GMC K35 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 21 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints across 12 model years of the GMC K35 (1972–1996). The most-complained-about year is 1993.

Pick your GMC K35 model year

• 1972
• 1983
• 1985
• 1986
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996

What GMC K35 owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The 1993 model year has the most, with 2.

• Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1
• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1

All GMC K35 recalls (21)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a GMC K35, 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. Bead (tires)

   NHTSA 96V117000 Reported July 1, 1996 5,773 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   These tires have bead damage which occured during tire mounting.

   Remedy: Dealers will demount each tire and inspect for bead damage. If bead damage is found, the tire will be replaced.

   Model years: 1995, 1996

3. 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

4. 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

5. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

   NHTSA 95V026000 Reported February 16, 1995 13,853 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.

   Model years: 1995

6. 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

7. 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

8. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

   NHTSA 93V163000 Reported September 27, 1993 303 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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.

   Model years: 1993

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Rim (wheels)

    NHTSA 85V156000 Reported November 26, 1985 861 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The wheel may develop cracks between the disc and rim. Consequence of defect: if this occurs and is not noticed, the crack could increase around the rim, resulting in separation of the rim from the disc, loss of control and an accident may occur.

    Remedy: Replace wheels having the suspected manufacturing code number.

    Model years: 1985

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. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 85V019000 Reported February 20, 1985 20 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain trucks do not comply with FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment." the trucks were assembled without the roof marker lamps. Consequence of defect: safe operation of the trucks during darkness or reduced visibility would be impaired.

    Remedy: Install roof marker lamps.

    Model years: 1985

20. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 83V034000 Reported March 22, 1983 101 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicles may have been assembled without the roof marker lamps required for trucks of 80 or more inches overall width. Vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment".

    Remedy: Dealer will install roof marker lamps at no charge to owner.

    Model years: 1983

21. 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.