FaultScore

1996 GMC Sierra fuel system problems

20 of the 310 complaints about the 1996 GMC Sierra are about the fuel system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,500 miles.

A

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel Injection System 5 25.0%
Fuel Pump 4 20.0%
Delivery 3 15.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 10.0%
Carburetor System 2 10.0%
Fuel Gauge System 2 10.0%
Injectors 1 5.0%
Fuel System, Diesel 1 5.0%

Fuel & Propulsion across every GMC Sierra year

1994 19 14.5%
1996 20 15.3%
1997 13 9.9%
1998 13 9.9%
1999 26 19.8%
2000 23 17.6%
2001 17 13.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 111,000 miles Diamond, MO

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

PROBLEM IN FUEL SYSTEM (LIKELY THE FUEL PUMP OR RELATED COMPONENT) IN 1996 GMC SIERRA WITH 6.5 L DIESEL . CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. HAPPENED WHILE PULLING TRAVEL TRAILER ON TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND NUMEROUS OTHER TIMES. NO ENGINE CODE DISPLAYED DURING EVENT SO DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX PROBLEM WITHOUT CODE.

NHTSA complaint #10052313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tempe, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNT UP AND THE WIRING BOOT HAD ALSO BURNT UP. THE TECHNICIAN IMPLIED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT A FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED IN THREE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10041351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles West Jordan, UT

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

AS FUEL PUMP BEGAN TO FAIL (INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS), IT CAUSED WIRES GOING TO FUEL PUMP (WIRES ARE INSIDE THE GAS TANK) TO OVERHEAT. THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED, AND THREE INCHES OF INSULATION ON EACH WIRE WAS BURNED OFF. BARE WIRES COULD SPARK AND IGNITE FUEL VAPORS.

NHTSA complaint #10030267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aurora, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATES HIS VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITH OUT ANY REASON, CAUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. PROBLEMS IS DUE TO A FAULTY FUELS INJECTION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURES HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seaside Park, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

SINCE PURCHASING MY TRUCK, THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH IT SIMPLY SHUTTING DOWN MID MOTION, CAUSING BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURE. THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THIS PROBLEM WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ACCIDENT (ON AN ICY ROADWAY) IN NH. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO COUNTLESS GARAGES IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, TO NO AVAIL. I CONTINUE HEARING FROM SEVERAL MECHANICS; "FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM - A BAD YEAR FOR GMC ..." THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY OCCASIONAL AT THE START, AND TOLERABLE, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE - TO THE POINT WHERE I NO LONGER AM COMFORTABLE TAKING IT OUT OF THE YARD - YET I CONTINUE PAYING OFF A LOAN FOR A TRUCK I CANNOT TRUST. AGAIN, I HAVE DEALT WITH THREE DIFFERENT GARAGES (DIESEL), WITH COMPETENT MECHANICS, AND AFTER HAVING VARIOUS PARTS REPLACED - EVENTUALLY FIND MYSELF WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING, AGAIN AND AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #761255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Elgin, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING FUEL PUMP STOPPED PUMPING FUEL,CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #8008631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greeley, PA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT AT THE POINT WHERE THE WIRES CONNECT TO FUEL PUMP ARE SHORTED TO GROUND POSSIBLY IGNITING FUEL VAPORS INSIDE TANK

NHTSA complaint #760550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tuson, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT AND OTHER WIRING HAVE MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COMPLETLY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #899444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Murphys, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

COOLANT LEAKING FROM BACK OF INTAKE MANIFOLD,AUTO MECH. TELL ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VORTEX MOTOR, WHEN I TELL THE MECHANIC THAT MY TRUCK IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ,EVERY MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT HE KNOWS JUST WHERE IT IS LEAKING AND THEY ARE RIGHT EVERY TIME; IS THIS A DEFECT IN THIS MOTOR AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? THANKS R. MCLAUGHLIN. MC LAUGHLIN E

NHTSA complaint #738873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sabattus, ME

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DIESEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #877436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbury, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. YH

NHTSA complaint #782047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arlington, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT SHORTED OUT INSIDE THE GAS TANK, MELTING ALL WIRES AND CAUSING SPARKS INSIDE THE WIRES. *AK THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT RESEARCH IS BEING DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #867553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission Viejo, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND WIRES SHORTED INSIDE FUEL TANK! EXPLOSION RISK.

NHTSA complaint #711654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Douglas, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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.

NHTSA complaint #709636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Segundo, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED TWICE WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MY TRUCK TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT !!!

NHTSA complaint #706492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbury, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. YH

NHTSA complaint #782047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Murrieta, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #606060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chula Vista, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita Falls, TX Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #515226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 GMC Sierra problems

← Full 1996 GMC Sierra report