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GMC K SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 8 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on record for the GMC K Series.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints8Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls21981–2002 model years

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

Best & worst years

GMC K Series 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 K Series median. Tap a year for its full report.

'81'84'89'95'97'99'00'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common GMC K Series problems

All model years combined: 8 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, hydraulic30
Steering20
Fuel system, gasoline10
Power train10
Electrical system11
Tires10
Trailer hitches10
2 recalls

GMC K Series recalls

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

–Other: labels89V-149 · 1989 · Sep 8, 1989 · 585 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages80V-150 · 1981 · Nov 14, 1980 · 364 vehicles
5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the K Series

  1. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · 1999–2002 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  2. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREPE03057 · 1999–2002 · closed Apr 9, 2004
    No recall
  3. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILUREEA91038 · 1988–1990 · closed May 29, 1992
    No recall
  4. LOWER BALL JOINT FAILUREPE89132 · 1987–1989 · closed Oct 16, 1989
    No recall
  5. BRAKE LAMP SWITCHPE89116 · 1988–1989 · closed Jul 5, 1989
    No recall