RecallMyCar

1988 GMC K15 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1988 GMC K15, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire

6 safety recalls for the 1988 GMC K15

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Rotor (service brakes)

    NHTSA 93V119000 Reported 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…

  2. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 89V107000 Reported 179 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Tire size data on certification label is incorrect.

    Remedy: Affix new certification label with correct information.

  3. Linkages (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 87V125000 Reported 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.

  4. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 87V126000 Reported 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.

  5. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 87V127000 Reported 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.

  6. Shock absorber (suspension)

    NHTSA 87V128000 Reported 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.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 GMC K15 have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“While driving noticed smoke coming from area of rear bumper, pulled over, fire coming from underhood was caused by built up pressure that forced transmission fluid out of filler tube, sprayed onto eng”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 22, 1996 · Power train

Compare GMC K15 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every GMC K15 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1972 GMC K1510
1974 GMC K1510
1978 GMC K1520
1982 GMC K1510
1985 GMC K1511
1986 GMC K1510
1988 GMC K1562
1989 GMC K1520
1990 GMC K1531
1991 GMC K1510
1992 GMC K1520
1993 GMC K1511
1994 GMC K15510
1995 GMC K1508
1996 GMC K1510

Checking a specific 1988 GMC K15

How do I know if my 1988 GMC K15 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1988 GMC K15; 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 87V125000).

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

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.