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1996 GMC K2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

8 reports
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199,960 miles · Aug 9, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES ON MY 1996 K2500 SUBURBAN ACTIVATE AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10199008

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDED WARPED ROTORS, BRAKES THAT LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE FIRST APPLIED UPON START UP AND LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE, EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE NOT AN ISSUE FOR T…

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THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDED WARPED ROTORS, BRAKES THAT LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE FIRST APPLIED UPON START UP AND LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER. WHEN I BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE, EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE. "TOUGH LUCK FOR THE VEHICLE OWNER -- THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY ARE" IS WHAT ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME. UPON VIEWING THE NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WEB PAGE, IT APPEARS THAT THE BREAKS ARE AN ISSUE FOR MY TRUCK AND THE ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR FIXED. AT THIS TIME, I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF WARPED ROTORS AND BRAKES THAT LOCK UP FOR THE FIRST FEW STOPS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. AT THIS POINT IN TIME MY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, BUT WHEN I FIRST BEGAN SEEKING HELP FOR THE BRAKE PROBLEMS IN MY TRUCK, THE WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE?

NHTSA ODI #704656

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE WET THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO BECOME AGGRESSIVE, WHICH CAUSES THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827558

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT/RIGHT UPON BRAKING. DIRECTION IS NOT PREDICTABLE PRIOR TO BRAKING. IN ADDITION, REPLACED FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS/PADS/ROTORS AND HOSES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #522975

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SPABS BRAKES FAIL TO RESPOND TO PEAL APPLICATION, ALLOWING TRUCK TO ROLL THROUGH INTERSECTION. IN ADDITION, WHEN APPLYINGBRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819388

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES HARD TO ENGAGE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI #524669

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVisibility

BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE DUE TO LEAKING VACUUM BOOSTER.

NHTSA ODI #523670

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN COMING TO STOP, BRAKING AND HITTING BUMP IN ROAD, EXPERIENCED ABS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN BRAKE ACTION SEEMED INEFFECTIVE IN STOPPING, RENDERING INOPERATIVE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #803089

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.