1993 GMC Sierra: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 72 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is visibility (30% of complaints); the 1991 and 1992 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Recall subject: fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly report receipt date: 04-05-1994 NHTSA campaign: 94v044001 manufacture: general motors corp. Summary: vehicles altered by pas, inc. Have compressed natural gas fuel tanks that can develop stress corrosion, which crack the e-glass wrapping. This stress corrosion cracking can lead to tank ruptures. Consequence: if the tank ruptures, personal injury to individuals in or near the vehicle may occur. Remedy: gm is offering to exchange these vehicles with a comparably equipped 1994 gasoline 1/2 or 3/4 ton gm pickup. If the owner chooses not to exchange the natural gas vehicle, gm will repurchase the vehicle.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2017
“I went out one morning and started my truck and heard a rattle noise coming from the engine. I got out and opened the hood. Almost instantaneously the engine backfired and the cooling fan blew apart and fragments of metal came through the plastic shroud and into my face and head causing serious and would have been fatal injury to myself. If it were not for the fast response of the paramedics who flew me to the hospital by chopper. I am now blind missing an eye and my face and head are scared along with possible brain damage. Please do whatever it takes to keep this tragic accident from happening to anyone else. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2013
“While driving in rain with my wipers on low speed, they suddenly stopped, just as a truck was passing me, with the road water thrown on the windshield by the semi, I could not see the road ahead. I could see in my side mirror that I was clear on my right side, so I pulled over on the shoulder and stopped. I also own a 1991 3/4 ton silverado which I have had trouble with the wiper delay function, although they have not totally stopped as the sierra's did. I spoke with some other gm truck owners who say they have experienced similar issues with the wiper systems of their trucks, some as far back as 1988 models. *jb”Owner report · Visibility · Mar 2006
Show 7 more owner reports
“NHTSA recall campaign 03v159000; general motors issued a windshield wiper motor recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. However, the windshield wipers were working intermittently. *ak *sc *jb”Owner report · Visibility · Apr 2005
“Windshield wipers quit working while driving in a snow storm. This resulted in poor visibility, which almost caused an accident. Consumer had to pull over, and hit the windshield wiper motor for the windshield wipers to start working. Recall 03v15900 was issued, but this vehicle was not included due to VIN. *ak”Owner report · Visibility · Dec 2003
“Driver's seat belt retractor will not retract. Seat belt is very loose and would not prevent injury or death in the event of a crash. Dealer and gmc zone office refuse to accept responsibility and/or repair the retractor except at my own expense. *la”Owner report · Seat Belts · Oct 2003
“Transmission. Comes out of drive while moving and transmission goes into neutral. Driver must coast over to the shoulder of roadway, stop, turn off engine, wait several minutes then restart engine. Can cause a collision with other vehicles while coasting to the edge of roadway. Have been complaining to gmc for 10 years with no correction of problem. I narrowly avoided a collision while coasting to the side of the road. *la”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2003
“Replaced the transmission 4 times, recall on seats were fixed but bolts keep breaking so I bought new seats of a differnt style and replaced them after a 5 year problem. Paint has been flaking off the truck for appoximately 4 yrs and I cant get the dealer or gm to do anything with this paint problem. They say it is because I am the second owner. The truck was in an accident but the top of the cab and the bed is all that needs painted, and they were not damaged in anyway because of the accident.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2003
“While driving the windshield wipers work intermittently causing problems on the highway. There is a recall on similar vehicles but the consumer's VIN number was not included. *ph”Owner report · Visibility · Aug 2003
“The windshield wipers were inoperative. A recall had been issued, however, it did not apply to consumer's vehicle identification number. *jb”Owner report · Visibility · Jun 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
THE REAR BENCH SEAT DOES NOT MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS," BECAUSE THE MANUAL LATCH MECHANISM ON THE FOLDING FULL BENCH REAR SEAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK FRAME LOWER CROSS TUBE WITH DOMED HEAD STEEL RIVETS INSTEAD OF THE BOLTS SPECIFIED.
Remedy: THE RIVETS MUST BE REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
VEHICLES ALTERED BY PAS, INC. HAVE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS THAT CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION, WHICH CRACK THE E-GLASS WRAPPING. THIS STRESS CORROSION CRACKING CAN LEAD TO TANK RUPTURES.
Remedy: GM IS OFFERING TO EXCHANGE THESE VEHICLES WITH A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED 1994 GASOLINE 1/2 OR 3/4 TON GM PICKUP. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO EXCHANGE THE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE, GM WILL REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sierra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1993 GMC Sierra reliable?
NHTSA has 72 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 1993 GMC Sierra. The most complained-about area is visibility (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1993 GMC Sierra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 75,000 miles or less.
Does the 1993 GMC Sierra have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats:mid/rear assembly. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.