GMC 1500 · model year

1996 GMC 1500

29 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996GMC1500 carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 1500 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 4 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

29
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

29 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
AIR BAGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
STEERING1

Recent Complaints

20050908SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY FOR SOME TIME AND THEN AT OR AROUND 2/14/2005 I BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AT SLOW SPEED STOPPING THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE AND OVER RIDE THE NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSING MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. IT CAUSED AT LEAST 10 NEAR COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND SEVERAL TIMES I SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID CONTACT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I DISABLED THE ABS SYSTEM BY REMOVING THE ABS FUSE, THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY A LOCAL TIRE AND REPAIR SHOP. *JB

Mileage: 72,000

20050516STEERING

DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE "AS IS", AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE RADIATOR BLEW. THE GARAGE THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL APART. THE STEERING WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REAR END MADE A HUMMING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HE SAID THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE SELLER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS. *TT

Mileage: 77,781

20050516AIR BAGS

DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE "AS IS", AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE RADIATOR BLEW. THE GARAGE THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL APART. THE STEERING WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REAR END MADE A HUMMING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HE SAID THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE SELLER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS. *TT

Mileage: 77,781

20050516SUSPENSION

DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE "AS IS", AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE RADIATOR BLEW. THE GARAGE THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL APART. THE STEERING WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REAR END MADE A HUMMING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HE SAID THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE SELLER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS. *TT

Mileage: 77,781

20050516ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE "AS IS", AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE RADIATOR BLEW. THE GARAGE THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL APART. THE STEERING WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REAR END MADE A HUMMING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HE SAID THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE SELLER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS. *TT

Mileage: 77,781

20050314CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

20040930VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM REPAIRED. HE THEN SHOWED THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. HE WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. CONSUMER FELT SINCE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING DURING RAINY TIMES IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT ON THE CONTROL BOARD. CONSUMER INSISTED ON BEING REIMBURSED. *AK

20040825ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WANDERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER SENSOR SWITCH , AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040825VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WANDERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER SENSOR SWITCH , AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040805POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSON FAILED. *AK

20030910SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

20030712ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING CONNECTOR ON TILT WHEEL WILL WEAR CAUSING LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. REPAIR ONCE BUT PROBLEM IS BACK COULD CAUSE FIRE. 1996 GMC PICKUP EXTENDED CAB. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

20030514VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY. *JB

20030408VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

20030110VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

GMC SIERRA TRUCK WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES. WILL STOP FOR NO REASON OR WILL NOT STOP AT ALL. NO WASHER WORKING. GMC GAVE RECALL #98043 AND SERVICE REQUEST #1-55077659. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX, SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL. DRIVING AS-IS FOR NOW. GMC WILL NOT RESPOND. MODEL YEAR 1996

Mileage: 50,195

20021210SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 30MPH THE ABS FAILED CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. TS

20021205FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE SENDING UNIT SHORTAGE OUT WITH 15 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAIN IN THE TANK WHILE DRIVING ALSO CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

20021108VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS STARTED OUT WORKING AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. CONSUMER STATES' FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

20020806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED, THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORTED WIRE TO THE ELECTRICAL IN-TANK FUEL PUMP WHICH BURNED THE PLASTIC HOLDER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. NLM

20010816VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

MY VEHICLE VIN EXCLUDED IT FROM SAFETY RECALL TSB 98043. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WAS EXACTLY THE SAME FAULT AS IDENTIFY IN TSB 98043. THE REPAIR WAS THE SAME. I BELIEVE A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK AT THE FACTORY. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF SAFETY RECALL WAS TOO NARROW AS MY AND OTHER VEHICLES YET IDENTIFIED HAVE DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. HAVING YOUR WINDSHILD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A THUNDERSTORM IS STRESSFUL AND COULD BE DEADLY.*AK

Compare 1996GMC1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 GMC 1500 have?
The 1996 GMC 1500 has 29 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC 1500?
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC 1500 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 GMC 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.