The 1985 GMC C35 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 253,637 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK STARTING AT THE REAR FLANGE AND PROGRESSING TO THE BALL JOINT MOUNTING HOLE AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE CONTROL ARM.
IF THE BALL JOINT SEPARATES FROM THE CONTROL ARM, A LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
INSTALL A RESINFORCED BRACE TO THE LEFT HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM.
TRUCKS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST.
GREATER THAN ACCEPTABLE FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER ACOLLISION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SHIELD TO THE FRONT OF THE ORIGINAL SHIELD TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK.
THE WHEEL MAY DEVELOP CRACKS BETWEEN THE DISC AND RIM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AND IS NOT NOTICED, THE CRACK COULD INCREASE AROUND THE RIM, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE RIM FROM THE DISC, LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN…
REPLACE WHEELS HAVING THE SUSPECTED MANUFACTURING CODE NUMBER.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Passengers side lower control arm failed prior to recall, repairs refused for d rivers side broken control arm (91v-217). *ak”
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS OF THE 65 COMPLAINTSFORWARDED BY GM ON THIS ISSUE REVEALS THAT 15 OF THE COMPLAINTS MAY BESAFETY RELATED.COMPLAINTS IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM AS A RED HOT EXHAUSTSYSTEM OR MUFFLER FAILURE WERE NOT COUNTED.GM ALSO INCLUDED NUMEROUSCOMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO FUEL EXPULSION…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 GMC C35 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.