RoadVitals

1996 GMC C/K Series

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.
4
Latest Mar 10, 2006
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.
1
Latest Apr 28, 2003
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.
1
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC C/K Series, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 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

  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Transmission125.0%
  • Visibility125.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V159000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Apr 28, 2003
1,755,876 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 03023View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA02006ClosedEngineering Analysis

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

Opened May 31, 2002
Closed Jul 23, 2003

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORLed to recall 03V159000

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Mar 10, 2006

RE: INVESTIGATION ACTION #EA05-007, "TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES". PLEASE INCREASE VEHICLE RANGE BACK TO AT LEAST 1996. MY TAILGATE CABLES HAVE BROKEN AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152392
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 2006

WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICK IN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARING. THE CONNECTION GETS CORRODED. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON NEWER VERSION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149827
Incident
Jun 20, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 18, 2004

THE NHTSA DOCUMENTED AND ISSUED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 98V150001. THIS CAMPAIGN IDENTIFED SEVERAL GM LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS & SUV'S THAT HAD SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT COULD CRACK AND CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I OWN A 1996 GMC SIERRA 3/4 TON 4X4 TRUCK VIN # [XXX]. THE VEHICLE HAS 65,324 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THIS VEHICLE QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEVERE RAIN STORM. WHILE SITTING ALONG SIDE THE ROAD FOR AN HOUR THE WIPERS BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. I THOUGHT I HAD A DEFECT WIPER MOTOR AND STOP AT THE FIRST PARTS STORE TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR. AFTER INSTALLING THE "REBUILT" WIPER MOTOR, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEV. DEALER -CENTURY CHEV., BROOMFIELD, CO....THEY STATED THERE WERE NO "RECALLS" ON MY VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE.......WHICH IS TRUE BECAUSE THE NHTSA RECALL # 98V15001 COVERED ONLY GMC VEHICLES WITH VIN #[XXX] THRU [XXX]. SINCE MY VIN #[XXX] FALLS OUTSIDE THIS RANGE, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THE "WINDSHIELD WIPER PULSE CONTROL MODULE" MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY NOTIFY THE NHTSA THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED DEFECT 1) FALLS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF VIN # SPECIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 96V057000 AND THAT "DO-IT-YOURSELFERS" LIKE ME ARE RETURNING DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTOR WITH "WIPER PULSE CONTROL MOTORS"/MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARDS AND THEY ARE BEING "RECONDITIONED" WITHOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR CURCUIT BOARDS CAUSING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE TO OCCUR. THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS: 1) DETERMINE IF OTHER GM VEHICLE OWNERS LIKE MYSELF, THAT ARE BEYOND THE "VIN #[XXX] THRU [XXX]" , HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD" FAILURES AND 2) INSURE THAT ANY COMPANY THAT IS IN THE REBUILDING OF SAID DEFECTIVE WIPER MOTOR INCLUDE THE REPLACEMNT OF THE "CIRCUIT BOARDS" OR THE SAME PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10088178
Incident
Aug 2, 2004
Mileage
65,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 9, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10010179
Incident
Mar 4, 2003
Mileage
87,090 mi

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

000730022B

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

A NO REVERSE, NO SECOND GEAR, OR NO FOURTH GEAR CONDITION. *TT UPDATED *EH

00149D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH A P0300 SET AND A MISFIRE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 1996 - 1999 P32 MODELS. SIT BULLETIN 1416475. *TT

01349A

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

6.5L L49 L56 L57 L65 DIESEL ENGINE REQUIRING FUEL INJECTION PUMP REPLACEMENT. MODELS P32/P42 1994-1999 INCLUDED. *TT

000604003B

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ROUGH IDLE AFTER START, AND/OR A SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE 1995 CHEVROLET AND GMC S/T MODELS. *TT

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 C/K Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003402—
2002102—
2001102—
2000102—
1999413—
1998201—
1997310—
1996Viewing411—
1995211—
1994010—

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.