GMC C1500 · model year

1990 GMC C1500

7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990GMCC1500 carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 C1500 is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 2 filings, followed by power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal (1) and electrical system:ignition:module (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1990 C1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

7 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recent Complaints

20001120TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND A BLOWOUT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGE AND TIRES. *MJS

19970106SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVER'S SIDE RED RELEASE BUTTON BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LATCH INTO BELT BUCKLE. *AK

19960212SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, RED RELEASE BUTTON HAS BROKEN. TT

19950829SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

SIXTY-FORTY SPLIT SEAT; WHEN BRAKING, BACK REST WILL LEAN FORWARD W/ PASSENGER CAUSING ENTIRE BACK AND SEAT REST TO SLIDE FORWARD. KT

19950817POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PURCHASE TRUCK NEW HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION . TT

19950510ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

SPARK PLUGS MANUFACTURED BY SPLIT FIRE INC. DAMAGED ENGINE PISTONS AND VALVES. TT

19950417POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

REAR AXLE SEALS CONTINUE TO LEAK. TT

Compare 1990GMCC1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 GMC C1500 have?
The 1990 GMC C1500 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 GMC C1500?
The most-complained component for the 1990 GMC C1500 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE.
Is the 1990 GMC C1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.