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GMC C3500Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on record for the GMC C3500.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints26Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls91970–1996 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

GMC C3500 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the C3500 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'70'71'74'86'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1996Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common GMC C3500 problems

All model years combined: 26 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic101
Tires40
Power train40
Visibility40
Engine and engine cooling31
Electrical system21
Structure20
Suspension10
Steering10
2 other systems21
9 recalls

GMC C3500 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Brake lights: switch99V-025 · 1994 · Feb 5, 1999 · 988,587 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission93V-016 · 1988–1993 · Feb 1, 1993 · 1,702,880 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages92V-056 · 1992 · Apr 14, 1992 · 177 vehicles–Front: anchorage90V-170 · 1989–1990 · Sep 17, 1990 · 194,243 vehicles–Control arm: upper arm74V-078 · 1974 · May 17, 1974 · 2,788 vehicles–Power assist: vacuum71V-140 · 1971 · Aug 19, 1971 · 136,000 vehicles–Vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings71V-037 · 1971 · Mar 24, 1971 · 9,600 vehicles–Wheels70V-147 · 1971 · Dec 10, 1970 · 7,250 vehicles–Control arm: upper arm70V-106 · 1970 · Sep 8, 1970 · 11,328 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the C3500

  1. DRIVERS SEAT FAILUREPE97027 · 1994–1995 · closed Oct 31, 1997
    No recall
  2. FUEL TANK SUPPORT FAILUREPE93089 · 1991 · closed Feb 10, 1994
    No recall
  3. FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITYEA92041 · 1970–1991 · closed Mar 9, 1995
    No recall
  4. REAR BRK LIGHTS STAY ONPE88019 · 1988 · closed Mar 31, 1988
    No recall
  5. LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILUREPE87056 · 1984–1987 · closed Nov 6, 1987
    No recall