IllustrationNHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V150001. TSB 98043 . DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD. *AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT CRASH. SEATBELTS DID NOT ACTIVATE, CONSUMER HIT HER FACE ON STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED 6-8 STITCHES. GMC CUSTOUMER SERVICE TOLD HER THE SEATBELT SHOULD NOT HAVE LOCKED UP, HER LIFE WAS NOT IN DANGER. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000.00*AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A FRONT END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HIT HER HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED 6-8 STITCHES. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD CONSUMER HER AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED, HER LIFE WAS NOT IN DANGER. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000.00. *AK *…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A FRONT END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HIT HER HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED 6-8 STITCHES. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD CONSUMER HER AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED, HER LIFE WAS NOT IN DANGER. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000.00. *AK *SLC
BRIDGESTONE, DUELER AT, DOT NUMBER EJFUCFNO88, TIRE SIZE 33X12.50 R15, TIRES WERE REPLACEMENTS. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND COMPLETELY SHREDDED PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE DEFLATED WHILE DRIVING.CONSUMER STATED STEEL BELTS WERE SHOWING BETWEEN TREAD, AND THERE WAS SOME CRACKING.*AK *SLC
ATTEMPT TO GET HELP FROM DEALER AND GMC. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
WINDSHEILD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY BECOME INOPERABLE IN RAINY CONDITIONS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH SOLDER JOINTS AND WIPER MOTOR. *AK *JB
RATCHETING OR GRINDING NOISE UNDER MED ACCELLERATION SOMETIMES ON RIGHT TURNS.POSSIBLE PINION GEAR BEARING.??*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
BOTH PROBLEMS OCCUR DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS OR DURING RAIN. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE WHEN IT RAINS. ALSO, BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP, SOMETIMES DURING BRAKING ON WET ROADS.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE RECALLS 98V150001 & 98V150000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER POOR OPERATION, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS DUE TO VIN. *AK *YH
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.