Total Complaints
90 filings
GMC Yukon · model year
1996 GMC Yukon
90 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 90
- Recalls
- 0
The verdict
The 1996 GMC Yukon posts below-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- Top 38%
- fewest complaints, own model years
- 0
- recall campaigns
The 1996 GMC Yukon carries 90 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 1 fire, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 Yukon is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 9 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (7) and air bags:frontal (4). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 Yukon. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
90
Complaints
10
Crashes
1
Fires
17
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1996 GMC Yukon
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
10 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 7 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20160913 SEATS
THE CABLE RELEASE FOR THE REAR SEATS FREEZE UP AND THE CABLES BREAK. THIS COULD TRAP SOMEONE IN THE BACK IF RIDING IN REAR, OR 3RD ROW SEATS. IF THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE AND A PERSON WHO CAN'T CLIMB FORWARD OVER THE SEATS, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN. I FEEL AS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON GENERAL MOTORS. MINE BROKE AND I AM UNABLE TO FOLD MY SEATS FORWARD. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN AND THE CABLES RUST AND SNAP WHEN BOTTOM OF SEAT IS FOLDED FORWARD, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO RELEASE THIS WAY.
Mileage: 240,000
20120222 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SOLD TO PEOPLE BY SCAMMING THEY OUT OF VEHICLE BEEN SOLD FOUR TIMES. *TR
Mileage: 85
20040805 Crash AIR BAGS
NAR 02/28/2003 MR HEAD ON DEAD CENTER, FRONTAL CRASH TO A TREE, 25-30MPH, HIGH IMPACT, NO AIR BAG INFLATED. *CB
Mileage: 76,000
20040630 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 68,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT OUT ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS ON ALOT OF THESE 5.7 LITER 350 ENGINES. REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 DOLLARS. CRAZY. *AK
Mileage: 68,000
20040616 VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
20040426 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
WHILE DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD ELECTRICAL SEAT DISCONNECTED AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 117,000
20030911 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. *AK
20030811 VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN A DOWN POUR OF RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO A SAFE STOP. *AK
Mileage: 75,000
20030711 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND PARK. *AK
Mileage: 94,380
20030528 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT
Mileage: 88,000
20030528 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT
Mileage: 88,000
20030528 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXTRACT A BOAT FROM THE WATER. *TT
20030401 Crash AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1996 GMC YUKON STRUCK TREE HEAD ON @ 30 MPH, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. VEHICLE WAS COLLISION FREE PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *JB
Mileage: 92,000
20020614 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER WAS CHECKING ALTERNATOR AND HE ACCIDENTLY TOUCHED HEATER HOSE NIPPLE THAT IS ATTACHED TO ENGINE MANIFOLD. NIPPLE IS MADE OF ALUMINIUM AND BROKE. WATER GUSHED OUT ALL OVER CONSUMER.*AK
20020207 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY WITH DEXCOOL COOLANT
20011101 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING CONSUMER CAN HEAR MOTOR STILL RUNNING. CURRENTLY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK AT ALL. *AK
20010723 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
INSIDE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, THE CARRIER PART # 12471391 COMPLETLY SHEARED FROM THE PUMPKIN. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE AXLE AND WHEEL IN PLACE WAS A C-CLAMP. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION OTHER THAN A PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHICH I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR PREVIOUSLY ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT FINALLY TOOK OUT THE FRONT BEARING AND STARTED TO MAKE A HOWLING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. I QUIT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. IF I HAD NOT QUIT DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TIRE AND AXLE WOULD OF COMPLETELY WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND COULD OF CAUSED GREAT HARM TO ME AND MY FAMILY. THE MANUFACTOR WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART AT FIRST. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE CARRIER WAS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE MANUFACTOR DUE TO A BAD CASTING. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST 85 DAYS OUTSIDE AN EXTENDED WARRENTY PURCHASED WITH THE TRUCK. THE DEALER DID BUY A NEW CARRIER AND HAD IT INSTALLED AT A 50/50 COST ON THE LABOR. I H
20010712 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH REAR AXLE DISATTACHED FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT CAUSE WAS SOME BUBBLES ON AXLE.*AK *SLC
20010427 Crash SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRYING TO COME TO A STOP FROM 55 MPH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED BRAKES. SLOWED DOWN TO 30-35 MPH AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. NO BRAKING ACTION AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. $ 5100 DAMAGE. *AK SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE DRIVER BRUISED HIS CHEST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIREED AND THE BELTS, AIR BAG AND BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN CHECKED. *YH
20010427 Crash AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRYING TO COME TO A STOP FROM 55 MPH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED BRAKES. SLOWED DOWN TO 30-35 MPH AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. NO BRAKING ACTION AND VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. $ 5100 DAMAGE. *AK SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE DRIVER BRUISED HIS CHEST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIREED AND THE BELTS, AIR BAG AND BRAKE SYSTEM HAD BEEN CHECKED. *YH
Compare 1996 GMC Yukon to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 GMC Yukon have?▼
The 1996 GMC Yukon has 90 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 1 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC Yukon?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC Yukon is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1996 GMC Yukon 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.
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 GMC Yukon; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.