Total Complaints
2 filings
GMC TOPKICK · model year
1996 GMC TOPKICK
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996GMCTOPKICK carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 TOPKICK is steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm with 1 filings, followed by tires (1). 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 TOPKICK. 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140610TIRES
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.
Mileage: 10,000
19990310STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
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.
Compare 1996GMCTOPKICK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 GMC TOPKICK have?▼
The 1996 GMC TOPKICK has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC TOPKICK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC TOPKICK is STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES.
Is the 1996 GMC TOPKICK 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.