Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 GMC Sierra. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
GM/FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (246)
246 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 84 | 34.1% |
| Service brakes | 47 | 19.1% |
| Power train | 24 | 9.8% |
| Seats | 20 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system | 19 | 7.7% |
| Air bags | 16 | 6.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 4.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 4.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 4.5% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 2.4% |
How 1996 compares with other Sierra years
Best and worst Sierra years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 30 | 3 |
| 1993 | 72 | 2 |
| 1994 | 190 | 3 |
| 1995 | 261 | 6 |
| 1996 | 246 | 2 |
| 1997 | 238 | 0 |
| 1998 | 190 | 0 |
| 1999 | 600 | 5 |
| 2000 | 443 | 8 |
| 2001 | 264 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1996 Sierra for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 GMC Sierra FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 GMC Sierra have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 98V150001 (visibility), 96V057000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 GMC Sierra problems?
Owners filed 246 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility (84), Service brakes (47), Power train (24) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1996 Sierra compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 GMC Sierra model years at least five years old, the 1992 drew the fewest complaints (30) and the 1999 the most (600). The 1996 drew 246. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.