1986 GMC C35 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1986 GMC C35. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1986 GMC C35
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Suspension: lower arm
The left hand lower control arm can crack starting at the rear flange and progressing to the ball joint mounting hole and eventually cause the lower ball joint to separate from the control arm.
Remedy: Install a resinforced brace to the left hand lower control arm.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Trucks failed to comply with requirements of FMVSS 301, fuel system integrity, during a 30 MPH frontal barrier test.
Remedy: Install an additional shield to the front of the original shield to protect the fuel tank.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The push pull headlight switch may have electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit causing headlight to flicker or suddenly go out. Consequence of defect: sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without…
Remedy: Replace headlight switch as necessary.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1986 GMC C35. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare GMC C35 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC C35 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 GMC C35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 GMC C35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 GMC C35 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 GMC C35 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 GMC C35 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 GMC C35 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 GMC C35 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 GMC C35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 GMC C35 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 GMC C35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 GMC C35 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 GMC C35 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 GMC C35 | 7 | 2 |
| 1995 GMC C35 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 GMC C35 | 5 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1986 GMC C35
How do I know if my 1986 GMC C35 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1986 GMC C35; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 86V131000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.