1996 Gmc 1500 problems

gmc logo

The fourth generation of the C/K series is a range of trucks that was manufactured by General Motors. Marketed by the Chevrolet and GMC brands from the 1988 to the 2002 model years, this is the final generation of the C/K model line. In a branding change, GMC adopted the GMC Sierra nameplate for all its full-size pickup trucks, leaving the C/K nomenclature exclusive to Chevrolet.

Internally codenamed the GMT400 platform, GM did not give the model line a word moniker (e.g., "Rounded-Line series" for its predecessor). After its production, the model line would informally become known by the public as the "OBS" (Old Body Style), in reference to its GMT800 successor. In starting a different tradition, the model line overlapped production with both its predecessor and successor; the model line again shared body commonality with GM medium-duty commercial trucks.

Over nearly a 14-year production run, the fourth-generation C/K was assembled by GM in multiple facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. After the 2000 model year, the fourth-generation C/K was discontinued and was replaced by the GMT800 platform (introduced for 1999); the C3500HD heavy-duty chassis cab model remained in production through 2002. In line with the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet subsequently adopted a singular Chevrolet Silverado nameplate for its full-size truck line (which remains in use).

1996 Gmc 1500

Social links

Common 1996 Gmc 1500 problems

The GMC 1500 1996, part of the fourth generation of GM trucks, is known for several common problems that owners have reported. These issues range from mechanical and electrical faults to interior and exterior concerns.

  • Defective Speakers: Another issue reported by owners is defective speakers, particularly those in the door. These speakers typically quit working one at a time over several months. Replacing the sensor, which costs around $200 to $300, should fix this issue.
  • Windshield Wiper Motor Component Failure: Models made between 1990 and 1999, including the GMC 1500 1996, may experience intermittent windshield wiper failure due to a defective wiper motor control board. If this issue occurs, check with a dealer to see if there is a recall on your vehicle. As a temporary fix, lightly tapping on the control box may cause the blades to start working again. For a more permanent solution, replace the wiper motor control board.
  • Coolant Leaks or Oil Leaks from Intake Manifold Gaskets: GMC trucks from 1988 to 1998, including the GMC 1500 1996, are known to have issues with coolant leaks or oil leaks from intake manifold gaskets. These leaks can cause the engine to run poorly or overheat, and may require replacement of the intake manifold gaskets.

These common problems with the GMC 1500 1996 can help potential buyers and current owners be aware of potential issues and take preventative measures to ensure the longevity and reliability of their vehicles.

1996 Gmc 1500 engine

1996 Gmc 1500 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Gmc 1500 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Visibility problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Fuel system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1996 Gmc 1500 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1996 Gmc 1500 complaints

The NHTSA has received 25 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1996 Gmc 1500.

2005-09-08

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2005-02-14
  • VIN: 2GTEK19W1T1
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: BRAKE SYSTEM OPERATED NORMALLY FOR SOME TIME AND THEN AT OR AROUND 2/14/2005 I BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS AT SLOW SPEED STOPPING THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE AND OVER RIDE THE NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSING MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. IT CAUSED AT LEAST 10 NEAR COLLISIONS WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND SEVERAL TIMES I SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID CONTACT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I DISABLED THE ABS SYSTEM BY REMOVING THE ABS FUSE, THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY A LOCAL TIRE AND REPAIR SHOP. *JB
2005-05-16

STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2005-05-14
  • VIN: 3B7HC13Y9TM
  • Components: STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE "AS IS", AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE RADIATOR BLEW. THE GARAGE THAT SERVICED THE VEHICLE SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE READY TO FALL APART. THE STEERING WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND THE REAR END MADE A HUMMING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. HE SAID THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD. THE SELLER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR ANY OF THE DEFECTS. *TT
2005-03-14

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2005-03-11
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 1GTEK14K4SZ
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 60 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
2004-09-30

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-09-30
  • VIN: 1GTEC19M8VE
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM REPAIRED. HE THEN SHOWED THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. HE WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. CONSUMER FELT SINCE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING DURING RAINY TIMES IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT ON THE CONTROL BOARD. CONSUMER INSISTED ON BEING REIMBURSED. *AK
2004-08-25

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-08-25
  • VIN: 1GTEK19R7VE
  • Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,VISIBILITY
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WANDERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FOLLOWING THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE POWER SENSOR SWITCH , AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
2004-08-05

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-07-22
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSON FAILED. *AK
2003-09-10

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-07-25
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
2003-07-12

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-06-15
  • VIN: 1GTEC19R5TE
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WIRING CONNECTOR ON TILT WHEEL WILL WEAR CAUSING LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. REPAIR ONCE BUT PROBLEM IS BACK COULD CAUSE FIRE. 1996 GMC PICKUP EXTENDED CAB. *AK
2003-05-14

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY. *JB
2003-04-08

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-04-15
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
2003-01-10

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2002-12-04
  • VIN: 1GTEC14W6TZ
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: GMC SIERRA TRUCK WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES. WILL STOP FOR NO REASON OR WILL NOT STOP AT ALL. NO WASHER WORKING. GMC GAVE RECALL #98043 AND SERVICE REQUEST #1-55077659. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX, SAID IT WAS NOT A RECALL. DRIVING AS-IS FOR NOW. GMC WILL NOT RESPOND. MODEL YEAR 1996
2002-12-10

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2002-11-11
  • VIN: PLEASE PROV
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 30MPH THE ABS FAILED CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. TS
2002-12-05

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: 2GDEC19R0V1
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: THE SENDING UNIT SHORTAGE OUT WITH 15 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAIN IN THE TANK WHILE DRIVING ALSO CAUSE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
2002-11-08

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-11-08
  • VIN: 1GTEK19R7TE
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RAIN THE WIPERS STARTED OUT WORKING AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. CONSUMER STATES' FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
2002-07-25

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: 1GTEC14W7TZ
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED, THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORTED WIRE TO THE ELECTRICAL IN-TANK FUEL PUMP WHICH BURNED THE PLASTIC HOLDER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A VEHICLE FIRE. NLM
2001-08-07

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-07-15
  • VIN: 2GTEC19R3T1
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: MY VEHICLE VIN EXCLUDED IT FROM SAFETY RECALL TSB 98043. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WAS EXACTLY THE SAME FAULT AS IDENTIFY IN TSB 98043. THE REPAIR WAS THE SAME. I BELIEVE A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK AT THE FACTORY. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF SAFETY RECALL WAS TOO NARROW AS MY AND OTHER VEHICLES YET IDENTIFIED HAVE DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. HAVING YOUR WINDSHILD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A THUNDERSTORM IS STRESSFUL AND COULD BE DEADLY.*AK
2001-08-07

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-07-15
  • VIN: 2GTEC19R3T1
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: MY VEHICLE VIN EXCLUDED IT FROM SAFETY RECALL TSB 98043. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WAS EXACTLY THE SAME FAULT AS IDENTIFY IN TSB 98043. THE REPAIR WAS THE SAME. I BELIEVE A FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK AT THE FACTORY. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF SAFETY RECALL WAS TOO NARROW AS MY AND OTHER VEHICLES YET IDENTIFIED HAVE DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY. HAVING YOUR WINDSHILD WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A THUNDERSTORM IS STRESSFUL AND COULD BE DEADLY.*AK
2001-03-29

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2000-11-01
  • VIN: 2GTEC19R9V1
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: INTERMITTENTLY, STEERING WOULD PULL WHILE TURNING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVES IN ROADWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE STEERING ASSIST BECOMES VERY INTERMITTENT, THIS RESULTS IN A SWERVING AS STEERING BECOMES EASY AND THEN HARD, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *JB
2000-07-31

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2000-07-01
  • VIN: 1GTEK14R7TZ
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
2000-05-12

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2000-04-26
  • VIN: 2GTEK19R8T1
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: BRACKET THAT HOLDS FUEL TANK WIRES INSIDE AND CONNECTS THEM TO THE FUEL PUMP PLUG FRAYED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER HE WAS RIDING IN A POTENTIAL BOMB. *AK
2000-02-23

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: DRIVER'S DOOR INSIDE HANDLE BROKE. TO EXIT VEHICLE, WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN SO THAT DRIVER CAN GRAB THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO GET OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1999-10-12

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-03-31
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: 2GTEC19R4T1
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: THE VEHICLE HIT MUD, SPUN OUT STRIKING A CONCRETE BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE-75. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IT WAS A HEAD ON HIT WITH CONCRETE. SAME VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS ALSO DID MAJOR FRONT DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE.
1999-10-07

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-09-02
  • Crash: 1
  • VIN: PLEASE FILL
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE BRAKING. ONE MOMENT IT HAD BRAKE, THE NEXT MOMENT BRAKES WERE GONE; BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. . DEALER/MFR. WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
1999-09-14

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-10-04
  • VIN: 1GCEK14W8TZ
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND SHIFTING VEHICLE FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING VERY HARD DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
1999-09-07

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-08-27
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: LAP BELT THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE SHOULDER BELT WON'T STAY ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S LAP, AND WON'T STAY LOCKED. *AK
Leave your review of 1996 Gmc 1500

Other years of Gmc 1500

gmc 1500 1985 photo
1500 1985
Gmc

3

0

0

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
gmc 1500 1990 photo
1500 1990
Gmc

8

0

0

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
gmc 1500 1994 photo
1500 1994
Gmc

29

0

0

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
gmc 1500 1996 photo
1500 1996
Gmc

25

0

0

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

Are you having problems with your 1996 Gmc 1500?

Add car complaint
1996 Gmc 1500 photo