AI DamageGMC Vandura: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the GMC Vandura across 8 model years: 62 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 39% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 10% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 24 complaints (39% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 6 complaints (10% of all).
- Air bags: 5 complaints (8% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 5 complaints (8% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1984
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1985–1995
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1984–1995
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1987–1995
- 6.2 L · diesel · 8 cyl 1984–1993
- 6.5 L · diesel · 8 cyl 1994–1995
- automatic, 3-speed 1984–1990
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–1995
- manual, 3-speed 1984–1987
- manual, 4-speed 1984–1989
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 62 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The abs brakes locked up when applied. The vehicle also experienced transmission and speedometers problems.
Brakes were hit suddenly, vehicle jerked and brakes failed. Consumer veered around & hit a tree & mail box. Also, airbags didn't deploy. Dealer said problem did not meet the criteria of recall 99i00600/ manufacturer's recall g99046. They will send a investigator out 8-11-2000 or 08-12-2000.
Consumer was involved in a 40 mph frontal collision in which the driver's air bag did not deploy. Please give any further details.
Upon impact, during frontal crash at approx. 35mph, 12:00 on front bumper, airbag failed to deploy.
Normal driving. Tie-rod broke. Vehicle jumped two lanes-lost control of vehicle. No other autos on section of highway at that time.
Vehicle experienced a problem with the windshield wiper motor. Windshield wipers work intermittently, causing poor vision out of the windshield when raining. Gcm acknowledes that it has the same problem with its trucks.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.