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1996 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra years

Owner complaints for the 1996 GMC Sierra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 26 of 246 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

24 reports
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108,748 miles · Jul 8, 2005
Power Train

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 GRA…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10127894

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567316

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Power Train

VEHICLE JERKS AND VIOLENTLY VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING UP AND DOWN, INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEEDS. ALSO, NOTICED GREASY SPOTS FROM FLUID LEAKING. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS SENT FOR REPAIRS PROBLEM WAS NEVER DONE. IT WAS TAKEN TAKING BACK A SECOND TIME. DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT IT LEAKED WHILE IT WAS STILL …

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VEHICLE JERKS AND VIOLENTLY VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING UP AND DOWN, INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEEDS. ALSO, NOTICED GREASY SPOTS FROM FLUID LEAKING. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS SENT FOR REPAIRS PROBLEM WAS NEVER DONE. IT WAS TAKEN TAKING BACK A SECOND TIME. DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT IT LEAKED WHILE IT WAS STILL UP ON THE LIFT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011727

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2002
Power Train

HARD SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS, LOST OVERDRIVE & REVERSE -- SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM!*AK

NHTSA ODI #757117

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2001
Power Train

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF OVERDRIVE TO NEXT GEAR. THEN, AFTER STOPPING AND REACCELERATION VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE A HARD SHIFTING INTO GEAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #6900667

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE TRANMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 43429 MILES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIAL WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #563677

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751105

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

AT 42,000 MILES TRUCK NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AT 66,151 MILES TRUCK NEEDED A NEW MOTOR.

NHTSA ODI #9003701

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Power Train

WHEN RETURNING FROM A TRIP THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WHEN ENGAGING OVERDIRVE..OVER THE NEXT 150 TO 200 MILES IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND NOW OVERDIRVE AND 3RD GEAR ARE ENTIRELY GONE AND THE ENGINE JUST FREELY REVS..ONLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ARE USABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750403

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Power Train

RATCHETING OR GRINDING NOISE UNDER MED ACCELLERATION SOMETIMES ON RIGHT TURNS.POSSIBLE PINION GEAR BEARING.??*AK

NHTSA ODI #746667

Official recalls

2

98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jul 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 4, 1996

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.

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

3

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

EA00024 · Headlight

Opened Sep 26, 2000 · Closed Dec 21, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

No summary supplied.

PE00017 · Headlight

Opened Apr 11, 2000 · Closed Sep 26, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, RESULTING IN THE UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE HIGH RATE OF WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR PROBLEMS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WITH THE RECOGNITION THE EACH INCIDENT OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE REPRESENTS A CONDITION OF VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER'S EVALUATION OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, AND THIS OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN THE DETAILS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT.