1996 GMC Sierra 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 Sierra, 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
- Visibility8429.5%
- Brakes4716.5%
- Interior & seats238.1%
- Transmission207.0%
- Fuel system196.7%
- Airbags165.6%
- Engine144.9%
- Exterior lighting124.2%
- Driver assistance124.2%
- Seat belts62.1%
- Electrical62.1%
- Powertrain (other)62.1%
- Steering51.8%
- Suspension41.4%
- Tires & wheels41.4%
- Body & structure31.1%
- Other / unspecified20.7%
- Heating & air conditioning20.7%
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY THEY HAVE A STRANGE PATTERN TO THEM. THEY QUIT, AND HAD A HUMMING NOISE FROM THE WIPER MOTOR.*AK HAD WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL PERFORMED. MOTOR AND CIRCUIT BOARD WERE REPLACED. REPAIRS AT GMC DEALERSHIP ON 6/13/05. *TT *NM
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK INTERMITEDLY AND I FOUND THE RECAL FOR IT ON THIS SITE. 996 GMC SIERRA PICKUP..THE DEALORSHIP IS SAYING EVEN THOUGH MY WIPERS ARE BROKEN THEY CANNOT REPAIR FOR FREE BECAUSE MY PARTICULAR VIN # ISN'T ON THE LIST. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS AND THERE WERE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ALTHOUGH THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
THE BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE GAS TANK RUSTED AND FAILED WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING OF THIS AND AS IT WAS ABOVE THE GAS TANK, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTICED. THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE DROPPED AND THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED. THANK GOODNESS THE VEHICLE STOPPED BEFORE REARENDING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND THANK GOODNESS MY ONE YEAR OLD WASN'T IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. OLD PART HAS BEEN RETAINED. REPAIR COST WAS $458.21.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK BOLT BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. *NM THE BOLTS ATTACHED THE SEAT BACK TO THE SEAT FRAME BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY BACK AND NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. *SC *JB
WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME FRACTURED AT THE LEFT FORWARD ATTACH POINT. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO ROCK AND POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE REMAINING THREE FASTENERS TO BECOME OVERLOADED AND FAIL. FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL SEAT ATTACHMENT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TOWING TRAILER WITH 2 QUADS (4 WHEELERS) ON EXPRESSWAY WITH A GROUP OF CO-WORKERS, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN MY TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR. IT MADE A LOUD "REVING" NOISE AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECREASING IN SPEED. I PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. I THEN GRADUALLY ACCELERATED AND SHIFTED MANUALLY, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACHEIVE 1ST GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 150 MILES TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT STILL SITS THREE MONTHS LATER WITH ONLY REVERSE AND 1ST GEAR OPERABLE AT THIS TIME.
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEM IN FUEL SYSTEM (LIKELY THE FUEL PUMP OR RELATED COMPONENT) IN 1996 GMC SIERRA WITH 6.5 L DIESEL . CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. HAPPENED WHILE PULLING TRAVEL TRAILER ON TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES. NO ENGINE CODE DISPLAYED DURING EVENT SO DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX PROBLEM WITHOUT CODE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNT UP AND THE WIRING BOOT HAD ALSO BURNT UP. THE TECHNICIAN IMPLIED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT A FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED IN THREE YEARS. *LA
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING ALONG HWY 71 EAST, FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN MY STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY BECAUSE I WAS ASLEEP DID I AVOID SERIOUS INJURY AND ALSO I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME.*K
THE VEHICLE WAS IN FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SCC *JB
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE FROM VICINITY OF UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. CHRONIC PROBLEM. OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS SET FOR 3-5 HOURS AFTER RUNNING. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LEAKING INTO CRANKCASE. HAD SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTED. TOLD TO MONITOR TO SEE IF IT IS GETTING INTO OIL. LEAKS ABOUT 1-2 TABLESPOONS PER SHUT DOWN. ENOUGH TO BE NOTICEABLE
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLAMP LIGHT SWITCH WORKS ON AND OFF, MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *AK THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE UNIT REQUIRED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN AND I REACHED SPEEDS OF ALMOST 100 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC
ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 15,2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 GMC SIERRA 2500 DEISEL PICKUP TRUCK HOME. WHILE DRIVING UP A LONG, STEEP GRADE THE GAS PEDAL STUCK DOWN AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. MY HUSBAND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL RELEASED WITH A POPPING SOUND. THE TRUCK WILL STILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. *AK
THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE REAR SEAT BELT, WHICH CONTAINED A TWIST. *JB *TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER SAYS THE REMOTE CONTROL MIRRORS ON THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH HIS VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE THE 1997 AND THAT VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT BEING RECALLED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
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
RATCHETING OR GRINDING NOISE UNDER MED ACCELLERATION SOMETIMES ON RIGHT TURNS.POSSIBLE PINION GEAR BEARING.??*AK
C1500 DIFFERENTIAL OVER HEATED & FAILED WHILE TOWING A 5,000 LB RV. 2ND DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 100 MILES OF REPLACING THE 1ST DIFFERENTIAL.
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
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER INDICATED CALL NHTSA.*AK
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WENT TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURN, AND REAR END SHIFTED AND VEHICLE STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES. TRANSMISIION STARTED SLIPPING, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO SHIFT AT ALL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE TIRE CHANGED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SIZE P18575R/14 DOT V94J7591179. *AK
BRIDGESTONE, DUELER AT, DOT NUMBER EJFUCFNO88, TIRE SIZE 33X12.50 R15, TIRES WERE REPLACEMENTS. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND COMPLETELY SHREDDED PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE DEFLATED WHILE DRIVING.CONSUMER STATED STEEL BELTS WERE SHOWING BETWEEN TREAD, AND THERE WAS SOME CRACKING.*AK *SLC
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
1996 GMC SIERRA LOST ITS CABLES AS WELL AS THE REMAINING PARTS HOLDING THE TAILGATE IS RUSTING AND THE CATCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT POP OPEN AUTOMATICALLY.*MR....REMAINING PARTS HOLDING TAILGATE ARE RUSTING. ALSO, CATCH ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOESN'T POP OPEN AUTOMATICALLY. WARRANTY EXPIRED WITHIN TRHEE YERAS OF PURCHASE. *AK
THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM
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
FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH BROKE WHILE PULLING TRAILER IN THE DRIVE WAY. NO INJURIES.*AK *YD
THE SCISSOR JACK PROVIDED WITH THE DIESEL TRUCK WILL NOT RAISE THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY. THE METAL WILL TWIST AND BREAK AND THE JACK WILL FAIL. NLM
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
NO SUMMARY
THE AIR CONDITIONING INPUT VALVE FAILED. *AK
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 .