The 1989 GMC C2500 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,897,123 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN93V0160001993-02-011,702,880 affected
Defect
UNANTICIPATED HEAT IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN FORCE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT OF THE VENT TUBE.
Consequence
THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CAN CATCH FIRE IF EXPOSEDTO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
INSTALL A LONGER TRANSMISSION VENT HOSE ROUTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
SEAT BELTS90V1700001990-09-17194,243 affected
Defect
TRUCKS CAN CONTAIN INCORRECT INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY ADJUST REAR SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELTS AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209.
Consequence
INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLYRESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT OF SUDDEN STOP; TRUCKS WOULD NOT COMPLY WITHFMVSS 209.
Remedy
PROVIDE OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR LAP-SHOULDER BELT INSTRUCTIONS.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
POWER TRAIN
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
STEERING
1
Total complaints9
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The seal king pins on the steering cannot be greased & they wear out fast. *ak”
“Engine started burning oil after a oil change. Please give detail. *ak”
“The driver side seat belt buckle broke . Tt *jb”
“Driver's and passenger's shoulder straps get loose, will not lock in position, do not retract, causing loss of protection which could result in injuries in case of an accident. *ak”
“Too small radiator for this size of truck. Radiator overheats.”
“Speedometer failed. *yh”
“Brakes failed on several occasion and the problem has not been resolved. *yh”
“Radiator failed on several occasions. *yh”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA92041 Opened 1992-12-08 · closed 1995-03-09
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 GMC C2500 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.