RoadVitals

1996 GMC Pickup

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.
19
Latest Oct 6, 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.
2
Latest Aug 11, 2008
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

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC Pickup, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and interior & seats categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

  • Brakes418.2%
  • Visibility418.2%
  • Interior & seats313.6%
  • Driver assistance313.6%
  • Electrical29.1%
  • Transmission29.1%
  • Suspension14.5%
  • Tires & wheels14.5%

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

2 campaigns 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
08E050000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 11, 2008
1,921 units potentially affected
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
K2 MOTOR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
06E040000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 15, 2006
1,648 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN E SPEED RACING COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: E SPEED RACING WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT E SPEED RACING 909-923-3636.
E SPEED RACINGView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 19
Visibility
Filed Oct 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10089827
Incident
Aug 26, 2004
Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2004

THE MASTER BAKE CYLINDER RUSTED. THE PROBLEM CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE I NFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10091456
Incident
Aug 16, 2004
Mileage
65,016 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 23, 2004

CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS ON RECALL ON VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *LA *JB

NHTSA ID
10060939
Transmission
Filed Mar 7, 2002

THIS IS MY SECOND ATTEMPT AT GETTING HELP OR GETTING THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED. PLEASE SEE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM FOR NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. NO SAFETY DEFECTS LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
759064
Incident
Jul 15, 2001
Visibility
Filed Aug 23, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF AT WILL.*AK

NHTSA ID
895088
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Aug 23, 2001

TALKED WITH GM CUSTOMER CARE ABOUT RCALL #98043 EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING. SAID MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH SAME PROBLEM APPEARS IN MY VEHICLE. SAFETY ISSUE AS WIPERS ARE INTERMITTENT DURING USE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE ISSUE OR PROVIDE GM DISTRICT MANAGER NAMES OR PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ESCALATION ON THIS ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID
751008
Incident
Aug 23, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 26, 2001

DEFECTIVE BRAKE HOSE COLLAPSED, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO LOCK UP AND WEAR OUT. GMC HAS A REDISIGNED BRAKE HOSE WHICH DEALER REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. *AK BRAKES WERE GRINDING, SCREECHING AND CHATTERING. R/FRONT CALLPER LOCED UP. *YH

NHTSA ID
879092
Incident
Dec 26, 2000
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 6, 2000

WIRE FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BROKEN AT TERMINAL BLOCK IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. OTHER WIRES DAMAGED, NOT YET BROKEN. TILTING OF STEERING WHEEL CAUSES WIRE BUNDLE TO FLEX, AND WEAR OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857945
Incident
Feb 5, 2000

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

020090002

POWER TRAIN

SUBJECT REGARDING LUBRICATION OF PROPELLER SHAFT DOUBLE CARDAN CV TYPE U-JOINT CENTERING BALL AND SEAT.*NLM

3276

POWER TRAIN

4L80E OUTPUT CARRIER THRUST WASHER CHANGES. *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 Pickup by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002500—
2001500—
2000120033.8
1999231043.2
1998142044.6
1997222039.0
1996Viewing192047.3
1995322049.2
1994232049.8
1993130131.1
1992100130.8
1991601—
1990800—
1989400—
1988500—
1987400—
1986300—
1985300—
1981100—
1979000—
1978100—
1977000—
1976000—
1975100—
1974000—
1973000—

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.