1996 GMC Sierra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about windshield wipers that run intermittently or quit outright, frequently noting their vehicle was not covered by the wiper wiring recall. Brake complaints are the second theme, split between low-speed ABS behavior with longer stopping distance and corroded or burst brake lines on older, higher-mileage trucks. Transmission, seat, and fuel-system complaints round out the sample, mostly appearing well past 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers work intermittently or quit

   • 75 complaints (30%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2005

   Complaints describe wipers that pause, stop mid-stroke, or fail to start, sometimes in rain and sometimes refusing to switch off. Several owners say pushing or tapping the wiper motor or module gets them moving again for a while. Many report the dealer replaced a circuit board or module, and many others say the repair was refused or charged to them because their VIN was outside recall 98V150001. Reported from the late 1990s onward across a wide mileage range, including trucks under 100,000 miles, often in rain or wet weather.

   Recall 98V150001

   What to check: Cycle the wipers through all speeds and the delay setting, including while wet, and ask whether the wiper motor/module was ever replaced or the recall performed. Check the wiper circuit board and connector for cracked solder joints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My windshield wipers only work intermitedly and I found the recal for it on this site. 996 Gmc Sierra pickup..the dealorship is saying even though my wipers are broken they cannot repair for free because my particular VIN # isn't on the list.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102176, filed 2004-12, 80,000 miles

   “My problem exists (exactly) as described in your recall database, NHTSA campaign id number: 98v150001. I inspected the circuit card and found the cracked solder joints as you described. Gmc customer assistance advises that my VIN is not covered by the recall. Perhaps there are more vehicles on the road with this dangerous problem than Gmc admitted.”

   NHTSA complaint #736332, filed 2000-11
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed, longer stopping distance

   • 30 complaints (12%)
   • median 114,359 mi at 8.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2006

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor or ABS kicking in during slow-speed braking, with the truck taking much longer to stop than expected; some say they pulled the ABS fuse to regain conventional braking. Others report brake lines rusting through, including a line above or near the fuel tank, with sudden fluid loss and no warning. Dealers in several cases could not reproduce the problem or found no failed component. Mostly reported between roughly 18,000 and 150,000 miles, with the line-corrosion complaints concentrated on older trucks around 110,000 miles and above.

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected along the frame rail and above the fuel tank for rust, and test-brake at low speed on a safe surface to see how the ABS behaves. Ask whether the ABS module or brake lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brake line above the gas tank rusted and failed while it was being driven. There was no forewarning of this and as it was above the gas tank, would not have been noticed. The gas tank had to be dropped and the brake line replaced. Thank goodness the vehicle stopped before rearending the vehicle in front of me and thank goodness my one year old wasn't in the vehicle at the time. Old part has been retained. Repair cost was $458.21.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096172, filed 2004-10, 149,586 miles

   “Refer to prior complaint- id vq-528687-yn-pdf when a wheel skids a very,very,very short distance while braking, ABS does not engage but locks out conventional braking! No brakes, no stop. When towing a 7000+ pound load it gives you a very negative thrill. No fix from dealer or Gmc, tried many, many times. Removed 60 amp ABS fuse! Truck stops but it is not what should be done. I have driven the truck 116000 miles, 40000 with the fuse removed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10056149, filed 2004-01, 18,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle sticks or cable binds

   • 7 complaints (3%)
   • median 140,050 mi at 16.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2020

   Owners report the accelerator not returning when the foot is lifted, with speed holding until the brake is pressed, and in some cases the pedal sticking down on a grade. Several say disconnecting the cruise control did not resolve it, and one complaint notes the transmission would not shift afterward. Dealers and the manufacturer did not confirm a cause in the complaints reviewed. Reported from about 40 mph upward and at mileages ranging from low to over 150,000.

   Recall 96V057000

   What to check: With the engine off but the key on, press and release the accelerator and watch that the throttle returns fully and freely, and inspect the cable routing near the dash mat. Ask whether recall 96V057000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On the evening of june 15,2004, my husband was driving our 1996 Gmc Sierra 2500 deisel pickup truck home. While driving up a long, steep grade the gas pedal stuck down and the truck would not shift gears. My husband had to slam on the brake pedal and then the gas pedal released with a popping sound. The truck will still not shift gears. The cruise control was not on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078314, filed 2004-06, 130,000 miles

   “While driving at approximately 40mph took foot off accelerator pedal to slow down, vehicle would fail to slow down until foot pressed on brakes to release acceleration. Throttle would always stick. Had cruise control disconnected in case problem was caused by electrical wiring. The manufacturer refused to acknowlege that a problem existed.”

   NHTSA complaint #841616, filed 1999-07
4. 4
   Seats

   Seat frame or seat-back bolts break

   • 14 complaints (6%)
   • median 90,217 mi at 7.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2004

   Complaints describe seat-back bolts breaking so the seat reclines fully and will not lock, a seat cushion frame cracking at a forward attach point, and a passenger seat sliding forward on braking after a roller left the track. Owners describe the failures happening without warning during normal use. Reported between roughly 65,000 and 115,000 miles.

   What to check: Pull and push each seat back and cushion firmly, check the seat tracks and locking mechanism, and look at the seat-frame bolts for looseness or cracks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #721169, filed 2000-04

   “While backing the vehicle the seat cushion frame fractured at the left forward attach point. This caused the seat to rock and possibly could cause remaining three fasteners to become overloaded and fail. Failure of the primary structural seat attachment could cause serious injury during an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017101, filed 2003-05, 66,435 miles

Buying note. These trucks are old enough that condition matters more than the model year, so check the wiper circuit, brake lines, seat hardware and transmission behavior directly rather than relying on recall history. Ask for records showing whether the wiper and throttle cable recalls were completed for the specific VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.