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1990 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 →
18Owner complaints

Model-year median: 53

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19876
198816
198918
199012
199130
199272
1993
Compare all Sierra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Tires
3Power Train
2Seat Belts
2Structure
2
All reported categories
Suspension
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seats
1Steering
1Visibility
1

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 18 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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.

1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
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55,000 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

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 …

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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 ODI #10336395

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 INDICATE…

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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. *YH

NHTSA ODI #886452

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846240

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #843126

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #537473

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

FRONT BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #526065

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820567

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #817274

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #808276

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #507953

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.