← New search

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

Other model years Selected 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.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

16 reports
275,150 miles · Mar 3, 2010
SteeringCrash

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 I…

Read full complaint

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315996

100,000 miles · Mar 27, 2009
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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263220

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2004
Seat Belts

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10096453

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER STOPPED, AND NOTICED HALF OF THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAD SHEARED OFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10042756

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Electrical System

STARTER MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM BLOCK. REPAIR CONSIST OF MOTOR BLOCK REPLACEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764962

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. BODY SHOP REPORTS THAT THE INTURNAL WORKINGS HAVE COME APPERENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735152

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
TiresCrash

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 *MW

NHTSA ODI #869751

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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…

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

NHTSA ODI #724525

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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 DO…

Read full complaint

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #723370

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Air

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ODI #713779

Official recalls

1

93V119000 · 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

1

PE91133 · 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