- The problem
- Vehicle description: pickup trucks, crew cabs, utility trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles were built with the polarity of the wiring for the zero adjust brake switch reversed from what was specified on the switch drawing. With the reversed polarity, the contacts in the brake switch can wear out prematurely. The brake switch will perform normally until the brake switch contacts wear out, resulting in loss of the brake lamps without any warning to the driver.
- The risk
- This would fail to warn a following driver that the vehicle is braking and could lead to a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the brake switch and reverse the wiring.
Vehicle safety record
1994 GMC C15 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 1994 GMC C15 with NHTSA, most often about the seats & seat belts (5) and the visibility & wipers (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 injury. It is covered by 10 recalls, the latest in February 1999 for the switch. For comparison, the 1993 has 7 and the 1995 has 10.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical C15 year, for its age
#168 most complained-about 1994 vehicle
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1994 GMC C15 problems
Share of all 7 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1994 GMC C15 recalls 10
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts on these vehicles could loosen, fatigue and fracture, allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.
- The risk
- If this were to occur to the driver's seat, this could result in a sudden loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove all foam and/or fabric sandwiched between the recliner assembly and the seat frame, install washers between the seat recliner and the seat frame at each attachment point, and install new attaching bolts torqued to a higher specification. These corrections will be made to both the driver's and passenger's seats.
- The problem
- The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts on these vehicle could loosen, fatigue and fracture, allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.
- The risk
- If this were to occur to the driver's seat, this could result in a sudden loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove all foam and/or fabric sandwiched between the recliner assembly and the seat frame, install washers between the seat recliner and the seat frame at each attachment point, and install new attaching bolts torqued to a higher specification. These corrections will be made to both the driver's and passenger's seats.
- The problem
- 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."
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupants of these seats may not be properly restrained.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the retractor portion of the seat belt assembly(s) with one having the newly designed energy-management twin-loop system.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the buckle released, the system would fail to provide adequate occupant restraint protection.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove the stitching that creates the energy management loop in the shoulder belt(s).
- The problem
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks, vans and motorhomes equipped with electronically fuel injected 6.5L diesel engine. This is not a safety recall in accordance with federal regulation part 573. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. The campaign will improve the overall driveability of these vehicles.
- The risk
- Certain vehicles can exhibit some driveability concerns such as poor throttle response, stalling, misfire, poor hot or cold starting, extended cranking of a hot engine, or stalling after start. Trucks with manualtransmissions can exhibit poor acceleration from start or could stall during deceleration.
- The fix
- Dealers will install some recently developed enhancements which will improve the overall driveability of these vehicles.
- The problem
- The windshields were installed with incorrect windshield opening pinch-weld-flange primer. This primer will not properly etch the painted surface of the flange, allowing the windshield to separate from the vehicle during a collision. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 212, "Windshield mounting."
- The risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: the separation of the windshield from the vehicle during collision increases the risk of injury for all persons involved.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove the windshield and reinstall it using the correct primer.
- The problem
- Trucks were assembled with the left-hand lower control arm to frame rear nut tightened below the specified torque. Low torque on this nut may allow the attachment bolt to loosed and subsequently fatigue and break. The bolt breakage can cause the left hand control arm to separate from the frame.
- The risk
- If this occurs, a loss of vehicle control and a crash could result.
- The fix
- Dealers will tighten the left-hand lower control arm to frame rear nut to the proper torque specification.
- The problem
- The seats have been assembled without bolts that connect the upper slave hinge to the seat back frame, or without bolts that connect the seat to the seat adjuster. In either case, the vehicles fail to conform to fnvss no. 207, "Seating systems."
- The risk
- The missing bolts may cause the driver's seat to becomeloose and in a sudden stop or accident may subject the occupant to increasedrisk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect seats for missing bolts and install bolts if required.
- The problem
- The brake pedal push rod retainer is missing, mispositioned or not properly seated.
- The risk
- Brake pedal push rod problems can cause the stop lampswitch and the brake booster push rod to disconnect from the brake pedal,resulting in loss of brake operation, and a vehicle crash could occur withoutprior warning.
- The fix
- Inspect vehicles to assure the brake pedal push rod retainer is present and fully seated in its correct position.
What owners say
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7 complaints about the 1994 GMC C15
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
While driving during rainy weather front windshield wipers failed. *Ak
The seatback on passenger's side has broken again. Seatback was corrected once under recall 96e010000 in 1997. This is the second time the seatback has broken. The driver's side has broken once. Manufacturer was notified about the problem. Problem has not been corrected. *Ak
HIT FROM BEHIND AND BOTH BUCKET SEATS BROKE. *AK
When turning the steering wheel locks and causes the vehicle to keep turning. Please describe. *Ak
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Seat frame broke while driving, causing the seat back to collapse. Tt
DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE FLOOR. TT
GMC C15: every year compared
All C15 years1994 GMC C15 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 GMC C15 | 7 | 10 | F | |
| 1994 GMC 1500 | 29 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1994 GMC C1500 | 25 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1994 GMC C Series(light) | 6 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1994 GMC 3500 | 5 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 1994 GMC C/K Suburban (GMC) | 3 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 1994 GMC C/K Pickups | 2 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 1994 GMC C Series(medium) | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1994 GMC C15
Does the 1994 GMC C15 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 1994 GMC C15: switch (February 1999); seats (March 1996); seats (December 1995); front (December 1995) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 GMC C15?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the seats & seat belts (5), visibility & wipers (1), steering (1).
How many complaints has the 1994 GMC C15 had?
7 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 23, 1995 and the latest on March 12, 2004. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 1994 GMC C15 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical GMC C15 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which GMC C15 years have the most complaints?
1995 (10), 1993 (7), 1994 (7). See every GMC C15 year compared.
What should I do if my 1994 GMC C15 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data