U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Gmc C/K PICKUP: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

106,033 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 2 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	2	100.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel System, Gasoline: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2021

2021: 2

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11440281 · 2021-11-12 (November 12, 2021)

The contact owns a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking fuel due to the hanger straps being rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the fuel tank and hanger straps were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,066.

Owner-reported narrative. 92,066 miles reported. Look up ODI 11440281 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11440282 · 2021-11-12 (November 12, 2021)

The contact owned a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The contact stated that her husband noticed fuel leaking from a hole and rust on the tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's husband replaced the fuel tank. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11440282 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records

100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	312.0% ODI 10082407 · 70,000 mi ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS WONT STOP CANT AFFORD TO PAY 450 A SIDE TO FIX THEM I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, I HAD A NEAR MISS AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I UNHOOKED THE ABS UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED AND NOW I CAN STOP. *LA Look up ODI 10082407 at NHTSA ↗	327.3% ODI 10135002 · 30,000 mi THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ON MY 98 GMC 4X4 PICKUP FIRE @ SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP AT A MUCH GREATER DISTANCE THAN NORMAL THIS IS DUE TO BAD WHEEL SPEED SENSORS I HAD THE TRUCK PUT ON A SCANNER AND IT TURNS OUT THAT BOTH SENSORS ARE BAD AND @ AROUND 200 BUCKS FOR NEW A BEARING + LABOR THIS IS NOT AN EASY CHEAP FIX I ENDED UP PULLING THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD I WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSORS AT THAT COST. *NM Look up ODI 10135002 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 10139425 · 65,000 mi GM RECALL NO. 05068 IS LIMITED TO CERTAIN STATES. MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THOSE LISTED IN THE VIN RANGE, BUT I NOW LIVE IN WISCONSIN, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE TRUCK HAS THE PROBLEM AND UP UNTIL JULY OF THIS YEAR HAD A MICHIGAN TITLE. BY ALLOWING GM TO LIMIT THE RECALL TO CERTAIN STATES PEOPLE LIKE ME FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND MIGHT BE HARMED. I AM UNEMPLOYED AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE FIX OUTRIGHT. *JB Look up ODI 10139425 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor	416.0% ODI 10083758 WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK Look up ODI 10083758 at NHTSA ↗	327.3% ODI 10019225 THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 GMC PICKUP WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY WON'T TURN ON, OTHER TIMES THEY STOP WHILE IN USE. *NLM Look up ODI 10019225 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	14.0% ODI 10237641 · 135,000 mi EVERYTIME I SLOW DOWN TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL GROWLS AND IT FEELS AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES COME ON. THE TRUCK KEEPS ROLLING, AND I'VE ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME NUMEROUS TIMES. IT'S A 1997 GMC SIERRA. *TR Look up ODI 10237641 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	337.5% ODI 10257463 · 93,698 mi VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DEFECT AND REPAIRED AT LOCAL DEALER ON 1/19/06. STARING ABOUT 1/1/09 THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. ANTI-LOCK WOULD ACTIVATE DURING NORMAL STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS ON EVERY STOP AND ACTIVATES AROUND 5 MPH. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY FIXED IT ONCE AND ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FIX IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY MADE THE SAME REPAIR THAT WAS MADE WITH THE RECALL. *TR Look up ODI 10257463 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 10325040 · 56,000 mi AT 50,547 MILES ON 6/23/2008, MY 2000 SIERRA DEVELOPED A BRAKE LINE RUPTURE IN A REAR BRAKE LINE AND I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN DECREASED BRAKING. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY OCCURRED. AT ABOUT 56,000 MILES ON 4/5/2010 AT LEAST ONE LINE TO THE FRONT BRAKES BLEW OUT AND WE STOPPED 3 FEET FROM A BUSINESS FRONT WINDOW. NO CONTACT OR INJURIES OCCURRED. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT DON'S AUTO ALIGNMENT, INC., 2611 EATON RAPIDS RD., LANSING MI, 48911. PHONE NUMBER [phone removed]. FIRST INVOICE 21200 FOR $215.19. NEXT INVOICE WILL BE ABOUT $800 SINC… Look up ODI 10325040 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10448615 · 56,337 mi WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY, I LOST BRAKING POWER... PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER A FEW PUMPS. BRAKE FLUID OUT ON THE GROUND. INSPECTION REVEALED REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THE TRUCK HAD 56,337 MILES AT THE TIME. IN SEPTEMBER 2011, THE FRONT LINES FAILED BECAUSE OF CORROSION WHILE OUT DRIVING ON THE ROADS. THE CORROSION WAS SEVERE OVERALL AND I HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKE LINE SYSTEM REPLACED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER DOWN RATHER THAN THE PARTIAL BRANCH THAT HAD BURST. AT THE TIME OF THE FRONT LINE FAILURE, T… Look up ODI 10448615 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer	520.0% ODI 10004276 · 70,000 mi WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH Look up ODI 10004276 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 10156146 · 121,980 mi WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING RAIN. *JB Look up ODI 10156146 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline	14.0% ODI 10625754 · 127,250 mi BRAKES FAILED. I PARKED WITH PARKING BRAKE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED FLUID LEAK ON PAVEMENT. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT RUSTY BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A PINHOLE. OTHER BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTY. WILL LIKELY FAIL LATER. FUEL LINE IS ALSO VERY RUSTY. WILL LIKELY FAIL LATER. *TR Look up ODI 10625754 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 10132760 · 75,000 mi FUEL GAUGE NOT FUNCTIONING...HAS HAD AN ERRATIC READING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS..READING AT 3/4 FULL WHEN THE TANK HAS LESS THAN FIVE GAL. LEFT. *NM Look up ODI 10132760 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering	416.0% ODI 10064037 · 36,000 mi FAULTY STEERING SYSTEM, THIS TRUCK IS A DEATH TRAP, IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, WHEN IT ACTS UP STEERING FEELS NOTCHY, YOU HAVE NO REAL CONTROL. WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY BAD TIRES, INSTALLED NEW TIRES, DID NOT HELP. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GM ASAP, THIS A HUGE AND REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *JB Look up ODI 10064037 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 10086926 · 32,000 mi ABNORMAL REAR DISC BRAKE OPERATION AND WEAR FACTOR ON BOTH REAR WHEELS.*AK Look up ODI 10086926 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 10139664 · 78,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC 1500 SUPER CAB. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEM PROBLEMS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. ON 10-13-05 IT STARTED GETTING REAL BAD. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE PEDAL PULSATED, AND THEN GOT VERY HARD, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENS ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ON 10-13-05 GOODYEAR REPLACED BOTH REAR ROTORS AND PUT NEW BRAKE PADS ON THE REAR. THE DEALER PULLED UP RECALL 00V0550000 AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT IF THE RECALL HAD NHTSA ON IT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IN AD… Look up ODI 10139664 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 10116601 THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAD NOTICED I HAD TO APPLY A LOT MORE FOOT PRESSURE TO STOP MY 2001 GMC. AN INSPECTION SHOWED THAT AT 48,000 MILES THE REAR INSIDE BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND BOTH ROTORS WERE LIKE CORNFLAKES. I HAD NOT HEARD ANY INDICATION FROM THE CHIRPERS THAT I HAD UNUSUAL WEAR. I HAVE DRIVEN ALL MY GM TRUCKS AT LEAST 90,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES. I NOW AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE AT AS LOW AS 30,000 MILES. SOMEONE SHOULD BE NOTIFYING OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM VIA A RECALL OR MAI… Look up ODI 10116601 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module	14.0% ODI 10120917 · 78,500 mi WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING NORMAL STOPS, WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEED SLOWS TO UNDER TEN MILES PER HOUR, I HEAR THE ANTILOCK BRAKE MOTOR ACTIVATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL PULSATE AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUSH ON THE PEDAL THE TRUCK WILL NOT SLOW DOWN. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STEP ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE ALMOST HAD MANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CORRECTED YET. I HAVE DISCONNECTED THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM. Look up ODI 10120917 at NHTSA ↗	19.1% ODI 10037566 · 77,203 mi I AM WRITING ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN 1998 GMC SIERA EXT. CAB P/U. THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, IT HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS. I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC TODAY SAID IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $600.00 TO CORRECT ISSUE, AND HE HAS RAN ACROSS THIS ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS GMC PICK UPS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ON THE FRONT BRAKES, I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE THE WAY I AM SUPPOSED TO MAINTIAN IT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IF THIS ABS PR… Look up ODI 10037566 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Fuel System, Gasoline	Too few reports for a range	106,033 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 11440281 · 92,066 mi The contact owns a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated that the fuel tank was leaking fuel due to the hanger straps being rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the fuel tank and hanger straps were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,066. Look up ODI 11440281 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11440282 · 120,000 mi The contact owned a 1985 GMC 1500 Pickup. The contact stated there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The contact stated that her husband noticed fuel leaking from a hole and rust on the tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact's husband replaced the fuel tank. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Look up ODI 11440282 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2001: 1 complaints · 2002: 3 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2001	0	0	1
2002	0	2	3

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2001	4	0	0
2002	5	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Fuel System, Gasoline
Fuel System, Gasoline	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

2 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

2 mentions · 100.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 106,033 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 11440281 · 92,066 mi

Look up ODI 11440281 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 11440282 · 120,000 mi

Look up ODI 11440282 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 120,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 11440282 · 120,000 mi

Look up ODI 11440282 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b