sierra with NHTSA between 1996 and 2010. The largest single group is the brakes.
22
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 100,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 275,150 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires
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.
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.
W-CAR HINGE PIN FAILURE
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND THE DAY OF 27TH OF FEBRUARY 2010 AND WHEN I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS STICKING LIKE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOCKING UP THEN IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN SO ON THE DAY OF MARCH FIRST 2010 I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GO WILD AND LOCKED UP TO WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT BACK TO THE RIGHT AND IT MADE ME CRASH INTO TWO VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEING STUCK. IT JUST GOT A BRAND NEW POWER STEERING PUMP PUT IN AND IT WAS NOT THAT AND ALL THE TIE RODS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AND IT STILL IS HARD TO TURN NOW AND IT STICKS TO ONE SIDE WHEN ITS TURNED THAT WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10315996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TIRE TREAD FLAPPING AGAINST UNDER WELL OF VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, P23575R15 M/S. CONSUMER WASN'T HURT. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK FIRESTONE P235/75/R15
NHTSA complaint #869751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND THE DAY OF 27TH OF FEBRUARY 2010 AND WHEN I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS STICKING LIKE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOCKING UP THEN IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN SO ON THE DAY OF MARCH FIRST 2010 I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GO WILD AND LOCKED UP TO WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT BACK TO THE RIGHT AND IT MADE ME CRASH INTO TWO VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEING STUCK. IT JUST GOT A BRAND NEW POWER STEERING PUMP PUT IN AND IT WAS NOT THAT AND ALL THE TIE RODS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AND IT STILL IS HARD TO TURN NOW AND IT STICKS TO ONE SIDE WHEN ITS TURNED THAT WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10315996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, FAIL TO RETRACT AND REACT TO SUDDEN STOP. SEAT BELTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LAW IN MOST STATES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10263220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1) OVER YEARS OF OPERATION;2) BUCKLE FAILED TO CATCH THE SEAT BELT 3) PROBABLY HAVE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE. SUMMARY: SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10096453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER STOPPED, AND NOTICED HALF OF THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAD SHEARED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10042756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM BLOCK. REPAIR CONSIST OF MOTOR BLOCK REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #764962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. BODY SHOP REPORTS THAT THE INTURNAL WORKINGS HAVE COME APPERENT.
NHTSA complaint #735152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TIRE TREAD FLAPPING AGAINST UNDER WELL OF VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, P23575R15 M/S. CONSUMER WASN'T HURT. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK FIRESTONE P235/75/R15
NHTSA complaint #869751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
OVER THE 12 YEAR PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS PICKUP WE'VE EXPERIENCED 45 DIFFERENT SERIOUS BRAKING INCIDENTS. THEY ACTUALLY STARTED IN 7/13/89 AND THERE WAS WARRANTY WORK DONE. IN 1990 WE FIRST EXPERIENCED A BRAKING/ GLIDE /STOP INCIDENT THAT TOOK US PAST A STOP SIGN.TRUCK CENTER/HALL TRUCK CENTER DID SOME WARRANTY WORK ON THIS BRAKES ON 5/30/91 @48000. THEY LOST THE GMC PICKUP FRANCHISE. IN 1998 GM CUSTOMER SERVICE GAVE ME CLAIM # 98250220 AND SENT ME TO CURT WARNER BUICK GMC (NOW BELLEVUE BUICK GMC). I GOT GMC BRAKE SERVICE BULLETIN #905E69FROM YOUR AGENCY AND GAVE IT TO THESERV. MGR WHO THEN DROVE IT. HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEMSDRIVING IT AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS..AND SAID HE COULD GET NO ACTION OR HELP FROM GMC. PURSUED AGAIN 5/30/00 WITH GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE..SENT BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP LOCATION DIFFERENT NAME AND STAFF.ON 6/5/00 SUBMITTED LETTER WITH LOG OF INCIDENCES. SERVICE MGR SAYS GAVE DATA TO GMC REP WHO WILL CONTACT ME. SOFAR NO ACTION. AM NOT USING VEHICLE AND WON'T LET FAMILY USE. WANT TO SELL. FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. HAVE MUCH DOCUMENTATION AND SEVERAL WITNESSES TO SOME OF THESE BRAKE, GLIDE, STOP INCIDENTS AND SEVERAL REAR WHEEL LOCK UPS WHEN BRAKING. POTENTIALLY LOTS OF MORE MILEAGE AND USE. HEARD GM HAD OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THESE MODELS. CAN YOU HELP ME GET ACTION TO GET THIS VEHICLE IN A SAFE CONDITION?
NHTSA complaint #724525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW THEN ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER THE MAIN ENGINE BEARING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE 100,000 AND ISN'T USED IN ANY EXTREME MANNER EXCEPT TO GO BACK FORTH FROM WORK AND OTHER FAMILY ESSENTIALS. WHAT DO WE DO? WE'VE REPLACED THE PARTS AND ENGINE BUT THESE PARTS JUST DON'T GO OUT ON A WELL MAINTAINED TRUCK. WE DO THE OIL EVERY 3000 AND EVERYTHING... HELP. THANKS MIKE BROWN.
NHTSA complaint #723370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BLEW THEN ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS LATER THE MAIN ENGINE BEARING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE 100,000 AND ISN'T USED IN ANY EXTREME MANNER EXCEPT TO GO BACK FORTH FROM WORK AND OTHER FAMILY ESSENTIALS. WHAT DO WE DO? WE'VE REPLACED THE PARTS AND ENGINE BUT THESE PARTS JUST DON'T GO OUT ON A WELL MAINTAINED TRUCK. WE DO THE OIL EVERY 3000 AND EVERYTHING... HELP. THANKS MIKE BROWN.
NHTSA complaint #723370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
ORIGINAL PAINT ON VEHICLE IS PEELING.
NHTSA complaint #780627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL STIFF, HARD TO TURN. HAS TO FORCE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER TURNING. TOOK TO MECHANIC & COULD NOT TELL IF GEAR BOX OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #828285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS ARE CORRODED AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NO LONGER OPERATE.
NHTSA complaint #815178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #517831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
3 OUT OF 4 SEAT BELTS THAT ARE EQUIPPED IN VEHICLE HAVE BROKEN DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED BUCKLES.
NHTSA complaint #812693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
HIT A POTHOLE ON ROAD AND WHEEL FELL INTO HOLE, THERE WAS ENOUGH DOWNWARD WHEEL TRAVEL TO PULL PARKING BRAKE CABLES TIGHT, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #511700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
HIT A POTHOLE ON ROAD AND WHEEL FELL INTO HOLE, THERE WAS ENOUGH DOWNWARD WHEEL TRAVEL TO PULL PARKING BRAKE CABLES TIGHT, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #511700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.