1996 GMC C1500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 GMC C1500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes417.4%
- Visibility417.4%
- Interior & seats313.0%
- Airbags28.7%
- Body & structure28.7%
- Fuel system14.3%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Heating & air conditioning14.3%
- Seat belts14.3%
- Steering14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Driver assistance14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, IMPACT ABOUT 40 TO 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S NECK AND BACK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, IMPACT ABOUT 40 TO 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S NECK AND BACK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSPECTION OF RECEIVER PLATFORM BY DOT FOUND TWO LARGE CRACKS IN RECEIVER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHEN GOING ON BUMPY/ROUGH RAOD SURFACE. *AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT HAS TWO ROUND PENDLUMS HANGING DOWN THAT SWING IN ALL DIRECTIONS SO IF CONSUMER'S BODY PUTS ANY KIND OF PRESSURE AGAINST THE SEAT BELT WHILE THE PENDLUMS ARE SWINGING IT LOCKS UP, CONSUMER HAS TO LEAN BACK 2 INCHES FOR IT TO UNLOCK.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .