Summary
The GMC B7 has 8 recalls covering the 1993–2000 production run, with the most serious being a 1997 steering shaft defect where insufficient overlap in a slip joint can allow the shaft to separate, leaving the driver with no steering control.
The 1997 model year also has a separate steering concern on vehicles with a 6.0L gasoline engine and 10,000 lb. front axle, where a power steering fluid supply hose can rub against adjacent components, leak fluid, and gradually eliminate all power steering assist. On the 1999 models, two distinct issues exist: a transmission shift cable end that can pull free of its rod end, causing the transmission to shift into an unintended gear and move the vehicle in an unexpected direction; and a transmission fluid cooler hose that can degrade from heat, leak fluid onto the exhaust system, and start a fire. The 2000 model year, on chassis fitted with a 7.4L gas engine and an LPG conversion kit, can experience engine backfires forceful enough to dislodge air intake and air cleaner components, which can then contact a hot exhaust manifold or EGR valve tube and cause a fire. The 1998 model year carries two brake-related concerns: chafed wiring in the anti-lock brake control harness can ground out, disable the ABS system, and reduce front brake effectiveness; and separately, chafed wheel speed sensor wires or damaged wheel-end components can trigger unwanted ABS activation at low speeds, exhausting air from the brake modulators and lengthening stopping distances. Going back to 1993, a condition in the throttle body injector unit can cause the throttle cam lever to disengage from the drive shaft, sending the engine to wide-open throttle without warning.
