CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER STOPPED, AND NOTICED HALF OF THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAD SHEARED OFF.*AK
1989 GMC Sierra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
3 reportsOVER 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…
Read full complaint
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? *AK
NO SUMMARY.
Official recalls
193V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 2, 1993
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE91133 · W-CAR Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Oct 1, 1991 · Closed Dec 5, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Illustration