RoadVitals

1996 GMC C1500

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.
15
Latest Mar 23, 2005
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.
2
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC C1500, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and interior & seats categories. 5 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

  • Brakes417.4%
  • Visibility417.4%
  • Interior & seats313.0%
  • Airbags28.7%
  • Body & structure28.7%
  • Fuel system14.3%
  • Other / unspecified14.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.3%

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

Fuel system
Filed Mar 23, 2005

ENGINE WOULD NOT START ON OCCASION FUEL PUMP NOT RUNNING TRUCK TAKEN TO GARAGE TO HAVE CHECKED FOR PROBLEM FOUND WIRES INSIDE OF FUEL TUEL TANK TO HAVE INSULATION AND PLUGIN MELTED EXPOSING BARE WIRES MAKING CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10114517
Incident
Mar 15, 2005
Brakes
Filed May 15, 2003

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 1996 GMC SIERRA C1500 PICKUP HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 29,000 AND 49,000 MILES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE SHOWN ONLY MODERATE WEAR I FEEL THAT THIS INDICATES A SEVERE IMBALANCE IN THE BRAKING BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. ALSO, THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DO TO SEVERE RUST. THIS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO DELAMINATE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A QUALITY ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10018767
Incident
May 15, 2003
Mileage
29,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 13, 2002

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE BEING USED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM CONSUMER HEARED A BUZZING NOISE WHEN TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. CONTACT MANUFACTURER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF VIN. #. *YH

NHTSA ID
8018624
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 21, 2001

INSPECTION OF RECEIVER PLATFORM BY DOT FOUND TWO LARGE CRACKS IN RECEIVER.

NHTSA ID
561729
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 1999
Crash reported4 injuries reported

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH, AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ID
851370
Incident
Sep 20, 1999
Visibility
Filed Mar 31, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID
836332
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+5 more
Filed Mar 19, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID
544497
Brakes
Filed Jun 1, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT BRAKES ARE VERY HARD WHEN PEDAL IS PRESSED. THERE ARE A FEW SECOND DELAYS BEFORE THE VEHCILE COMES TO A STOP. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
823836
Incident
May 15, 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

020864016

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON FRONT DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHING WEAR, FRONT DOOR SAG, OR DOOR CHUCKING MOVEMENT IN EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT

010730021

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT

666309

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ENGINE HARD TO START (REPLACE FUEL PUMP PULSATOR). *TW

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 C1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996Viewing150037.2
1995320146.9
1994250135.4
1993211043.9
1992171044.4
1991512
1990721
1989421
1988612
1987001
1986011
1985111
1984011
1983011
1982011
1981021
1980011
1979011
1978011
1977011
1976011
1975011
1974031
1973011
1972001
1971001
1970011

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.