Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1996 GMC K1500 with NHTSA between 1996 and 2013.
The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 33
Against the median year of the GMC K1500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 37
7.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1996 GMC K1500
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
642.9%
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Brakes
428.6%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 118,080 mi
Steering
17.1%
Airbags
17.1%
Electrical System
17.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1996peak 1Dec 2013
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Diamondhead, MSCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ROAD WAS WET. THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED (I COULD FEEL THE PULSING) AND I DID KEEP MY FOOT FULLY PRESSED ON THE PEDAL. I HAD STEERING CONTROL (I DROVE INTO A DITCH RATHER THAN REAR-ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE). I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY VEHICLES FOR 33 YEARS IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED SUCH A LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #701536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 151,160 milesColumbus, OH
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, 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?
NHTSA complaint #10557522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesBethlehem, PA
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 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.
NHTSA complaint #10324761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesMinneapolis, MN
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
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 complaint #10229772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Council Bluffs, IA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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 complaint #8014262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gilroy, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #899868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mcknightstown, PA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #751096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bend, OR
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS STOP AND WON'T RESTART IN ANY SETTING
NHTSA complaint #731615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Statesboro, GA
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.
NHTSA complaint #864133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ventura, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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 complaint #546452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orgon, MO
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #837217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Diamondhead, MSCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ROAD WAS WET. THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED (I COULD FEEL THE PULSING) AND I DID KEEP MY FOOT FULLY PRESSED ON THE PEDAL. I HAD STEERING CONTROL (I DROVE INTO A DITCH RATHER THAN REAR-ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE). I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY VEHICLES FOR 33 YEARS IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED SUCH A LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #701536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Bragg, CA
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT ENGAGING BRAKES DUE TO DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #507806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palma Heights, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WOULD BE STARTING OUT, WEATHER IS WET OR DAMP & BRAKE ROTOR IS COLD, WOULD TRY TO BRAKE & ABS WOULD LOCK UP QUICKLY, HAD VEHICLE AT DELAERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, CANNOT LOCATE OR FIX PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #808173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chelmsford, MA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. TT
NHTSA complaint #978826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.