Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
PASSENGER'S REAR WHEELS LOCKED, UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. IN WET CONDITIONS THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING FLUID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND WIRES SHORTED INSIDE FUEL TANK! EXPLOSION RISK.
DEALER AND FACTORY WOULD NOT HONOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V150000 & 150001
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS SOME TYPE OF NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE KEEPS WEARING OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TIRE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
PREMATURE WEA ROF TIRES. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PLACED INTO A GEAR WHILE OFF WITHOUT KEY AND ROLLED DOWN HILL. IT WAS STOPPED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PLACED BACK INTO PARK, ALL THIS WAS DONE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. GMC HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE SIGNAL LIGHT HAD GENERATED A LOT OF HEAT & MELTED THE SOCKET THAT THE BULB WAS IN. THE BULB HAD BLOWN OUT AT THE TIME. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK & REPLACE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT CAME ON & FAILED TO GO OFF. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A JUMPY OR JERKY MOTION BEFORE STOPPING. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. MJS
RAIL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT KEEPS GETTING STUCK. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
HELLO, PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW 7/96, IN 9/96 IN CONVERSATION WITH A FLEET MECHANIC SINCE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN GAS TANK I WAS ADVISED TO NOT GO BELOW 3/4 TANK OF FUEL TO PREVENT FUEL PUMP FAILUER ANY THING LOWER THAN 3/4 WILL NOT KEEP PUMP COOL AND LEAD TO FAILURE I FOLLOWED THE ADVISE. FAILURE #1 OCCURED IN 1997 "ORIGINAL PUMP" DONT REMEMBER EXACT DATE BUT DEALER REPAIRED. FAILURE # 2 (OF THE PUMP THAT REPLACED THE FIRST ONE), OCCURD MAR. OR MAY 1999 DEALER REPLACED. BOTH FAILURES RESULTED IN TOTAL SHUT DOWN. #1 OCCURED WHILE PARKED AND #2 OCCURED WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. RELATED ISSUE: IN JUNE 1999 FUEL FILTER REPLACED AFTER FAILURE. IN JULY 99 WHILE DRIVING IN CALIFORNIA AT HI WAY SPEEDS AND HEAVY TRAFFIC TRUCK WOULD TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN (NO FUEL NO POWER) 6 TIMES IN A 100 MILE SPAN, RESEMBLED FUEL PUMP AGAIN HOWEVER IT NO LONGER ACTED UP AFTER PARKING FOR 24HOURS. I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE VEHICLE IN FOR SEARCH OF PROBLEM NEXT WEEK. EXCELLENT DEALER SERVICE FOR REPAIRS , AND GOOD TRUCK, BUT AM CONCEARNED WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE TYPICAL PROBLEM (FUEL PUMP FAILURE) WITH OTHER GMC AND CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE, IE CONGESTED TRAFFIC ETC.
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM; WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TRUCK AND HAD TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AND IT LOST CONTROL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY,AND SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPER'S WON'T WORK AT ALL. *AK
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. *AK
IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY BECOME INOPERABLE. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V150001 DUE TO VIN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MY TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME AND WERE ATTRIBUTED TO VARIOUS THINGS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. SINCE PURCHASE MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED BY FRANKS TRUCK CENTER 325 ORIENT WAY LYNDHURST, NJ 07071 #201-939-7790. THE PULLING PROBLEM SEEMED TO BECOME APPARENT IN FEB. 1999. THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WAS THAT WHEN BRAKING THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT--SOMETIMES SHARPLY, SOMETIMES IT WAS A "GENTLE" PULL AND MANY TIMES THE PROBLEM WASN'T THERE AT ALL. LAST FEBRUARY AND AT FRANKS, THE FRONT ROTOR ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. THE TOOK THE TRUCK BACK FOR ANOTHER TRY AND IT SEEMED GOOD FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR SO AND THEN THE PROBLEM WAS BACK. THEY KEEP THE TRUCK FOR -5- DAYS AND DID VARIOUS THING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IE: ANOTHER ALIGHNMENT, BALANCE THE TIRES, ADJUST THE BRAKES. ALL ATTEMPTS WERE OBVIOUS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS BACK WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO. AT THIS POINT AND DATE, THE TRUCK IS CONSTANTLY PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE FRONT-RIGHT WHENEVER I BRAKE. ON OCCASSION IT PULLS SHARPLY. I HAVE NOTIFIED FRANKS. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY TRUCK AND CHEVY SUBURBANS (WHICH HAVE THE SAME BRAKING SYSTEM). ALTHOUGH MY FULL WARRANTLY EXPIRED AFTER MY FEBRUARY VISIT TO FRANKS, THEY HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. WHILE THIS IS APPRECIATED, IT DOESN'T SOLVE WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD ME IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN ORDER TO TOW A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER (WHICH I
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, AND NOT TURN OFF WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES. NEEDED TO TURN OFF IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL INJECTORS FAILED TWICE WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MY TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT !!!
THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE. I HAVE CONTACTED NHTSA SEVERAL TIMES BY E-MAIL AND FAX TO FRANK BORRIS TO KEEP HIM UP TO DATE WITH MY PROBLEM. THERE ARE 100'S OF THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS WITH UNSAFE SEATS-MY FEAR IS HAVING MY SEAT-OR-WIFES SEAT- BREAKING LOOSE DURING A CRASH, AND CAUSING PERMANENT DISABILITIES. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED-ASAP---THANKS FOR LISTENING. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTUERER CLAIMS THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL, BUT SAME PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION AFTER THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON HIGH FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THEN WIPERS RESUME WORKING SOMETIMES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TRUCK NOT INCLUDED IN RECAL 98V150001, GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING. *AK
BATTERY ACID LEAKED ON THE BRAKE LINE. THE ACID ATE THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. DRIVER EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. YH
RECALL 98V150000/001. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, MOTOR ON AND WILL NOT WORK. DEALER STATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLES WHEELS TO LOCK ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE THROWN INTO A DITCH.
IN EMERGENCY STOPPING CONDITIONS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES RIP THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOUR HANDS, THE INDEPENTENT WHEEL BRAKING THROUGHS THE VEHICAL OUT OF CONTROL . FACTORY SERVICE MANUEL DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS KELSY HAYS SYSTEM. MAC TOOLS , AS WELL AS FIVE OTHER, IS UNABLE TO GET A PROM TO DIAGNOSE, TOLD ONLY 500 MADE FOR GM EXPERAMENTAL FACILITIES. BRAKES APIER TO BE FOR 1500, 4 WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON AN 8600GVW 4 WHEEL LOCK REAR PICKUP. I GOT THE INFO BY OFFERING TO PAY DOUBLE TO ANY ONE WHO COULD ANALYZE THE SYSTEM, THE BEST EQIUP. AND MECH. WITHIN FIFTY MILES OF LAKE FOREST IL.. EVEN A 27,000 DOLLAR ANALIZER WAS UNABLE TO DO IT FOR THE SAME REASON . I AM DISAEBLED, BACK BROKEN GETTING REAR ENDED. BRAEKS THAT WORK THE SAME EVERY TIME APPLIED EASILLY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SO ARE SAFE SEATS. REAR BUMPERS. I KEEP GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND AT RED LIGHTS OR STANDING. THANK YOU.
RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN POSITION, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FLY FORWARD WHEN COMING TO STOP. ROLLER HAS COME OFF THE TRACK. *AK
BOTH HI AND LOW BEAMS OF HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT. WENT TO DEALER NEXT DAY. DEALER CHARGED $502.65 TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH. WIRING WAS MELTED AND BURNED ON SWITCH. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A VEHICLE FIRE, OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS DID NOT PROTECT VEHICLE WIRING. SWITCH IS AVAILABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT FOR EXAMINATION.
ON-GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SHUT DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK
INTERIOR LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT OFF IS TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
SEATS->DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS (LEATHER) CRACKED IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. EXPECTED MORE FOR THE PRICE OF THIS OPTION. HAVE HAD BRAKES REPLACED 1 - 1 1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE. I WAS OUT IN THE BACK COUNTRY, 40 MILES FROM PAVED ROADS, WHEN I HEARD THE ROTORS BEING TORN UP BY WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE BRAKE PADS. IT RUINED BOTH ROTORS. I WAS TOLD AT AN INDEPENDANT SHOP THAT THE CALIPERS FAILED. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INSISTED THAT THE CALIPERS DIDN'T FAIL . IT WAS JUST CHEAP BRAKE PADS. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WASN'T THE CASE. *AK
BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT. DEALER FOUND WIRING BURNED UP ON DIMMER SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN. NO FIRE OCCURRED. DEALER CHARGE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS $502.65. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT. INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. WHY DIDN'T FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER PROTECT WIRING? PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THE FAILED DIMMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE THE FAILED SWITCH WHICH THE DEALER HERE IN FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN REPLACED.
WHILE DRIVNG AT ANY SPEED UNDER ANY CONDITION AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD RUBBING NOISE AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT VERY HARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND WENT TO PUT ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY DID'NT WORK. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A FUSE, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS NINE TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.*AK
DRIVER SEAT FRAGILE WIRING WITHIN THE SPRING MECHANISM THAT HOLDS SEAT IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH/SLIDES.THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH MODEL TIRES LT245/75R16M GENERAL TIRE AMERICAN 55OAS. THE RUBBER IS FLYING OFF THE TREAD OF THE TIRES. ALSO, THE TIRES ONLY HAVE 7,500 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER HAS YET TO REPLACE THE TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN BRAKES ARE NEEDED SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO THE FLOOR. AT OTHER TIMES, WHEN BRAKE ARE USED THE BRAKE WOULD ONLY BRAKE ON ONE WHEEL. AT RANDOM RIGHT SIDE WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CAUSES CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE , RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANOTHER CONSUMER'S FENCE, AND SEVERAL PERSONAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY DRIVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES.
BRAKES FAILED, WAS TOLD THERE WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTREM INSTALLED AND THE BRAKES STILL FAILED CAUSING AN ACICDENT AND RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE DRIVER.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 50 MPH. DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S NOR PASSEGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH DUE TO ACCIDENT. *SLC
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, CAUSING A COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ABS SYSTEM . *AK
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE RELEASE FAILURE.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRUCK SURGES AND ALSO ACCELERATES WITHOUT FOOT BEING ON THE THROTTLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRUCK TO SURGE, AND IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK. *AK
THE BRAKES FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS POOR, EXPERIENCES VIBRATION CONTINAUOUSLY.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 GMC Sierra → · Every Sierra year → · How the figures are calculated →