Tl*the contact owns a 1990 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the transmission suddenly caught fire. The dealer stated that the seals were leaking around the transmission and were the cause of the fire. The dealer also stated that it was not covered under warranty and would not assist with the repair costs. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The current mileage was 55,880. The left rear shock absorber fell off, the magnet cover plate of the differential came off and ruined the rear end twice. The front differential seals failed and the vehicle lost fluid, the catalytic converter failed, the clutch fan broke , the power steering would not turn to the left as easy as the right, the seat belts never worked properly, the valve guides failed on the engine, the ABS was inoperative, the windshield wiper component came on when water would get on the unit and they would not shut off until the unit dried out/ the torsion bar support was fatigued, the rear brakes did not adjust themselves properly and the speedometer did not work. Updated evoq 08/05/10
The worst 1990 GMC Sierra problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes10
- Tires3
- Body2
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes10
- Tires3
- Body2
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
- Transmission2
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
Recalls 1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Severe corrosion due to road salt at the joint of the stamped steel center section and the cast outer section can cause the sections to separate.
- Risk
- Separation of the rotor sections can cause loss ofbraking ability in the affected wheel. This could result in increased stoppingdistance and/or loss of vehicle control and an accident.
- Remedy
- Replace the front brake rotors with new rotors with a corrosion protection coating. However, if replacement of brake linings are necessary, it will be done at owner's expense since brake linings are normal maintenance items.
Recall number 93V119000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1990 GMC Sierra 4
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline...
- Diagnosis of cracked or broken transmission case. tt 2006 and prior cars and light duty trucks. tt
- Spring slap noise from the rear of the gmt 400 series truck. mn
- Diagnostic information for intermittent transmission downshift, slip, busy/cycling tcc or noisy cooling...
1990 GMC Sierra fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16 | 19-22 | 17-18 |
| 6.2L 8‑cyl Diesel | RWD | 16-17 | 20-22 | 18 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14-15 | 16-19 | 15-16 |
| 6.2L 8‑cyl Diesel | 4WD | 15 | 17-20 | 16 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 15-19 | 14-15 |
| 5.7L 8‑cyl | RWD | 11-14 | 13-18 | 12-15 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 12-13 | 14-17 | 13-14 |
| 5.7L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 11-12 | 13-16 | 12-13 |
What 1990 GMC Sierra owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driver's door is sagging, it has something to do with the hinge , I am going to have to take it in to get it fixed, as it does not close all the way now.
Dt: the contact states while in a repair shop awaiting vehicle maintenance it was noted there were cracks on the side wall of all four tires. He went to the tire dealer from where they were purchased, and the tire shop said they would offer cost assistance for replacement of all four tires. The tire is a cooper mastercraft at, 265/75/r16. *ak updated 12/27/05.
Brake pedal feels spongy when applying brakes. Problem happens at any speed. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *ak the consumer stated that the master cylinder, the front disc pads and the rear brake cylinders had been replaced but the brake still goes to the floor. Certified technicians indicated that the 88,89 and 90 models had this problem as well. The consumer was concerned about the safety of driving this vehicle.
Tire separation; damage to sports side fender well and tailpipe. Required wheel well replacement and painting.*ak (tiresize: p235/75r15)( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
While driving about 35 MPH or sometimes about 55 MPH vehicle started vibrating without a warning. Took vehicle to dealer ,and they found out the cause of the problem were the tires. Firestone wildernes ht 235/ 75 r 15. *ak two of the four tires have crack line around tread cap.
Seat frame is cracked under seat. Seat remains very unstable. Potential for seat collapse while driving
Vehicle experiencing problem with driver's and middle passenger's seat belt buckles failing to lock properly. Buckle would unlatch by itself intermittently. Dealer notified. *ak
Excessive wear of front brake pad.; front pads have been replaced three times within a year. Also, when applying brakes, there is extended stopping distance which can lead to a potential accident. Seeking help from the federal safety agency in this matter.
When driving at any speed, the brakes work intermittently. Sometimes the brakes don't stop the vehicle. *ak
Compare the 1990 GMC Sierra
Other model years
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017
Questions about the 1990 GMC Sierra
Is the 1990 GMC Sierra reliable?
Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 1990 GMC Sierra, fewer than a typical Sierra model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1990 GMC Sierra?
Brakes, with 10 complaints. Next is tires (3).
How many recalls does the 1990 GMC Sierra have?
1 recall, covering service brakes, hydraulic.
Was there a recall on the 1990 GMC Sierra brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 93V119000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the GMC Sierra have bad brakes?
The GMC Sierra model years with the most brakes complaints are 1999 (338 complaints), 2000 (228 complaints) and 2001 (150 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1990 GMC Sierra get?
Official estimates for the 1990 GMC Sierra range from 12 to 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 19-22 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1990 GMC Sierra?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history