GMC SIERRA · model year

1994 GMC SIERRA

221 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994GMCSIERRA carries 221 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 7 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 1994 SIERRA is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 63 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (49) and seats (14). 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 1994 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.

221
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

221 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR63
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER49
SEATS14
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER5
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2

Recent Complaints

20191028SEATS

SEAT BACK PIVOT PIN BROKE. THE SEAT CAN ONLY RECLINE. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 95V246000. BUT MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW UP WHEN SEARCHED. WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED? THIS IS A 1994 GMC SIERRA SLE. THANKS

Mileage: 200,000

20190815SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH TO THE BUCKLE. ALSO, THE STRAP THAT GOES ACROSS THE DRIVER'S CHEST WOULD NOT ADJUST TO HIS HEIGHT. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH COLE BUICK GMC (6600 S WESTNEDGE AVE, PORTAGE, MI 49002, 269-323-3200) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

Mileage: 145,000

20111031VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE OWNER WHO STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10433666 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 11/29/11 *CN UPDATED 12/12/11

Mileage: 125,000

20111011VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V150001 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) BU THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

20090508SEATS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT SUPPORTING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED THE SEAT BACKS TO FALL BACKWARDS. HE REPAIRED THE ISSUE HIMSELF AFTER PURCHASING ANOTHER SET OF BOLTS FROM THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO. RECENTLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO YEARS AGO. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,377 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20060713VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

I AM EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH MY WIPERS NOT WORKING ON A 1994 GMC SIERRA PICKUP. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET AND WITHOUT THE AID OF THE WIPERS WORKING PROPERLY VISIBILITY IS NEAR ZERO. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NO WARNING SIGNALS ARE GIVEN WHEN THE WIPERS WILL OR WILL NOT WORK. MOST RECENTLY I CALLED A GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT WITH THE AGE OF THE TRUCK THIS PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR. THIS LEFT ME THE FEELING THAT THEY (GENERAL MOTORS) WERE NOT CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE. AT THIS POINT THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

20060608VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V150001, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 6/19/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 145,000

20060403VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER 1994 SIERRA 1500 WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ON AND OFF. *TS THE STARTER WAS ALSO REPLACED. *JB

20060403ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER 1994 SIERRA 1500 WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS ON AND OFF. *TS THE STARTER WAS ALSO REPLACED. *JB

20051004CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONDITION WERE WORSE WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE 4- WHEEL DRIVE MODE THE ABS SYSTEM W AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE MODE A PROBLEM WOULD ALWAYS OCCURRED WHEN BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE TRIED TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, BUT COULD NOT EVEN THOUGH BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, BACK BRAKE DRUMS, ALL OF THE BRAKE LININGS, AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TH

Mileage: 54,000

20050828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

RUSTED STEEL BRAKE LINE GOING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE TO REAR BRAKES. *JB

20050722TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A GMC SIERRA 1994. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. VEHICLE HAD A CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT MAY HAVE COME LOOSE . CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE WAS GONE ABOUT JULY 17, 2005. THEN, CONSUMER CHECKED THE SPARE MOUNTING DEVICE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE BROKE DUE TO RUST. CABLE LOOKED AS IF IT RUSTED T AND FAILED. ALSO, CONSUMER OWNED A 1989 GMC PICKUP WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE TIRE MISSING ON 1994. THEN CHECKED AND FOUND THAT 1989 VEHICLE ALSO HAD SPARE TIRE, AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE. CONSUMER'S SON HAD A 1993 GMC WITH THE SAME TIRE MOUNTING DEVICE FOUND THAT SPARE TIRE WAS AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE ANY OF THE VEHICLES LOST THE SPARE TIRES, OR HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING. CONSUMER ONLY DROVE ON BLACK TOP ROADS, AND DID NOT USE VEHICLE OFF ROAD. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD A 2002 ENVOY WHICH HAD THE

Mileage: 185,000

20050627VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT: CONTACT STATES THAT HE OWNS A 1994 GMC SIERRA AND THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT. CONSUMER GOT ONTO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SAW THERE WAS RECALL 98V15001 FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL . *AK

20050315VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN CAUGHT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE RAIN AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER NHTSA RECALL 98V150001. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD FIRMLY HIT THE WIPER MOTOR WITH HIS HAND 2 OR 3 TIMES. THEY WOULD START THEN STOP DURING THE RAIN. *SC *JB

Mileage: 110,000

20050120POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I'M PUTTING THE 3RD TRANNY IN MY 94 GMC SIERRA TRUCK. I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS, I KNOW OF SOME PEOPLE HAVEN THE SAME THING WRONG ON THERE GMC AND CHEV TRUCKS FROM THE YEARS 90-2000 TRUCKS. ITS MOSTLY WITH 2ND AND OVER DRIVE. LIKE I SAID THIS WILL BE THE 3RD, THE COMPANY THAT PUT THE 2ND TRANNY IN TOLD ME THAT THESE TRANNY HAVE A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS WITH 2ND AND OVER DRIVE. *JB

20050117VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT STOP. SOMETIMES THEY STOP MID-WIPE. SOMETIMES THEY CHANGE SPEEDS WITHOUT MY CHANGING THE SETTINGS. CALLED GMC WHEN I DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL.*JB

20050105VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

NHTSA RECALL 98V150001/ CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARE ON THEY WILL NOT GO OFF, AND CONSUMER MUST PLAY WITH THE WIPER SWITCH FOR A WHILE BEFORE THEY WILL TURN OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING THEM ON THEY WILL NOT OPERATE. CONSUMER JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, AND PROVIDED THE VIN TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS TELLING CONSUMER THE RECALL WAS OUT DATED, AND WANTED CONSUMER TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, AND MAYBE REIMBURSED. *AK

Mileage: 110,000

20041117VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER HE NEVER RECEIVED IT. *JB

20040726VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE , I DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL AS DESCRIBED ON YOUR WEBSITE , THE WIPERS WILL NOT START QUITE FREQUENTLY AND STOP WHEN THEY WANT TO . THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AGO . PLEASE ADVISE !*AK

20040412VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

RECALL 98V15001, WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

Mileage: 25,000

Compare 1994GMCSIERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 GMC SIERRA have?
The 1994 GMC SIERRA has 221 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 GMC SIERRA?
The most-complained component for the 1994 GMC SIERRA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 63 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SEATS.
Is the 1994 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.