RoadVitals

1996 GMC Sierra 1500

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.
5
Latest Jul 17, 2011
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC Sierra 1500, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and electrical categories. 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

  • Brakes228.6%
  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Engine114.3%
  • Fuel system114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2011

I'M GOING TO LIST EVERY SAFETY DEFECT WITH MY 1996 GMC SIERRA SINCE I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2008. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT I HEARD A SWISHING SOUND IN THE HEATER CORE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST LOW ON ANTI FREEZE AND THAT MY REPAIR FACILITY COULD FIX THE AIR BAG; BUT AS IT TURNS OUT THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BAD AND I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET THE AIR BAG FIXED. THE SWISHING SOUND WAS CAUSED BY AIR IN THE COOLING SYSTEM DUE TO A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET; IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR 600.00 $. A BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT (YES I KNOW IT'S AN OLD TRUCK), THE FUEL LINES ARE RUSTING AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON, AND THE OIL COOLER LINES ARE LEAKING BECAUSE GM VEHICLES HAVE FLUID LINES THAT ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS TURN ON WHEN IT'S RAINING BECAUSE OF CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS IN THE CONTROL MODULE AND I REPLACED A HEATER/FAN MOTOR. I PULLED MY ABS FUSE AND DISABLED THE SYSTEM BECAUSE MY ABS WAS ACTIVATING ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE; A REAL DANGER IN PARKING LOTS WHERE A CHILD COULD RUN OUT IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK. I DON'T HAVE A GRAND TO REPLACE RUSTED HUBS AND SENSORS TO MAKE MY ABS WORK AGAIN. THE DRIVERS SIDE CAST METAL DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND I REPLACED IT MYSELF WITH A DEALER PART FOR 80.00$ ONE WOULD HATE TO BE IN A WRECK AND HAVE THE HANDLE FAIL WHEN THAT DOOR IS THE ONLY EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY! I'M ON MY THIRD FUEL PUMP AND FORTH FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT. MY TRUCK COULD STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC AT ANY TIME AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE OR CONFIDENT DRIVING IT; I FEEL IT'S A BAD DESIGN AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THE PUMP AND SENDING UNIT ARE IN THE FUEL TANK, WHICH IN AN INCONVENIENT LOCATION AT BEST. I CAN'T SPARE 500.00 OR 600.00 EVERY YEAR OR SO TO HAVE NEW COMPONENTS INSTALLED IN MY GAS TANK, IF YOU WANT TO BUY AN OLD GM OR CHEVY TRUCK'..YOU'VE BEEN FOREWARNED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10413240
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
147,657 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SIERRA 1500 WITH COOPER DISCOVERY H/T P325 75/R15 TIRES. THE DOT NUMBER FOR THE FRONT TIRES WAS 3DHL AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS UTHL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR COOPER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE TWO FRONT TIRES AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE FRONT TIRES THREE YEARS AGO AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FIVE YEARS AGO. THE TIRE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FRONT TIRES HAD 20000 MILES AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE HAD 30000 MILES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED.

NHTSA ID
10352673
Incident
Aug 28, 2010
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2008
Fire reported

VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR TWO WEEKS. RECEIVED CALL AT WORK THAT MY VEHICLE WAS BURNING. FIRE DEPT. EXTINGUISHED,NO CLUE OF WHAT STARTED IT. HAD ONLY LIABILITY COVERAGE. PURCHASED NEW 1ST EVER OWNED. VEHICLE IS STILL HERE HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221906
Incident
Oct 16, 2007
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE OR STOP THE VEHICLE THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED, AND THE VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THIS PROCEDURE COMPLETED BEFORE THE HARD COPY OF THE IVOQ ARRIVES AND WILL SUBMIT A COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10188689
Incident
Oct 5, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

I HAVE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH MY ABS IN THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK IN THE PAST YEAR. WELL MY TRUCK IS NOW OFF THE ROAD SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY MOTHERS TRUCK AND HERS IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING ITS MAKES LIKE A GRINDING NOISE IN THE FRONT WE TOOK OFF THE TIRES AND THE BRAKES WERE FINE WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE COULD BE WRONG AND THEN A FRIEND SAID ITS THE ABS SENSORS SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164616
Incident
Mar 6, 2005

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.

04-06-04-051F

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

PIE-0043

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CHEVROLET:GMC: ENGINEERING INFORMATION-FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR, DTCS P0446, P0451 OR P0454 SET. GMC ENGINEERING IS ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ABOVE CONCERN. *PE

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 Sierra 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026742051.7
2025931048.2
20243261356.2
20234283363.0
20225456365.8
20215337468.5
202044312369.7
201961910268.5
20182967055.5
20173515056.4
20163407159.1
20157139259.5
20147379257.8
20131153254.3
20121073255.7
20112845255.6
20101674255.6
20092344255.9
20083792357.7
20072613356.4
20061442047.5
20051773048.2
20042125047.9
20031804052.3
20021664261.9
20011405259.5
20001813258.8
19991584257.2
1998594053.3
1997835043.4
1996Viewing500
1995300
1994130029.4

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.