Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 GMC Sierra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility115
- Seats21
- Fuel system, gasoline15
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Power train6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Equipment5
- Electrical system4
- Exterior lighting3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 45 1994 Sierra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 31 people died inside them, and 13 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 GMC Sierra failed the safety check 1.16% of the time — 12% less often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 161,635 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
2 1994 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 GMC Sierra.
| 2003064 17 Mar 2003 | Other Certain vehicles (not involved in recall 98-150), may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. If th… |
| 1995223 12 Dec 1995 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH A DOUBLE LOOP ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. A CONDITION EXISTS WHERE IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IF BOTH THE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH FRONT SEAT BELT SYSTEMS WITH NO ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS AND MAY NOT MEET THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
IF BOTH THE LAP-BELT AND SHOULDER-BELT ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOPS ON THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES RELEASE AT OR NEAR THE SAME TIME, ACCELERATION FORCES CAN CAUSE THE BUCKLE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ACTIVATE AND ALLOW THE BUCKLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE LATCH.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 1994 GMC Sierra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 615106 | PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10209734 | This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive. |
| 10017191 | SUPPLEMENT TO BULLETIN 99-06-04-047A FOR FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. *TT |
| 10007838 | DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT |
| 10005412 | SPRING SLAP NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE GMT 400 SERIES TRUCK. *MN |
| 10002567 | WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED BOULDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS SPECIAL POLICY COVERS THE CONDITION FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS OR 70,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP OR FOR THESE VEHICLES CURRENTLY OUTSIDE OF THIS COVERAGE UNTIL FEBRUARY 29, 2004. *TT |
| 10001125 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT - WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURES. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)