GMC K1500 · model year

1995 GMC K1500

30 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995GMCK1500 carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 1995 K1500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 9 filings, followed by seats (5) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (3). 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 1995 K1500. 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.

30
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
SEATS5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING1

Recent Complaints

20081201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 45 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN. THE ABS SENSOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE ROAD AND MADE A U-TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER CONTNUED TO UTILIZE THE BRAKES, BUT THEY CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT ABS SENSORS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE AS A PRE-WARNING. THE ABS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON IF THERE WAS NO ICE OR WET ROAD CONDITIONS WHICH MADE THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTREMELY SPONGY OR DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE RISK SINCE IT SEEMED THAT HE HAD NO CONTROL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NO

Mileage: 143,000

20060613SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

WHILE TURNING A CORNER HEARD A LOUD SNAP. UPON PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE I FOUND THE SEAT BRACKET HAD BROKE LOOSE. THE SEAT IS EXTREMELY SHAKY NOW AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED WITH A NEW LOWER SEAT CUSHION BRACKET ASSEMBLY (COSTING OVER $200 FOR PARTS AND LABOR IS AN ADDITIONAL $225). I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SEAT ASSEMBLY WHICH I HAD DONE A COUPLE YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. *JB

20050916SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAVE A 1995 GMC SIERRA TRUCK THAT EXPERIENCES ANTI-LOCK ACTIVATION AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. THIS DEFECT WAS RECALLED IN THE 1999-2002 VEHICLES IN HIGH CORROSION STATES ALTHOUGH WISCONSIN WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

20040311SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE PREMATURELY UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ABS SENSOR WAS DROPPING TO ZERO DUE TO CORROSION. *NM

20030527CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED WHEN ANOTHER CAR REAR ENDED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *NLM *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE RECLINING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE BACKS OF THE SEATS RECLINED AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ENDED UP IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE EXTENDED CAB. *SCC

Mileage: 25,000

20021125VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JUST STOP WORKING. THEY PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, BUT WOULD JUST AS MYSTERIOUSLY START WORKING AGAIN. I HAD THEM CHECKED A COUPLE OF TIMES MOTOR WAS FINE, SWITCH WAS FINE. DURING A HEAVY RAIN MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY AT ABOUT 45MPH ON A MAJOR ROAD. I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, BUT MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT A CRASH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD! DT

20020715VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FAIL TO OPERATE FROM START WHEN TURNING SWITCH ON. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WIPERS FAILED DUE TO A BURNED FUSE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAKES NOISE. *YH

20020715VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FAIL TO OPERATE FROM START WHEN TURNING SWITCH ON. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WIPERS FAILED DUE TO A BURNED FUSE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAKES NOISE. *YH

20020228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL HARD SOMETHING IS FORCING PEDAL BACK UP, AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

20000531SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TOO FAR DOWN ,IT IS VERY SOFT, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TRUCK DOES NOT REACT FAST ENOUGH. *AK

20000526SEATS

METAL BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE RAIL ON THE FLOORBOARD, BROKE. THIS COULD CAUSE SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE. WHEN REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP, DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE--A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK *ML

20000314SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS WILL MOVE FORWARD. WHEN ACCELERATING THE SEATS WILL SLIDE BACK. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.*AK

20000127CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN AND DIDN'T WORK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT A CURB. *AK

19991124SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THEN THEY JUMED BACK TOWARDS THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES/ USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND FIRST GEAR, AND THERE STILL WERE NO BRAKES. BUT VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. *AK

19991026VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

19990318SUSPENSION:REAR

SINCE PURCHASE, THERE HAS BEEN A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GEARS INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL ARE LOOSE. ON MONDAY 3/15, I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM A PARKING AREA AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE WAS LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. I JACKED UP THE VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE, AND AS THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE LEFT THE GROUND, I HEARD AN AUDILBLE CLANKING NOISE, UPON WHICH THE REAR WHEELS BECAME FREE. I RESEARCHED VIA INTERNET ALL REPAIR BULLETINS PERTINENT TO THIS VEHICLE, AND FOUND A BULLETIN DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. AND DESCRIBED MY FINDINGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BULLETIN WAS NOT A RECALL, AND THAT THE NOISE IS DUE TO THE FREE-PLAY IN THE AXLE GEARS (SET AT FACTORY). IF THIS PROBLEM WERE TO OCCUR DURING DRIVING, THE DRIVER MIGHT LOSE CONTROL AND HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE SINCE THE 3/15 DATE, HOWEVER, THE CLUNKING NOISE CONTINUES T

19990225SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DRIVING AT APPROXMATELY 20 MPH ABS MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR, WOULD NOT GRAB,WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

19981203SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ANIT-LOCK BRAKES HAS FAILED. THE SYSTEM HAS A BACK UP IT FAILES BACK ON THE REGULAR BRAKES BUT THAT PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. GMC WILL NOT COVER IT EVEN.

19981202SEATS

WHEN I CONTACTED THE GMC DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS ON MY OWN AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THIS WAS THE SAME RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM FOUR SEPARATE DEALERS. EVEN WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION. DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE SEAT FRAME, I CONSIDER IT A "CATASTRPPHIC FRAME FAILURE". IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE FRAME WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH A POOR QUALITY METAL. THE DAY THAT THE FRAME FAILED, I HAD JUST ENTERED MY TRUCK IN PREPARATION TO LEAVE FOR WORK. WHEN I ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME SNAPPED OFF FROM THE BASE AND THIS FLEX CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO RELEASE. I THEN FOUND MYSELF LOOKING UP AT THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK. THIS FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY MECHANICAL OR MOVING PART. THIS IS A SIMPLE CASE OF METAL FAILURE AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE. AT A 185LBS I DON'T FEEL THAT MY WEIGHT HAD ANY THING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE FAILURE OF THIS SEAT FRAME. I LOCATED ON THE

19980624SEATS

LEATHER SEATS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO RIPPING, HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO RIP.

Compare 1995GMCK1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 GMC K1500 have?
The 1995 GMC K1500 has 30 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 GMC K1500?
The most-complained component for the 1995 GMC K1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1995 GMC K1500 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.