1989 GMC Sierra recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Lights
What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. 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."
What could happen: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: 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.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1989 SIERRA.
- Book a repair at any authorized GMC dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 08E050000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-909-839-2992.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Summary: 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."
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
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.
Notes: THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY HONDA, FORD, OR CHRYSLER LLC. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
2. Brakes
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. 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.
What could happen: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The fix: 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 ITEMS.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1989 SIERRA.
- Book a repair at any authorized GMC dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 93V119000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
Summary: 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.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
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 ITEMS.
Notes: SYSTEM: BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; DISK ROTORS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS AND VANS SOLD OR REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWINGSTATES: CT, IL, IN, MA, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, AND WI.NOTES: THE VEHICLES INVOLVED CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE FOLLOWING: THE 5THCHARACTER OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER MUST BE A "K" OR "L", AND THESEVENTH CHARACTER MUST BE "3","4","5","6", OR "9".IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPONSERVICE DATE, AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIMEAND FREE OF CHARGE OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT ORNONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR NEAREST GMC TRUCK ZONE OFFICE. THE TELEPHONENUMBERS OF THE ZONE OFFICES ARE LISTED IN YOUR WARRANTY AND OWNER'S ASSISTANCEINFORMATION MANUALS. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETYADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Brakes (5), Seat belts (4), Hydraulic (3), Steering (2), Electrical system (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
03/03/2010 · Steering · crash
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND THE DAY OF 27TH OF FEBRUARY 2010 AND WHEN I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS STICKING LIKE THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOCKING UP THEN IT CAME LOOSE AGAIN SO ON THE DAY OF MARCH FIRST 2010 I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GO WILD AND LOCKED UP TO WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT BACK TO THE RIGHT AND IT MA…
03/27/2009 · Seat belts
SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, FAIL TO RETRACT AND REACT TO SUDDEN STOP. SEAT BELTS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LAW IN MOST STATES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
10/26/2004 · Seat belts
1) OVER YEARS OF OPERATION;2) BUCKLE FAILED TO CATCH THE SEAT BELT 3) PROBABLY HAVE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE. SUMMARY: SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. *AK
10/10/2003 · Brakes
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER STOPPED, AND NOTICED HALF OF THE ROTORS ON FRONT HAD SHEARED OFF.*AK
07/30/2002 · Electrical system
STARTER MOUNT BROKE AWAY FROM BLOCK. REPAIR CONSIST OF MOTOR BLOCK REPLACEMENT.*AK
10/25/2000 · Seat belts
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. BODY SHOP REPORTS THAT THE INTURNAL WORKINGS HAVE COME APPERENT. *AK
09/06/2000 · Wheels / tires · crash
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE, TIRE TREAD FLAPPING AGAINST UNDER WELL OF VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, P23575R15 M/S. CONSUMER WASN'T HURT. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE.*AK FIRESTONE P235/75/R15 *MW
06/25/2000 · Brakes
OVER THE 12 YEAR PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS PICKUP WE'VE EXPERIENCED 45 DIFFERENT SERIOUS BRAKING INCIDENTS. THEY ACTUALLY STARTED IN 7/13/89 AND THERE WAS WARRANTY WORK DONE. IN 1990 WE FIRST EXPERIENCED A BRAKING/ GLIDE /STOP INCIDENT THAT TOOK US PAST A STOP SIGN.TRUCK CENTER/HALL TRUCK CENTER DID SOME WARRANTY WORK ON THIS BRAKES ON 5/30/91 @48000. TH…