IllustrationCONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE WITH HIGHWAY SPEED IMPACT, AND DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. GMC INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY CONSUMER OF THE RESULT OF INSPECTION. *AK *ML
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
What owners actually said
246 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WNEH THEY ARE NEEDED DURING A RAIN STORM THE Y WILL NOT OPERATE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
I CONTACTED NHTSA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I WAS INFORMED THAT GM HAD A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT RAILS IN THEIR VARIOUS VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS MANY-MANY VEHICLES TO INSPECT. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING MY GM DEALER FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS WITH VARIOUS PROBLEMS-BROKEN INTERIOR DOR HANDLE-FAILURE(S) WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS-FU…
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I CONTACTED NHTSA SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I WAS INFORMED THAT GM HAD A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT RAILS IN THEIR VARIOUS VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS MANY-MANY VEHICLES TO INSPECT. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING MY GM DEALER FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS WITH VARIOUS PROBLEMS-BROKEN INTERIOR DOR HANDLE-FAILURE(S) WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS-FUEL PUMP FAILURES-BURNED WIRING HARNASS(WHERE I HAD TO SHOW THEM WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS LOCATED-TRAINED TECHS??-ALTERNATOR FAILURE-AC COMPRESSOR FAILURE-ATC... THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OF COURSE IS THE SEAT RAILS. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN REDISNED AND THE METAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN HEAT TREATED, THE SEAT RAILS HAVE A POOR QUALITY METAL-HEAT TREATMENT WOULD HAVE SPLVED THEIR PROBLEM{S}. I HAVE TAUGHT AUTO REPAIR FOR 30+ YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER DEALT WITH SUCH A BUNCH OF NON-CARING ASS HOLES. MADE IN AMERICA-PURHAPS I SHOULD PURCHASE SOMETHING FROM JAPAN-AT LEAST THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS CORRECTLY-DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH LOOSE SEATS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE IM DRIVING A FOUND ON THE ROAD DEAD CAR-FORD (PINTO). . I HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL TAKE ACTION ON GM AND STICK IT TO THEM. THANKS FOR LISTENING. *AK
A RECALL DESCRIBING THIS EXACT FAILURE AND REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE.NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:98V15001/ WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE IN THE FORM OF EXACTLY THE METHOD DESCRIBED IN SAID RECALL.WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR,AS WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UN…
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A RECALL DESCRIBING THIS EXACT FAILURE AND REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE.NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:98V15001/ WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE IN THE FORM OF EXACTLY THE METHOD DESCRIBED IN SAID RECALL.WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR,AS WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL.IT SEEMS ODD THAT THIS ITEM WOULD FAIL(CONSIDERING THE SMALL USEAGE HERE IN CALIFORNIA)IN THE SAME WAY AS THOSE OTHER VEHICLES WHO WERE ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE.I WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED INQUIRES FROM OTHER GMC OWNERS WHO ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM.POSSIBLY THE PROBLEM IS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN ACKNOWLEDGED.HAD I NOT CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED.IT WOULD BE INTERISTING TO KNOW IF OTHER CONSUMERS JUST WENT AHEAD AND PAID FOR THE REPAIR AS I DID,BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO NOT AWARE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED.PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED.THANK YOU.C PROVINSE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAYS THE CIRCUIT BOARD MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING. OWNER BELIEVES THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1998, BUT DID NOT GET IT FIXED AT THE TIME. *AK *ML
WHILE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATION. CONSUMER WOULD TURN THEM ON, AND THEN TURN THEM OFF TO RETURN TO MOVEMENT OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BECAUSE OF VIN #. *AK *ML
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN SHE DRIVING HER VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT OPERABLE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.
WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. OWNER'S TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 98V150001 GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING DUE TO VIN. PART WAS REPLACED BY OWNER. *AK *ML
WIPERS INTERMITTENT/INOPERATIVE OR AT TIMES WON'T EVEN TURN OFF FOR A TIME. THEY HAVE NEVER FAILED TO OPERATE ON HIGH SPEED UP TO NOW. EXACTLY THE SAME AS RECALL NOTICE #98VI50001. GMC CONTACTED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISUAL DIFFICULTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS RECALL 98V150 , BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK.ET.
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.