RoadVitals

1996 GMC Suburban Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Mar 22, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 172 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 GMC Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Mar 22, 2004

WE HAVE REPLACED OUR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TWICE SINCE OWNING OUR 96 GMC SUBURBAN. WE HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 1998.*AK

NHTSA ID
10063605
Incident
Mar 12, 2002
Mileage
78,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 6, 2004

SERIES OF EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN MY 1996 GMC SUBURBAN WHICH FAILED AFTER ONLY 75,000 MILES - 25,000 MILES BEFORE THE GM RECOMMENDED SERVICE. GM HAS CHOSEN NOT TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GM TRANSMISSIONS. 12/31/2003 08:37 AM MICHELLE, I HAD THE LOCAL DEALER INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION LAST WEEK. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHY THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. HE NOTED THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED AND TRASH AND DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE FLUID. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THEY, THE GM DEALER, RECOMMEND SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 50,000 MILES. I FOLLOW THE SHORT-TRIP SERVICE SCHEDULE EVEN THOUGH MY TRUCK IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT USED EXCESSIVELY TO AVOID PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ACCORDING TO THE GM OWNERS MANUAL, THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED SERVICING FOR ANOTHER 25,000 MILES. I FOLLOW AND EXCEED YOUR SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS. I NOW HAVE A FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED MORE FREQUENT SERVICE. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND. -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [email protected] SENT: 12/23/03 10:08:53 AM TO: [email protected] SUBJECT: RE: 1-172307605 I HAD A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH JOE. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH HIS BEST EFFORTS, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SECURE ANY ASSISTANCE. I UNDERSTAND THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND - AFTER SPEAKING WITH MULTIPLE AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING SEVERAL GM SERVICE AND PARTS ASSOCIATES - IS WHY THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH GM TRUCKS. I CAN ALSO SPEAK FROM MY SISTER'S PERSONAL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT IN HER 2002 Z71TAHOE. IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN USED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES, HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, OR HAD OVER 150,000 MILES - I COULD UNDERSTAND THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. AGAIN, THIS TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 75,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND HAS BEEN USED FOR FAMILY TRAVEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052481
Incident
Dec 17, 2003
Mileage
74,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 23, 2002
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL FROM PARK WITHOUT VEHICLE RUNNING AND WITHOUT BRAKES PUSHED ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITH DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPEN INTO A POLE CAUSING DOOR TO BE DAMAGED. *AK

NHTSA ID
764651
Incident
Jul 22, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 14, 2000

TRANSFER CASE SNAP RING FAILED SECOND TIME IN 89,000 MILES. MAKES GRINDING SOUND FROM STOP AS GEARS CLASH. CAN AVOID MAJOR DAMAGE IF ACCELERATE VERY SLOWLY. SNAP RING IS A $2 PART. LABOR IS ABOUT $150 TO REPLACE SNAP RING. $700 TO REPAIR TRANSFER CASE IF INTERNAL DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
725437
Incident
Jul 14, 2000
Transmission
Filed Aug 20, 1999

DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED. *ML

NHTSA ID
843444
Incident
Dec 31, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
534598
Incident
Apr 16, 1998
Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
605186
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
Transmission
Filed Apr 10, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA ID
603048
Incident
Aug 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .