RoadVitals

1996 GMC Topkick

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.
2
Latest Jun 10, 2014
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.
1
Latest Jul 1, 1996
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 GMC Topkick, most frequently naming the steering and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Steering150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

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

1 campaign 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
96V120000

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

Jul 1, 1996
456 units potentially affected
The defect: THE AUTO-APPLY PARK BRAKE (MANUAL OR AUTO APPLICATION) DOES NOT ALWAYS APPLY. IF THE PARK BRAKE DOES NOT APPLY, THE "SERVICE PARK BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE.
The risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT NOTICE THE WARNING LIGHT AND EXITS THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE SOLENOID VALVE WITH ONE HAVING A 12 VOLT COIL AND THE ORIGINAL VALVE SPRING.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 GMC TOPKICK N/A EQUIPPED WITH GEO TIRE LINE G300, SIZE 11R22.5, SERIAL NUMBER 10408B02016, DOT QUBETCI1411. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL WORE PREMATURELY THE SIDE WALL WAS FOUND SPLIT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10597354
Incident
May 20, 2014
Mileage
10,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 10, 1999

THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENNED TO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN MY FLEET THAT WAS COVERED UNDER THE 2 YR/200,000 MILE WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TRUCK ISNT DRIVEN AS HARD AND HAS EXCEEDED THE TIME LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE MILEAGE IS COMPARABLE WITH THE OTHER FAILURE. I WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE OTHER OCCURRENCES SIMILAR TO MINE.

NHTSA ID
704236
Incident
Mar 10, 1999

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

667302

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH SLIPPING/HIGH PEDAL EFFORT (INSTALL CLUTCH KIT). *TW

666307

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

DIESEL ENGINE - ENGINE LOW POWER IN COLD WEATHER (REPLACE PRIMARY FUEL FILTER). *TW

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 Topkick by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000—
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009010—
2008010—
2007250—
2006040—
2005130—
2004550—
2003040—
2002000—
2001000—
2000000—
1999100—
1996Viewing210—
1995210—
1994100—
1993120—
1992000—
1991000—
1990000—

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.