FaultScore

1990 GMC Sierra brake problems

12 of the 30 complaints about the 1990 GMC Sierra are about the braking system — 40% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 55,000 miles.

F

12

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 7 58.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 16.7%
Master Cylinder 1 8.3%
Foundation Components 1 8.3%
Pads 1 8.3%

Brakes across every GMC Sierra year

1990 12 0.8%
1993 13 0.9%
1994 18 1.2%
1995 54 3.7%
1996 57 3.9%
1997 76 5.2%
1998 68 4.6%
1999 355 24.2%
2000 243 16.6%
2001 155 10.6%
2002 152 10.4%
2003 86 5.9%
2004 77 5.3%
2005 37 2.5%
2006 27 1.8%
2007 14 1.0%
2017 20 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 55,000 miles Rocky Ford, CO Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING AROUND THE TRANSMISSION AND WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,880. THE LEFT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FELL OFF, THE MAGNET COVER PLATE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CAME OFF AND RUINED THE REAR END TWICE. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SEALS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LOST FLUID, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, THE CLUTCH FAN BROKE , THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT AS EASY AS THE RIGHT, THE SEAT BELTS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, THE VALVE GUIDES FAILED ON THE ENGINE, THE ABS WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENT CAME ON WHEN WATER WOULD GET ON THE UNIT AND THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE UNIT DRIED OUT/ THE TORSION BAR SUPPORT WAS FATIGUED, THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES PROPERLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. UPDATED EVOQ 08/05/10

NHTSA complaint #10336395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Rocky Ford, CO Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING AROUND THE TRANSMISSION AND WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,880. THE LEFT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FELL OFF, THE MAGNET COVER PLATE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CAME OFF AND RUINED THE REAR END TWICE. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SEALS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE LOST FLUID, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, THE CLUTCH FAN BROKE , THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT AS EASY AS THE RIGHT, THE SEAT BELTS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, THE VALVE GUIDES FAILED ON THE ENGINE, THE ABS WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENT CAME ON WHEN WATER WOULD GET ON THE UNIT AND THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THE UNIT DRIED OUT/ THE TORSION BAR SUPPORT WAS FATIGUED, THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT ADJUST THEMSELVES PROPERLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. UPDATED EVOQ 08/05/10

NHTSA complaint #10336395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Festus, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SPONGY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PROBLEM HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE FRONT DISC PADS AND THE REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS HAD BEEN REPLACED BUT THE BRAKE STILL GOES TO THE FLOOR. CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS INDICATED THAT THE 88,89 AND 90 MODELS HAD THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #886452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonithan, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PAD.; FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #846240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonithan, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PAD.; FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #846240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Leandro, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #843126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingsport, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER TWICE, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #537473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Varnville, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

FRONT BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #526065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, OR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHENEVER THE ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD CONTINUE TO THE FLOOR BEFORE SLOWING/STOPPING VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD. ITS AN INTERMITTEN PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #820567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rosewell, NM Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE/ BRAKE FADE AWAY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DUMP VALVE WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DUMP VALVE.

NHTSA complaint #817274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dickson, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, HE STATES THAT HE HAS A LOW BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT HE HAS A DUMP VALVE LEAK WITHIN THE HYDRAULICS.

NHTSA complaint #808276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #507953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 1990 GMC Sierra report