GMC SIERRA · model year

1996 GMC SIERRA

310 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996GMCSIERRA carries 310 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 8 fires, 14 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 SIERRA is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 52 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (29) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (25). 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 SIERRA. 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.

310
Complaints
20
Crashes
8
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

310 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR52
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP25
SEATS16
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS6
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP4

Recent Complaints

20200531VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN AND I REACHED SPEEDS OF ALMOST 100 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC

Mileage: 150,100

20060203SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

Mileage: 79,800

20050708POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Mileage: 108,748

20050603VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

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

20050519STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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

20050129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 45,000

20041205VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

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

Mileage: 80,000

20041021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

Mileage: 149,586

20040812VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM. *JB

Mileage: 82,000

20040730VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

RECALL CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD IN 1996 GMC SIERRA.*MR *CB

20040712SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

COMPLAINT RUSTED BRAKE LINES TO REAR BRAKES IN BEHIND FUEL TANK. *LA

Mileage: 60,000

20040616VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

Mileage: 130,000

20040603FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 160,000

20040525CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TRAVELING ON DRY PAVEMENT AT ~ 30 MPH, SUDDEN STOP DUE TO TRAFFIC. BRAKE PEDAL INITIALLY HAD GOOD BRAKE THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALL BRAKE LOST, COLLIDED INTO VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AND PUSHED THEM INTO VEHICLE AHEAD OF THEM. VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO COLLISION, RESTARTED TRUCK AND ALL BRAKE OPERATION APPEARED TO BE GOOD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SUPPORT FILED COMPLAINT, DEALER INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE OF ABS OR OTHER COMPONENTS. GM FIELD TECH WENT TO DEALER INSPECTION REPORT FOUND NO REASON FOR FAILURE COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. GM DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR SUGGESTIONS FOR REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 114,359

20040524TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

Mileage: 39,000

20040514CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

Mileage: 138,104

20040405VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

INOPERATIVE WIPERS, OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

Mileage: 72,000

20040129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

"REFER TO PRIOR COMPLAINT- ID VQ-528687-YN-PDF" WHEN A WHEEL SKIDS A VERY,VERY,VERY SHORT DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING, ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE BUT LOCKS OUT CONVENTIONAL BRAKING! NO BRAKES, NO STOP. WHEN TOWING A 7000+ POUND LOAD IT GIVES YOU A VERY NEGATIVE THRILL. NO FIX FROM DEALER OR GMC, TRIED MANY, MANY TIMES. REMOVED 60 AMP ABS FUSE! TRUCK STOPS BUT IT IS NOT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK 116000 MILES, 40000 WITH THE FUSE REMOVED. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OTHER THAN JUNKING IT, REPLACING THE FUSE AND KILLING MYSELF AND OTHERS, ETC. PLEASE ADVISE. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE ABS PROBLEM ON 1995 AND EARLIER TRUCKS THAT PROMPTED A (MFG?) RECALL BUT GMC DENIES IT. AT THAT TIME I SPOKE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WAS INVESTIGATING THE ABS PROBLEM. EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD GIVE HIM THE BEST CHANCE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS COMPUTER HAD A PROGRAMMING PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE GMC DEVE

Mileage: 18,000

20040116VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE WIPER CIRCUIT.*MR GMC INITIALLY DENIED REQUEST TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER THEN REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF. AFTERWARDS, HE SOUGHT REIMBURSEMENT. SINCE THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PROVIDE THE RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACED PART, GMC WOULDN'T REIMBURSE HIM THE $161.00 DOLLARS. *PH

20040114STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER INDICATED CALL NHTSA.*AK

Mileage: 62,000

Compare 1996GMCSIERRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 GMC SIERRA have?
The 1996 GMC SIERRA has 310 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 8 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC SIERRA?
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC SIERRA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 52 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 GMC SIERRA 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.