GMC K15 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 23 safety recalls and 23 owner complaints across 15 model years of the GMC K15 (1972–1996). The most-complained-about year is 1994.

Pick your GMC K15 model year

• 1972
• 1974
• 1978
• 1982
• 1985
• 1986
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996

What GMC K15 owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. The 1994 model year has the most, with 10.

• Seats6
• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4
• Service brakes, hydraulic: master cylinder2
• Service brakes, hydraulic: wheel cylinders1
• Power train: automatic transmission1
• Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
• Service brakes, hydraulic: rotor1
• Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1

All GMC K15 recalls (23)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a GMC K15, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Seats

   NHTSA 99V130000 Reported May 20, 1999 59,381 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Vehicle description: extended-cab pickup trucks equipped with high-back bucket seats. The seat recliner to frame attaching bolts can loosen, fatigue, and fracture allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.

   Remedy: 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…

   Model years: 1992

2. U-bolt, leaf spring to axle (suspension)

   NHTSA 96V082000 Reported May 7, 1996 16,918 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   The four u-bolts nuts on either side of the rear axle were under-torqued.

   Remedy: Dealers will check the u-bolt nut torque and re-torque any loose u-bolts to specification.

   Model years: 1996

3. Seats

   NHTSA 95V246000 Reported December 21, 1995 675,661 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   The seat recliner to seat frame attaching bolts on these vehicle could loosen, fatigue and fracture, allowing the seat back to suddenly recline.

   Remedy: 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…

   Model years: 1993, 1994

4. Windshield (visibility)

   NHTSA 94V212000 Reported October 26, 1994 29 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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."

   Remedy: Dealers will remove the windshield and reinstall it using the correct primer.

   Model years: 1994

5. Suspension: lower arm

   NHTSA 94V060000 Reported April 5, 1994 30,148 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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.

   Remedy: Dealers will tighten the left-hand lower control arm to frame rear nut to the proper torque specification.

   Model years: 1994

6. Seats

   NHTSA 93V216000 Reported December 14, 1993 1,375 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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."

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect seats for missing bolts and install bolts if required.

   Model years: 1994

7. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

   NHTSA 93V152000 Reported September 15, 1993 70,154 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   The brake pedal push rod retainer is missing, mispositioned or not properly seated.

   Remedy: Inspect vehicles to assure the brake pedal push rod retainer is present and fully seated in its correct position.

   Model years: 1994

8. Rotor (service brakes)

   NHTSA 93V119000 Reported August 2, 1993 341,364 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Severe corrosion due to road salt at the joint of the stamped steel center section and the cast outer section can cause the sections to separate.

   Remedy: Replace the front brake rotors with new rotors with a corrosion protection coating. However, if replacement of brake linings are necessary, it will be done at owner's expense since brake linings are normal maintenance…

   Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

9. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

   NHTSA 90V108000 Reported June 4, 1990 1,962 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Loose pivot bolt holding the brake pedal to its support bracket could disengage from the nut.

   Remedy: Retorque brake pedal pivot bolts to specifications to prevent loosening.

   Model years: 1990

10. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 90V015000 Reported January 29, 1990 68 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On c and k models, feed and or return fuel lines can contact the automatic transmission shift linkage cordon shaft. In addition, on k models lines may also contact front propshaft. In either case the fuel lines could be damaged resulting in a fuel leak.

    Remedy: Install newly designed fuel line routing bracket to prevent contact and, if necessary, replace fuel lines.

    Model years: 1990

11. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 89V107000 Reported July 6, 1989 179 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Tire size data on certification label is incorrect.

    Remedy: Affix new certification label with correct information.

    Model years: 1988

12. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 89V078000 Reported May 15, 1989 5,863 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    There may be below specified torque on the trailer hitch attaching fasteners, allowing the trailer hitch to move under towing loads.

    Remedy: Correct torque in trailer hitch fasteners to prevent trailer separation.

    Model years: 1989

13. Linkages (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 87V125000 Reported August 10, 1987 8,893 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Cruise control cable lock mechanism may self disengage causing erratic operation or throttle not returning to idle.

    Remedy: Install a clamp around the lock tab of cruise control.

    Model years: 1988

14. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 87V126000 Reported August 10, 1987 2,750 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    One or both of outer tie rod nuts may be loose and not crimped.

    Remedy: Replace tie rod and knuckle and set toe-in.

    Model years: 1988

15. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 87V127000 Reported August 10, 1987 1,521 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Trucks may have cracked or broken door striker nuts, which do not conform to FMVSS 206.

    Remedy: Replace existing door striker nuts.

    Model years: 1988

16. Shock absorber (suspension)

    NHTSA 87V128000 Reported August 10, 1987 312 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Incorrect front shock absorber upper and lower nuts could loosen.

    Remedy: Replace free spinning nuts with torque nuts.

    Model years: 1988

17. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 86V131000 Reported September 19, 1986 106,111 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Model years: 1986

18. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 85V052000 Reported May 1, 1985 3,152 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Rim information may have been omitted on certification label installed on the left front door. Consequence of defect: these trucks do not conform with FMVSS 120, tire selections and rims for vehicles other than passenger cars.

    Remedy: Install new corrected labels.

    Model years: 1985

19. Differential unit (power train)

    NHTSA 83V045000 Reported April 27, 1983 6,204 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The locking screw that retains the pinion shaft in place in the differential could come loose. The pinion shaft turns the gears inside the differential that rotate the drive axles and rear wheels. If the locking screw comes loose, it could damage other components or jam in the gears. If the pinion shaft comes loose, the rear wheels may…

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the differential lock screw at no charge.

    Model years: 1982

20. Carrier/rack (equipment)

    NHTSA 78V177000 Reported August 15, 1978 237,693 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The nut on the carrier support bolt assembly may break which would allow the entire wheel and tire assembly to separate from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the tire and wheel carrier bolt assembly at no charge.

    Model years: 1978

21. Arm (steering)

    NHTSA 78V166000 Reported August 7, 1978 16 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The front nuts may not have been tightened to specifications. These nuts could loosen during vehicle operation and cause the front hub and rotor assembly to separate from the wheel and tire assembly.

    Remedy: The dealer will tighten the nuts to specifications on all affected vehicles at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1978

22. Fluid (service brakes)

    NHTSA 74V065000 Reported April 25, 1974 642 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Model years: 1974

23. Bumpers (structure)

    NHTSA 72V241000 Reported October 2, 1972 260 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Model years: 1972

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.