1994 GMC Sierra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield wipers that stop mid-sweep, fail to start, or keep running after being switched off, usually in rain or snow, and many say a wiper recall did not cover their truck because of the VIN. A second recurring theme is the driver's seat back or its mounting bolts breaking loose and pitching the seat rearward, with smaller numbers of reports about brake pulsation, pulling and long stopping distances.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers quit or run intermittently

   • 101 complaints (53%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2011

   Owners describe wipers that stop mid-sweep, fail to come on, or keep running after being switched off, sometimes leaving the blades stranded in the up position. Several say they had to strike the wiper motor by hand or jiggle the wiring harness to get the wipers moving again, and some report the circuit board at the motor being diagnosed as the faulty part. Many complaints mention that a recall existed for this symptom but that the dealer told them their particular VIN was not included and that repairs would be at their own cost. Reported from about 25,000 to 185,000 miles, typically during rain, snow or other wet weather.

   Recall 98V150001

   What to check: Cycle the wipers through low, high, intermittent and wash settings and watch for hesitation, blades that will not park, or a motor that keeps running when switched off. Ask whether the wiper motor circuit board has been replaced and whether any wiper recall campaign applied to this truck's VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield either fails to operate or will stop while turned on. This happened while I was passing a semi in a light rain. I was able to slow down & get over to the side of the road until the rain stopped. This should have been covered in the NHTSA recall no. 03v151/GM recall no. 03025. My vehicle was built in dec. Of 1993, so hasn't been included. I do not feel safe using the vehicle if there is a chance of rain due to what has happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10028440, filed 2003-07, 102,000 miles

   “Have had recurring problems with windshield wipers/washer fluid not working during critical times of need (I.e. Torrential down pours, snow, etc.). Finally found that 1994 Gmc trucks were recalled because of faulty workmanship in the wiper motor, but my truck was manufactured 20,000 models too soon. This defect almost caused me to have a severe accident during a recent storm. Now, we have a hurricane coming and can't even get a dealer to look at the problem........aggravating!”

   NHTSA complaint #10038974, filed 2003-09, 88,000 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Driver's seat back breaks or tips backward

   • 16 complaints (8%)
   • median 160,000 mi at 18.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2019

   Owners describe the seat back dropping rearward while driving, pulling out of a driveway, or accelerating, in several cases with bolts or a pivot pin found sheared or the cushion frame cracked where it fastens to the floor bracket. A few report the same failure happening more than once, with the dealer replacing bolts or the seat frame and, in one case, saying the campaign had expired. Some owners note that the replacement hardware differed from the original bolts. Reported from roughly 120,000 to 200,000 miles, with several complaints giving no mileage on these older trucks.

   What to check: Grab the top of the seat back and push and pull firmly to check for movement or a loose pivot, and look at the mounting bolts and floor bracket for cracks, shiny wear marks or mismatched hardware.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Seat back pivot pin broke. The seat can only recline. This is very similar to recall 95v246000. But my VIN doesn't show up when searched. Why is my VIN not included? This is a 1994 Gmc Sierra sle. Thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #11271485, filed 2019-10, 200,000 miles

   “The driver's seat on my extended cab truck fell to the back seat while pulling out of my driveway, I did lose control and a coal truck coming up the road, almost got me . The Gmc dealer has denied any knowledge of this ever happening before . …”

   NHTSA complaint #703111, filed 1999-02
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal pulsation, pulling and long stopping distance

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2005

   Complaints describe the brake pedal pulsating, the truck pulling to one side under braking, longer stopping distances at low speed, and pads and rotors wearing out repeatedly. One owner was told by an independent shop that the calipers were sticking, and another found a brake hose had broken down internally and was partly blocking fluid flow. A further report notes weaker braking with the ABS active that improved when four-wheel drive was engaged. Mostly reported between about 32,000 and 145,000 miles, with one complaint mentioning worse braking on wet roads.

   What to check: Test braking from low speed on a quiet road and feel for pulsation or pull, inspect pad and rotor condition and thickness, and ask for service records showing how often pads, rotors, calipers and hoses have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission has slipped and shifted hard since purchase, I returned it to the dealer on several occassions with report of unable to find problem the brakes pads have been replaced 5 different times the rotors 1 time. Weeks after purchase I had to take it back due to the frontend shimmying when applying the brakes it was found that the rotors where out of round. I have had excessive wear of pads I was told (not by the dealer) that the calipers where sticking . The windshield wipers stop working occasionally.”

   NHTSA complaint #733688, filed 2000-10

   “Dt: the contact owns a 1994 Gmc Sierra. The contact stated that there was an increase in stopping distance when the brakes were applied at lower speeds. The contact stated that the condition were worse when the roads were wet. When the vehicle was in the 4- wheel drive mode the ABS system w automatically shut off, and the vehicle stopped without any problems. Also, when the vehicle in the 2-wheel drive mode a problem would always occurred when braking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10138491, filed 2005-10, 54,000 miles

Buying note. Check the wipers and the driver's seat mounting hardware first, since those are the failures owners describe most often, and confirm by VIN which recall campaigns were actually completed. Given the age of these trucks, also inspect the brake components and the lines underneath for rust before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.