RoadVitals

1996 GMC 3500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jan 13, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC 3500, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and electrical categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesSteering
Filed Jan 13, 2004

IN 1996 I PURCHASED NEW A GMC 3500 CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HARD ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST PARTICULARLY IN LEFT TURNS AND AT LOW SPEEDS. BRAKING WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE ANTISKID. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WE TRIED THE SAME MANEUVER ON THREE OTHER SIMILAIR TRUCKS IN HIS LOT. ALL DID THE SAME THING. AFTER MANY CALLS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING "I HAD TO LIVE WITH".

NHTSA ID
10053026
Incident
Aug 4, 1996
Mileage
50 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 18, 2003

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. CONDITION FORCED DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED WHEN VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED AT 28000 MILES THE FUEL PUMP AND COMPUTER, BUT SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051755
Incident
Dec 18, 2003
Mileage
28,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2002

FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT AND VEHICLE HAS BECOME INOPREABLE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PUMP WAS REPLACED 14 TIMES BUT NO CHANGE. ALSO, THE TRUCK HAS NO POWER FOR STEERING OR BRAKING WHEN IT STALLS. *YH

NHTSA ID
8003794
Incident
Jan 14, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003010—
1997010—
1996Viewing300—
1994500—
1993310—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.