GMC SIERRA · model year

1992 GMC SIERRA

33 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992GMCSIERRA carries 33 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, 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 1992 SIERRA is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 5 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 1992 SIERRA. 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.

33
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

33 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST1

Recent Complaints

20130803ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. INSTRUMENT PANEL DOESN'T WORK. WIRES MAY BE SPARKING ABOVE GAS TANK. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

20130803FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY. INSTRUMENT PANEL DOESN'T WORK. WIRES MAY BE SPARKING ABOVE GAS TANK. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PAINT HAS BEEN SLOWLY CHIPPING OFF, AND NOW THAT I HAVE HAD IT FOR THREE YEARS, IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. I USE IT MAINLY FOR DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND THROUGH TOWN.

20030910VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

20010409VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE WASHER FLUID SPRAYER DOESN'T WORK CORRECT EITHER. *SLC

20010409VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE WASHER FLUID SPRAYER DOESN'T WORK CORRECT EITHER. *SLC

20010228TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREAD ON THE CONTINENTAL AMERICAN GENERAL 16 INCH 10 PLY TIRE BEGAN TO COME OFF THE LEFT BACK TIRE, CAUSING TRUCK TO SWERVE BACK AND FOURTH, CAMPER ON BODY OF TRUCK FELL OFF, TEARING SIDE PANEL ALMOST COMPLETELY FROM THE LEFT OF TRUCK. CJ

20000911TIRES

TREAD SEPARATION - TREAD PEELED OFF FROM MAIN BODY OF TIRE AT 70 MPH. TIRE WAS INSPECTED BY A GOODYEAR DEALER AND HE GOOD NOT DETERMINE REASON FOR FAILURE. DEALER TALKED WITH MICHELLEN IN ORDER TO OBTAIN GUIDANCE ABOUT REASON FOR FAILURE. MICHELLEN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE REASON FOR FAILURE BUT OFFERRED AND ADJUSTMENT TOWARD A REPLACEMENT TIRE. TIRE WAS MANUFACTURERED AT FT. WAYNE, IN PLANT.( DOT NUMBER: BF11R41337 TIRE SIZE: 245/75/R16 )

20000825SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

RECEIVING END OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BROKE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE INSIDE OF IT. DEALER SAID THE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER.*AK *SLC

20000822TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WITH THESE TIRES, I HAD A TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE ON MY RIGHT REAR. THIS CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND FISHTAIL ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AFTER THE TRUCK WAS BACK ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THERE WAS REALLY NO WARNING TO ME THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT OCCURED ON AN INTERSTATE AFTER I ENTERED IT APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES BACK. LUCKILY, I NOR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THIS MODEL TIRE FROM FIRESTONE SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKED AT FOR DEFECTS. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY TRUCK FROM THE DOOR BACK TO AND INCLUDING THE BUMPER SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE FROM THE LOOSE TIRE TREAD BEATING ON MY TRUCK BEFORE IT SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE, OF WHICH STILL IS PROPERLY INFLATED. THE TIRE ITSELF DID NOT BLOW. IN CONCLUSION, I AM EXTREMELY FORTUNATE AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM ABLE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT REPORT. I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING, HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OF WHAT WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MODEL FIREST

20000411VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO LET UP BEFORE I COULD CONTINUE. LATER, DURING THE SAME DRIVE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS, BUT THEN THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. REPORTED FAILURE TO DEALER AND I WAS CHARGED $149.90 TO REPLACE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT MODULE, P/N 12463017. *AK

19991015SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # 99028 FOR THE SEAT RECLINER BOLTS FOR THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATS. DEALER MODIFIED DRIVER'S SEAT, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND SAID THAT HE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND WONT FIX I EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY STATES THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER/S SEATS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991005VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL START MOVING WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. BUT WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING THEY WORK FINE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19990907SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, SEATBELTS ARE A SAFETY ITEM, IF OUR GRANDCHILDEN HAD BEEN WITH US, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROTECT THEM, WE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO HAVING NO SAFETY RESTRAINTS AT ALL, WE HAVE CONTACT A DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE ORDERING THE PARTS, ITS IS COSTING USMONEY THAT WE DON'T NOT HAVE. OUR TRUCK IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND NOT THAT MANY MILES ON IT, THE SEATBELTS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN. THEY ARE CHEAPLY MADE, OF PLASTIC WITH PLASTIC INSIDE THE RESTRAINT BUCKLE.

19990823LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

SLIDING DOOR LATCH ON THE INSIDE IS BROKEN. *AK

19990820STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SLIDING DOOR INSIDE HANDLE BROKE, AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T USE THE SLIDING DOOR TO GET OUT. *AK

19990803SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT CAUSES VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE LEFT. INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED, VEHICLE VEERS VAGUELY TO THE RIGHT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990527VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT. SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT STOP UNTIL DRIVER TURNS OFF THE ENGINE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

19990415VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT OUT. THIS CAUSED VERY POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & THE MODULE WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES. EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY FAILED , THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. *AK

19990226CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HAD PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. HAD NO AIR BAGS & NO INJURIES. VEHICLE TOWED TO BODY SHOP. *AK

Compare 1992GMCSIERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 GMC SIERRA have?
The 1992 GMC SIERRA has 33 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 GMC SIERRA?
The most-complained component for the 1992 GMC SIERRA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1992 GMC SIERRA 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.