Most common 1995 GMC Sierra problems
Share of the 261 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra complaints by model year
Best Sierra years: 2020, 2018, 2009. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
1995 GMC Sierra recalls (6)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Vehicle speed control
These vehicles were assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat which could bind the throttle. This does not meet with the maximum return times required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for adequate throttle cable to dash mat clearance, and if there is insufficient clearance, cut out a portion of the dash mat to provide proper clearance.
Seat belts › Front
These vehicles were built with front seat belt systems with no energy management loops and May not meet the head injury criteria requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the retractor portion of the seat belt assembly(s) with one having the newly designed energy-management twin-loop system.
Seat belts › Front
If both the lap-belt and shoulder-belt energy management loops on the front seat belt assemblies release at or near the same time, acceleration forces can cause the buckle release mechanism to activate and allow the buckle to separate from the latch.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the stitching that creates the energy management loop in the shoulder belt(s).
Power train › Automatic transmission
The transmission shift-cable lock clip can back out of its installed position resulting in a loss of cable adjustment. When the shift lever is placed in the "park" position, the "park" indicator light May not illuminate.
Remedy: Dealers will adjust the shift cable and install a lock clip.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
Due to a thin case casting, an external transmission leak can occur.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission case assembly for the involved case casting. If the assembly is involved, the transmission will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1995 GMC Sierra:
HEADLIGHT
Based on the reports received by odi from consumers, failure of the headlight electrical circuit May occur in the subject vehicles, and May result from repeated adjustment ofthe tilt steering wheel in the subject vehicles.repeated adjustment of the steering wheel position May strain the wiring in the headlight circuit to the point of failure where they are attached to the multi-function switch, resulting in the…
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
HEADLIGHT
What 1995 GMC Sierra owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 140 →
Consumer took vehicle in to dealer to have the windshield wiper motor circuit board and cover replaced due to a recall order. The vehicle works worse now than it did before it was brought to the dealer. Windshield wipers were working intermittently, and currently they only work when they are turned on high. Dealer informed the consumer that vehicle needed a windshield wiper pulse control module at a cost of $160.00.
#1, I spent 1,164.73 to have my anti-lock brakes repaired at a dealer. I found a safety recall of 1.4 million reports of brake failure,with kelsy-have parts ("kcb4"and "ebc4"units).why if I had to spend over $ 1,100.00 to have my truck repaired was I not notified????? #2 my emergency flashers button is jammed and the dealer wants 485.00 to repair. I had the windshield wiper repaired. Why is my emergency equipment failing? And there is no recall notice!!!! #3 my emergency brake cable and handle-both broke. How much is a dealer going to rip me off to repair. #4 I had to repair the cold solder joints on my hot/cold switch so my A/C would run cold. Once again the dealer wanted to replace the whole unit-"rip me off!!" #5 why after almost 100 years cant a car maker build their cars better rather than causing the consumer to keep the parts/service industry booming. …
Brakes all 42 →
While towing our 42 foot camper with the 1 ton GMC dually truck we had a sudden loss of truck braking causing us to run thru a red signal light. The brake lines had rusted and burst leaving very little braking from truck. The brakes were inspected by a GM dealer only 6 months ago and were deemed OK after a 1200 dollar repair bill to replace rear brakes. . This is a real safety issue with such a catastrophic loss of braking . This truck is made for towing and should never have the braking ever be compromised. The truck has 125000 miles and should have had a more durable design integrated into the brake lines.there also was an enhanced chance for fire since brake fluid was sprayed on engine when brakes failed.
Dt: the consumer states there is massive rust on the rear brake line. This caused the brake line to rupture. Brake fluid was leaking out, causing a problem while trying to brake. The service dealer stated the brake line needed to be replaced. The dealer did not remove the old brake line when they installed a new one.
Seats all 24 →
The driver side seat back collapsed backwards while vehicle was in motion. The driver grabbed steering wheel to avoid falling backwards and crashed into a gravel pit as a result. The knobs that control the seat have been frozen and inoperable for three years. The driver's seat wouldn't latch and slid back several times while the vehicle was being driven.
Dt*: the contact stated while sitting in the driver's seat it moves freely. An independent repair shop determined that the seat frame is breaking away from the floor board and needs to be replaced. Updated 3/9/2006 -
1995 GMC Sierra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5L 8-cyl diesel | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl diesel | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl diesel | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl diesel | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 GMC Sierra a good car?
Based on 261 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 Sierra rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra at the same age. It is one of the Sierra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 GMC Sierra?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 140 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer › motor. Next are the brakes (42) and seats (24).
How many recalls does the 1995 GMC Sierra have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1995 GMC Sierra, the most recent from July 1, 1998 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full GMC Sierra years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 GMC Sierra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 125,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.