Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
151,160 miles · Dec 28, 2013
Service Brakes
MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK ON THE ABOVE DATE, WHEN ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND NEARLY RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER. ALSO, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED IT, THINKING IT WAS NORMAL, …
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MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK ON THE ABOVE DATE, WHEN ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND NEARLY RESULTING IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER. ALSO, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED IT, THINKING IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER I HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GM OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, EARLIER THIS YEAR, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS IN THE TANK. WHEN I REMOVED THE TANK, THE FUEL LINES WHERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND BROKE, NECESSITATING MY HAVING TO HAVE CUSTOM LINES MADE. I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES ARE SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS, AND GENERAL MOTORS IS DOING NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THESE POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAWS IN THEIR PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE THESE ISSUED CORRECTED. HOW PEOPLE NEED TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THEY FIX THESE PROBLEMS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557522
85,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DATE IS APPROXIMATE. WHILE BACKING UP THE TRUCK AT THE STORAGE FACILITY THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING WAS POOR. I WAS ONLY GOING VERY SLOW, SO STOPPING WAS NOT A PROBLEM. AFTER PARKING, I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND BELOW THE TRUCK BED A COUPLE…
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DATE IS APPROXIMATE. WHILE BACKING UP THE TRUCK AT THE STORAGE FACILITY THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKING WAS POOR. I WAS ONLY GOING VERY SLOW, SO STOPPING WAS NOT A PROBLEM. AFTER PARKING, I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND BELOW THE TRUCK BED A COUPLE OF FEET AHEAD OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. A FEW PRESSES OF THE BRAKE PEDAL REVEALED A STREAM OF FLUID COMING OUT OF THE STEEL LINE THAT LEADS FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE REAR WHEELS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE LINE WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND THEY RAN A NEW LINE. THIS LINE WAS SPLICED INTO THE ORIGINAL NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND ROUTED TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE RUN OF THE ORIGINAL LINE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER FAILURES TO DATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324761
75,000 miles · Jun 3, 2008
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TEND TO WORK PERIODICALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TEND TO WORK PERIODICALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED WAS IDENTICAL TO RECALL 03V159000. UPDATED 06/25/08
NHTSA ODI #10229772
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN, AND DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES WIPER MOTOR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. IF SWITCH IS LEFT ON THE WIPERS WILL COME BACK ON AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN.*SCC
NHTSA ODI #8014262
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2001
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899868
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2001
Visibility
WIPER FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN RECAL 98043 DATED SEP 1998. MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THE RECAL LIST. THE VIN LIST SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751096
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2000
Visibility
WIPERS STOP AND WON'T RESTART IN ANY SETTING
NHTSA ODI #731615
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2000
Air Bags
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM CAUSED BY PROBLEM WITHIN THE AIR BAG COIL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #864133
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1999
Electrical System
BATTERY HOUSING CRACKING CAUSING FLUID/ACID LEAKAGE WHICH DAMAGED AIR BAG SENSOR AND BRAKE LINES. LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO DAMAGE ALMOST RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISION. MJS
NHTSA ODI #546452
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837217
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 GMC K1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year