RecallMyCar

1996 GMC Sierra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1996 GMC Sierra, and owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
246
owner complaints to NHTSA
19 / 3
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–18
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1996 GMC Sierra

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 98V150001 Reported 1,557,585 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 96V057000 Reported 379,004 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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."

    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.

246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 GMC Sierra have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 93,725 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 51 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I was traveling down the interstate and the throttle cable was stuck wide open and i reached speeds of almost 100 in heavy traffic”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 31, 2020 · Vehicle speed control

“Dt*: the contact stated the ABS activated at various low speeds and there were increased stopping distances. There is a NHTSA recall, # 05v379000, regarding the antilock brakes. The vehicle has the sa”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2006 · Service brakes, hydraulic

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 GMC Sierra (Sierra 1500 2WD, Sierra 1500 4WD, Sierra 2500 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–18 mpg
City / Highway11–16 / 16–21
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks
Engine6/8 cyl, 4.3/5/5.7/6.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare GMC Sierra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1976 GMC Sierra02
1977 GMC Sierra02
1982 GMC Sierra01
1983 GMC Sierra02
1987 GMC Sierra01
1988 GMC Sierra16
1989 GMC Sierra116
1990 GMC Sierra118
1991 GMC Sierra112
1992 GMC Sierra330
1993 GMC Sierra272
1994 GMC Sierra3190
1995 GMC Sierra6261
1996 GMC Sierra2246
1997 GMC Sierra0238
1998 GMC Sierra0190
1999 GMC Sierra5600
2000 GMC Sierra8443
2001 GMC Sierra4264
2002 GMC Sierra4249
2003 GMC Sierra6206
2004 GMC Sierra7188
2005 GMC Sierra9117
2006 GMC Sierra453
2007 GMC Sierra259
2008 GMC Sierra268
2009 GMC Sierra137
2010 GMC Sierra034
2011 GMC Sierra243
2012 GMC Sierra229
2013 GMC Sierra339
2014 GMC Sierra11101
2015 GMC Sierra653
2016 GMC Sierra26
2017 GMC Sierra061

Checking a specific 1996 GMC Sierra

How do I know if my 1996 GMC Sierra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 GMC Sierra; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V057000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other GMC models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.