← New search

1993 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 GMC Sierra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Sierra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 72 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
220,000 miles · Mar 25, 2009
Electrical SystemSteering

I PURCHASED A 1993 GMC SIERRA PICKUP FOR MY SON FROM MY FATHER WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY FATHER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT MAKING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES AS WE HAVE DONE AS WELL AFTER PURCHASING IT. MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK AND HAD TO …

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A 1993 GMC SIERRA PICKUP FOR MY SON FROM MY FATHER WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY FATHER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT MAKING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES AS WE HAVE DONE AS WELL AFTER PURCHASING IT. MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK AND HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. LUCKILY HE DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL NOR DID HE CRASH HEAD ON INTO THE ON COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED HE COULDN'T GET THE IGNITION TO TURN OFF WITH THE KEY. HAD TO JIGGLE THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE DID THIS WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO OUR HOME AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263108

1,500 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST HIM $4000.00 AND TO REBUILD AN OLD ONE WOULD BE $3000.00. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE ONGOING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND…

Read full complaint

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE VEHICLE WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST HIM $4000.00 AND TO REBUILD AN OLD ONE WOULD BE $3000.00. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE ONGOING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND FEELS THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE LOWERED. NOT ONLY HAS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ,BUT THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD LINER THAT NOW HANGS DOWN WHICH WAS DUE TO THE ROOF LEAKING, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AS WELL AS THE RADIO SYSTEM. *CB THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A BROKEN SEAT BACK RECLINER, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THE SHOCKS WERE BAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF AN ALIGNMENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10051807

87,510 miles · Nov 2, 2003
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility

FAILURES IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RADIO,DASHBOARD LIGHT (SPEEDOMETER, ETC.),WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045281

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2001
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

1) DASH BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON OR FLASHING, CODE = SHORTED ABS DEFECTIVE? 2) 4WD TRANSAXLE- SHIFTER FORK AND THRUST BEARINGS BROKEN. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ON HIGHWAY-VERY DANGEROUS BREAKDOWN 3) ECM ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, PREVENTING THE 3-4 OVERDRIVE SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION-VERY HIGH RPM UNDER LOAD. 4) AUTOMAT…

Read full complaint

1) DASH BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON OR FLASHING, CODE = SHORTED ABS DEFECTIVE? 2) 4WD TRANSAXLE- SHIFTER FORK AND THRUST BEARINGS BROKEN. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ON HIGHWAY-VERY DANGEROUS BREAKDOWN 3) ECM ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, PREVENTING THE 3-4 OVERDRIVE SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION-VERY HIGH RPM UNDER LOAD. 4) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, NO REVERSE DUE TO LOSS OF PLANETARY GEAR SET (2) DUE TO DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP (DRIFT PIN SETTING GEAR IN HUB HAD WORKED OUT THEREBY GALLING AND MILLING OUT THE HUB AREA=LOSS OF PRESSURE AND BEARING STABILITY. 5) NYLON ROCKER ARM RETAINERS HAD FRACTURED AND BROKEN DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS, ALLOWS ROCKER TO FALL OFF ROCKER ARM SHAFT AND PUSH RODS TO FALL INTO CRANKSHAFT...ABRUBT ENGINE HALT AT HIGH SPEED...VERY DANGEROUS. 6) GLOW PLUG CONTROLLER DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE GLOW PLUGS AFTER HOT ENGINE SITS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES...ENGINE WILL NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746508

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2000
Electrical SystemSeatsStructureCrash

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITENT, NOW FAIL AND CAUSE HIGH CURRENT DRAW ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RECALLED SEATS WERE REPAIRED AT DEALER, SEA-BACK MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN REPORTED TO DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED MANAGER APPROVAL, NO MANAGER AVAILABLE NOW DRIVING WITH ICE CHEST HOLDING SEAT BACK IN PLACE SPEED CONTROLS ON CRU…

Read full complaint

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITENT, NOW FAIL AND CAUSE HIGH CURRENT DRAW ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. RECALLED SEATS WERE REPAIRED AT DEALER, SEA-BACK MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN REPORTED TO DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED MANAGER APPROVAL, NO MANAGER AVAILABLE NOW DRIVING WITH ICE CHEST HOLDING SEAT BACK IN PLACE SPEED CONTROLS ON CRUISE CONTROL ARE INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHT/TURNSIGNAL PASSANGER/REAR BURNS OUT MORE OFTEN THAN OTHER BULBS CHARRING AT ELECTRICAL PLUG ASSY. LEFT DOOR SAGS DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE SEATS I AM GOING TO TRY DEALING WITH THE REPAIR SHOP BUT ANY HELP FROM THIS ORG. WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #725622

Official recalls

2

94V044001 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Apr 5, 1994

VEHICLES ALTERED BY PAS, INC. HAVE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS THAT CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION, WHICH CRACK THE E-GLASS WRAPPING. THIS STRESS CORROSION CRACKING CAN LEAD TO TANK RUPTURES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TANK RUPTURES, PERSONAL INJURY TO INDIVIDUALS IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: GM IS OFFERING TO EXCHANGE THESE VEHICLES WITH A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED 1994 GASOLINE 1/2 OR 3/4 TON GM PICKUP. IF THE OWNER CHOOSES NOT TO EXCHANGE THE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE, GM WILL REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE.

93V163000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Sep 27, 1993

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: THE RIVETS MUST BE REPLACED WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.