IllustrationI WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN AND I REACHED SPEEDS OF ALMOST 100 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC
1996 GMC Sierra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sierra years
Owner complaints for the 1996 GMC Sierra are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 26 of 246 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 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
12 reportsON THE EVENING OF JUNE 15,2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 GMC SIERRA 2500 DEISEL PICKUP TRUCK HOME. WHILE DRIVING UP A LONG, STEEP GRADE THE GAS PEDAL STUCK DOWN AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. MY HUSBAND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL RELEASED WITH A POPPING SOUND. THE TRUCK WILL STILL NOT SHIF…
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ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 15,2004, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 GMC SIERRA 2500 DEISEL PICKUP TRUCK HOME. WHILE DRIVING UP A LONG, STEEP GRADE THE GAS PEDAL STUCK DOWN AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. MY HUSBAND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL RELEASED WITH A POPPING SOUND. THE TRUCK WILL STILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. *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 PRO…
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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
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
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
THROTTLE LINKAGE AND CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
COOLER LINE CONNECTION FAILED.
ENGINE SURGES WHEN COLD.
VEHICLE SUSTAIN HIGH ENGINE RPM FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER THROTTLE RELEASE, CAUSING QUICK ACCELERATION.
VEHICLE WILL SUSTAIN HIGH ENGINE RPM FOR FOUR SECONDS OR MORE AFTER THROTTLE IS RELEASED.
Official recalls
298V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Jul 1, 1998
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 & remedy
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.
96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Apr 4, 1996
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 & remedy
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.
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
3EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
EA00024 · Headlight
Opened Sep 26, 2000 · Closed Dec 21, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
No summary supplied.
PE00017 · Headlight
Opened Apr 11, 2000 · Closed Sep 26, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, RESULTING IN THE UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE HIGH RATE OF WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR PROBLEMS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WITH THE RECOGNITION THE EACH INCIDENT OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE REPRESENTS A CONDITION OF VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER'S EVALUATION OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, AND THIS OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN THE DETAILS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT.