RoadVitals

1996 GMC C35

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 15, 1998
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.
6
Latest Mar 7, 1997
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 C35, most frequently naming the brakes, interior & seats and tires & wheels categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
97V037000

SEATS

Mar 7, 1997
624,433 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
The risk: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
96V117000

TIRES:BEAD

Jul 1, 1996
5,773 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE TIRES HAVE BEAD DAMAGE WHICH OCCURED DURING TIRE MOUNTING.
The risk: THIS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE REINFORCING STRUCTURE IN THE BEAD "TOE" AREA CAUSES A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER THE TIRE IS INFLATED. THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN A SLOW AIR LOSS CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO RESULT IN A RAPID AIR LOSS CAUSING INJURIES TO ANYONE IF THEY WERE HANDLING THE TIRE WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL DEMOUNT EACH TIRE AND INSPECT FOR BEAD DAMAGE. IF BEAD DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
96V082000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE

May 7, 1996
16,918 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FOUR U-BOLTS NUTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE WERE UNDER-TORQUED.
The risk: VEHICLE USAGE COULD CAUSE THE NUTS TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY FALL OFF THE U-BOLT. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE AND RE-TORQUE ANY LOOSE U-BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Jan 15, 1998

DURING ANY SPEED ON WET ROADS WITH HEAVY LOADS THE BRAKES WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED THEY WILL INSTANTLY ENGAGE AND THEN DISENGAGE. THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE REAPPLIED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
820671
Incident
May 1, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 29, 1996

THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR HIS RECALL LETTER REGARDING INTERIOR SEATS. *AK

NHTSA ID
800139
Incident
Jul 29, 1996
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 18, 1996

RECALL 96V117000, TWO WEEKS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR TIRE TO COME IN. *AK

NHTSA ID
987027

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 C35 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996Viewing360—
1995081—
1994291—
1993021—
1992011—
1991011—
1990021—
1989011—
1988121—
1987001—
1986031—
1985131—
1984030—
1978020—
1973010—
1972010—

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.