Complaints
30
Crashes
1
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1990 GMC Sierra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:55,000 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#22 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Fires:2
#32 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1990 GMC Sierra.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 1 | 1 | 55,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,000
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1990 GMC Sierra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other GMC Sierra Years
1990 GMC Sierra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1990 GMC Sierra reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1990 GMC Sierra has 30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1990 GMC Sierra?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (7 complaints, avg 55,000 mi); Automatic Transmission (2 complaints); Hydraulic Brakes (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1990 GMC Sierra?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 55,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1990 GMC Sierra?
NHTSA complaints for the 1990 GMC Sierra include 1 crash-related reports, 12 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1990 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1990 GMC Sierra as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1990 GMC Sierra?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full GMC Sierra reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1990 GMC Sierra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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