1987 Gmc Gmc truck problems

General information about Gmc-Gmc truck
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

GMC (formerly the General Motors Truck Company (1911–1943), or the GMC Truck & Coach Division (1943–1998)) is a division of American automotive manufacturer General Motors (GM) for trucks and utility vehicles. GMC currently makes SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and light-duty trucks. In the past, GMC also produced fire trucks, ambulances, heavy-duty trucks, military vehicles, motorhomes, transit buses, and medium duty trucks.

While many of their vehicles are mechanically similar, GMC is positioned as a premium offering to the mainstream Chevrolet brand, and includes the luxury trim Denali. In North America, GMC vehicles are almost always sold alongside Buick (another premium brand) vehicles at multi-brand dealerships.

History

Roots to the GMC brand can be traced to 1900, when the "Grabowsky Motor Company" was established by brothers Max (1874-1946) and Morris Grabowsky, in Detroit, and renamed Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1902 when the brothers moved operations to Pontiac, Michigan. In 1909, William C. Durant gained control of Rapid Motor Vehicle Company and made it a subsidiary of his General Motors Company.

In 1911, General Motors formed the "General Motors Truck Company" and folded Rapid and Reliance Motor Car Company (another early commercial vehicle manufacturer that Durant had acquired in 1908) into it. In 1912, the Rapid and Reliance names were dropped in favor of "GMC". All General Motors truck production was consolidated at the former Rapid Motor Plant 1 in Pontiac, Michigan.

GMC maintained three manufacturing locations in Pontiac, Michigan, Oakland, California, and St. Louis, Missouri .

In 1916, a GMC truck crossed the country from Seattle to New York City in thirty days, and in 1926, a 2-ton GMC truck was driven from New York to San Francisco in five days and 30 minutes. During the First World War, the company provided the Model 16 3/4-ton truck, and modified its production to provide 1-ton troop carriers and aviation support vehicles, and by 1918, more than 90 percent of GMC truck production was for military use. GMTC provided a total of 8512 trucks to the U.S. government during the war years and earned a Distinguished Service Award. During the Second World War, GMC Truck produced 600,000 trucks for use by the United States Armed Forces.

In 1923, GMC trucks were exported to Japan to help recovery and reconstruction as a result of the Great Kantō earthquake, and the company continued to provide vehicles as the transportation infrastructure was rebuilt. Before the earthquake struck, most of Japan's transportation of commerce and people was by wooden carts and government owned railroads, which were severely damaged when the train tracks were twisted beyond use. Autonomous trucks were much more effective at traveling to heavily damaged areas.

In 1925, GM purchased a controlling interest in Yellow Coach, a bus and taxicab manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois which was founded by John D. Hertz. The company was renamed Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company (YT&CMC), an affiliated subsidiary of General Motors. All manufacturing operations of General Motors Truck Company were placed under YT&CMC. In 1928 Plant 2 opened and all headquarters staff moved to the administration building at 660 South Boulevard E in Pontiac, MI. In 1943, GM purchased the remaining interest in YT&CMC and renamed it GMC Truck and Coach Division.

In 1981, GMC Truck & Coach Division became part of GM Worldwide Truck & Bus Group. Bus production ended in May 1987 and the division name was changed from GMC Truck & Coach to GMC Truck Division. The Canadian plant (in London, Ontario) produced buses from 1962 until July 1987. GM withdrew from the bus and coach market because of increased competition in the late 1970s and 1980s. Rights to the RTS model were sold to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation, while Motor Coach Industries of Canada purchased the Classic design. In 1998, GMC's official branding on vehicles was shortened from "GMC Truck" to simply "GMC".

In 1996, GM merged GMC Truck Division with the Pontiac Motor Division in order to "give the combined division a brand image projecting physical power and outdoor activity". This coincided with many GMC dealerships merging with Pontiac dealerships, allowing a single dealer to offer both trucks and entry-to-mid-level cars, using a similar approach already in use by Chevrolet.

In 2002, GMC celebrated its 100th anniversary and released a book entitled GMC: The First 100 Years, a complete history of the company.

In 2007, GMC introduced the Acadia, a crossover SUV, which was the division's second unibody vehicle (after the Vandura) whose predecessor, the GMT-360 based Envoy, was discontinued with the closure of GM's Moraine, Ohio plant on December 23, 2008.

In 2009, GMC ended production of medium-duty commercial trucks after over 100 years. They became exclusive to Chevrolet with the launch of the 4500HD/5500HD Silverado in 2018. Also in 2009, GMC introduced the Terrain, a mid-size crossover SUV based on the GM Theta platform shared with the Chevrolet Equinox. It replaced the Pontiac Torrent after the brand's demise.

In 2020, General Motors announced the return of the Hummer nameplate, this time as a sub-brand of GMC instead of a stand-alone division. The Hummer lineup includes two models, an electric pickup truck and SUV, to be sold as the "GMC Hummer EV". According to GM, the Edition 1 production electric pickup truck will feature 1,000 horsepower, hit 60 mph in 3 seconds and is scheduled to launch in late 2021. The new Hummer EV was revealed on October 20, 2020.

In 2022, the GMC brand was introduced in South Korea as a subsidiary of GM Korea.

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Common 1987 Gmc Gmc truck problems

The 1987 GMC truck is known to have several common problems, primarily related to the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.

Alternator Failure: The alternator is responsible for charging the battery and supplying electrical power to the vehicle's electrical systems. In older Sierras and Silverados, including the 1987 GMC truck, the alternator may eventually fail, causing the battery to die and potentially leading to an abnormal noise. This issue may not always trigger a dash warning light. Replacing the alternator is the only solution, which typically costs between $300 and $400 and tends to occur around 125,000 miles.

Steering Wheel Position Sensor Failure: If you experience a service stability message in your 1987 GMC truck, it may be due to a failed steering wheel position sensor. This issue can cause intermittent or regular errors, such as every time you start your truck or turn the wheel. Replacing the sensor, which costs around $200 to $300, should fix this problem. However, it can occur at any mileage, with an average occurrence around 90,000 miles.

Windshield Wiper Motor Component Failure: Models produced between 1990 and 1999, including the 1987 GMC truck, may experience windshield wiper motor component failure. This issue can cause the wipers to stop working intermittently or fail to turn on or keep running after being turned off. A buzzing sound from the motor control box may also be present when the wipers are not working. A temporary fix is to lightly tap on the control box, while a more permanent solution involves replacing the wiper motor control board.

Coolant Leaks or Oil Leaks from Intake Manifold Gaskets: Coolant or oil leaks from intake manifold gaskets are common problems in 1987 GMC trucks. These leaks can result from worn-out or damaged gaskets, leading to engine performance issues and potential engine damage. Regular inspections and timely replacement of faulty gaskets are essential to maintaining the truck's performance and longevity.

In summary, the 1987 GMC truck is prone to several common problems, primarily related to the engine, transmission, and electrical systems. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can help ensure the truck's longevity and performance.

What year GMC trucks are the most reliable?

Overall, the GMC Sierra 1500 is worth it if you're willing to keep up with regular maintenance for the machine. We recommend 2004, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2018 options as your top picks on the market.

Are GMC Sierra trucks reliable?

Yes, GMC trucks are among the most reliable pickups on the market. Year after year, the J.D. Power Dependability Study has ranked the Sierra 1500 and Sierra 2500HD in the top five of their respective segments.

How much horsepower does a 1987 GMC Sierra have?

The engine is rated at 350 horsepower and 400 lb ft. of torque to get this truck moving.

How long do GMC truck engines last?

Key Points. With proper maintenance, a GMC Sierra 1500 should run for a minimum of 200,000 miles, with some units having topped half a million. Annual maintenance costs average in the low-$700 range, with less frequent major problems than most pickups.

Are GMC trucks good or bad?

The Sierra is a light-duty truck, rated number one in safety for 2020. The GMC Canyon is the automaker's heavy-duty pickup truck. There are three trims, all of which are part of the GMC Canyon reliability that ranks above average in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Survey (VSD) for 2023.

What year GMC trucks are the most reliable?

How much horsepower does a 1987 GMC Sierra have?

The engine is rated at 350 horsepower and 400 lb ft. of torque to get this truck moving.

How long do GMC truck engines last?

1987 Gmc Gmc truck car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Gmc Gmc truck problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Tires problems
Seat belts problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Gmc Gmc truck vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1987 Gmc Gmc truck complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Gmc Gmc truck.

2001-05-06

TIRES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1999-11-01
Crash: 1
VIN: 1GTEV1424HJ
Components: TIRES
Summary: I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 321150R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 321150R15 )

Add Complaint

1998-06-25

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: 1GBBS10E3J2
Components: SEAT BELTS
Summary: SEAT BELTS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY, CROSS OVER NECK AREA.

Add Complaint

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1987 Gmc Gmc truck problems:

1987 Dual Tank Problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC ...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=714650

I'm about to start diagnosing why the passenger side tank quit working on my truck. Does anyone have some tips or common problems.

Gas tank problem on 1987 with two tanks | Classic Parts Talk

https://talk.classicparts.com/threads/gas-tank-problem-on-1987-with-two-tanks.6659/

Jul 1, 2007 ... Home Forums > Chevy & GMC Trucks by Year > 1973-1987 > ... I had the same problem on my truck ... This is a very common problem and will bite you in ...

Inline 292 mods, parts, common problems - 67-72 Chevy Trucks

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=591042

Inline 292 mods, parts, common problems The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board.

Q&A: Troubleshooting 1987 GMC S15 4x4 Tail Lights - No Parking ...

https://www.justanswer.com/gm/3216l-1987-gmc-s15-4x4-bulbs-still-no-parking-lights-brakes-turn-signal.html

Jan 24, 2010 ... I HAVE A 1987 GMC -S15 4X4 ,MY PROBLEM IS ... All of the rear lights have 1 common ground that goes to the frame. ... 1992 gmc 1500 pickup. no brake ...