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GMC K3500Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 12 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on record for the GMC K3500.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints12Top: Power trainSafety recalls31988–1996 model years

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

Best & worst years

GMC K3500 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 K3500 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1996Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1989Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common GMC K3500 problems

All model years combined: 12 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
Power train41
Visibility30
Service brakes, hydraulic21
Structure10
Electrical system11
Visibility/wiper10
Engine and engine cooling10
Seat belts10
3 recalls

GMC K3500 recalls

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

–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
7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the K3500

  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. POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCEEA88035 · 1988 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    No recall
  5. POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCEPE88044 · 1988 · closed Jul 18, 1988
    No recall
  6. REAR BRK LIGHTS STAY ONPE88019 · 1988 · closed Mar 31, 1988
    No recall
  7. LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILUREPE87056 · 1984–1987 · closed Nov 6, 1987
    No recall