IllustrationWINDSHILED WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY.*AK *YH
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra years →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: 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
Visibility complaints
84 reportsNHTSA RECALL 98 V 150 001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98043 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING; WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
98 V 150 001/WINDSHIED WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR STOP DURING OPERATION. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING, RESULTING IN POOR VISABILITY FOR CONSUMER WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL 98V150001 DUE TO VIN. *AK
MY TRUCK HAS THEWINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED ON. GM CLAIMS THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS TOO HIGH AND MY TRUCK IS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS TO ANYONES EYES IT IS. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 98043 OR NHTSA # 98V150001. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY WIPERS BEING INTERMITTENT AND CONTINUOUSLY GETTING WOR…
Read full complaint
MY TRUCK HAS THEWINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN ORDERED ON. GM CLAIMS THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS TOO HIGH AND MY TRUCK IS NOT AFFECTED EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS TO ANYONES EYES IT IS. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 98043 OR NHTSA # 98V150001. I HAVE BEEN NOTICING MY WIPERS BEING INTERMITTENT AND CONTINUOUSLY GETTING WORSE. GM REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. I TRIED CONTACTING ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO NO AVAIL. I MADE A CASE TO THEM TO WHICH THE CUSTOMER NO SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT GM WOULD LOOK INTO IT IF THEY SAW ALOT OF COMPLAINTS COME IN. ITS OBVIOUS THAT THEIR RECALL DID NOT COVER ALL THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BECAUSE I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. I AM HOPING THAT SOMEONE CAN SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM SHOULD STAND UP TO AND FIX. I WELCOME A RESPONSE PLEASE. THANK YOU.*AK
RECALL 98V150001/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER DUE TO VIN.*AK. CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL PERIODICALLY STOP, AND MUST BE REMOVED MANUALLY, THEN IT WILL WORK.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENLY WORK, CUTTING OFF FROM TIME TO TIME. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*JB
WINSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY QUIT, WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AND ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE WAS RECALL 98V150001 FOR SAME PROBLEM THAT CONSUMER WAS HAVING. BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
298V150001 · 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
3EA02006 · 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.