GMC S15 complaints by model year
53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1991–2001. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
GMC S15 recalls (13)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one S15 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96V035000 | Feb 22, 1996 | GM/POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:5 SPEED AND UP | 1996 | — |
| 95V180000 | Sep 22, 1995 | ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1995 | — |
| 94V228000 | Nov 21, 1994 | BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:CHECK VALVE | 1994 | — |
| 94V014000 | Jan 26, 1994 | FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:PIPE:FILLER:NECK | 1994 | — |
| 93V008000 | Jan 14, 1993 | ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1989–1992 | — |
| 90V193000 | Nov 14, 1990 | SUSPENSION:INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM:LOWER | 1991 | — |
| 90V107000 | Jun 4, 1990 | VISUAL SYSTEMS:GLASS:WINDSHIELD | 1991 | — |
| 87V021000 | Feb 25, 1987 | STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD:INNER | 1987 | — |
| 86V140000 | Oct 21, 1986 | EQUIPMENT:CERTIFICATION LABEL | 1986 | — |
| 86V131000 | Sep 19, 1986 | LIGHTING:SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:HEAD LIGHTS | 1986 | — |
| 85V048000 | Apr 29, 1985 | BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:SHOE AND DRUM WHEEL CYLINDERS | 1982 | — |
| 84V073000 | Jun 18, 1984 | POWER TRAIN:LUBRICANT:TRANSMISSION:MANUAL | 1982, 1983 | — |
| 84V011000 | Feb 6, 1984 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:FRONT BUCKET SEAT LATCH | 1984 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Where to next
GMC S15 FAQ
How many recalls has the GMC S15 had?
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns that cover at least one GMC S15 model year from 1985 to 2001. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which GMC S15 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1991 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (8) and the 1999 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common GMC S15 problems?
Across the 1991–2001 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, visibility, seat belts in complaints filed with NHTSA.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.