The 1994 GMC Sierra has 4 recalls, the most serious involving the front seatbelts, which can fail to restrain occupants in a crash or allow the buckle to unlatch under the forces of a frontal collision.
The seatbelt concerns cover a few related issues: some vehicles were built without the energy management loops needed to meet federal head injury standards, meaning the belts may not absorb crash forces properly. On vehicles that do have those loops, if both the lap belt and shoulder belt loops release at the same time, the buckle can spring free from the latch entirely. The extended cab configuration has a specific version of this same buckle-separation risk. There is also a visibility concern: cracked solder joints near the windshield wiper wiring connector can cause the wipers to work intermittently or stop functioning, reducing the driver's ability to see in wet conditions.
At a glance
What can fail
Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack, causing windshield wipers to work intermittently or fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Front seat belt retractors lack energy management loops and may not adequately protect occupants' heads during crashes as required by safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors with new ones that include an energy-management twin-loop system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Both the lap and shoulder belt energy management loops can release simultaneously, causing acceleration forces to trigger the buckle release mechanism and separate the buckle from the latch.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove the stitching that forms the energy management loop in the shoulder belt.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In a frontal crash, the lap and shoulder belt energy management loops can release nearly simultaneously. This can cause forces that trigger the buckle release mechanism, letting the buckle separate from the latch.
What the fix does
On gas engine trucks, the shoulder belt energy management loop stitching will be removed. On lighter-duty engines, the seat belt retractor will be replaced with a newly designed energy management system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
