FaultScore

1996 GMC Sierra transmission problems

27 of the 310 complaints about the 1996 GMC Sierra are about the transmission — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,748 miles.

C

27

Complaints

0

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 14 51.9%
Manual Transmission 5 18.5%
Differential Unit 2 7.4%
Power Train 1 3.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 3.7%
Column Shift 1 3.7%
Driveshaft 1 3.7%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 3.7%
Seal 1 3.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every GMC Sierra year

1993 12 4.0%
1995 15 5.0%
1996 27 8.9%
1997 33 10.9%
1998 16 5.3%
1999 41 13.6%
2000 31 10.3%
2001 15 5.0%
2002 18 6.0%
2003 31 10.3%
2004 19 6.3%
2005 11 3.6%
2014 10 3.3%
2017 23 7.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 108,748 miles Clarkston, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE TOWING TRAILER WITH 2 QUADS (4 WHEELERS) ON EXPRESSWAY WITH A GROUP OF CO-WORKERS, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN MY TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PASSING GEAR. IT MADE A LOUD "REVING" NOISE AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECREASING IN SPEED. I PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. I THEN GRADUALLY ACCELERATED AND SHIFTED MANUALLY, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO ACHEIVE 1ST GEAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 150 MILES TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT STILL SITS THREE MONTHS LATER WITH ONLY REVERSE AND 1ST GEAR OPERABLE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10127894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meriden, CT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID, DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH SLAVE, CYLINDER ASSEMBLY SEAL AND FOUND THAT THE FLUID WAS LEAKING AT THE SHIFTER ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION MOUNT IS ALSO WEAK WHICH IS CAUSING PROBLEMS SHIFTING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #567316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meriden, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE JERKS AND VIOLENTLY VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING UP AND DOWN, INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEEDS. ALSO, NOTICED GREASY SPOTS FROM FLUID LEAKING. FIRST TIME VEHICLE WAS SENT FOR REPAIRS PROBLEM WAS NEVER DONE. IT WAS TAKEN TAKING BACK A SECOND TIME. DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT IT LEAKED WHILE IT WAS STILL UP ON THE LIFT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8011727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Butternut, WI

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 43429 MILES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIAL WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #563677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodruff, SC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HARD SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS, LOST OVERDRIVE & REVERSE -- SEEMS TO BE COMMON PROBLEM!

NHTSA complaint #757117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Price, UT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF OVERDRIVE TO NEXT GEAR. THEN, AFTER STOPPING AND REACCELERATION VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE A HARD SHIFTING INTO GEAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #6900667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Butternut, WI

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE TRANMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 43429 MILES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIAL WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #563677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Butternut, WI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 42,000 MILES TRUCK NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AT 66,151 MILES TRUCK NEEDED A NEW MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #9003701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stanton, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #751105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Asheville, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN RETURNING FROM A TRIP THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WHEN ENGAGING OVERDIRVE..OVER THE NEXT 150 TO 200 MILES IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND NOW OVERDIRVE AND 3RD GEAR ARE ENTIRELY GONE AND THE ENGINE JUST FREELY REVS..ONLY 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ARE USABLE.

NHTSA complaint #750403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmington, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

RATCHETING OR GRINDING NOISE UNDER MED ACCELLERATION SOMETIMES ON RIGHT TURNS.POSSIBLE PINION GEAR BEARING.??

NHTSA complaint #746667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warner Robins, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WENT TO MAKE RIGHT HAND TURN, AND REAR END SHIFTED AND VEHICLE STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES. TRANSMISIION STARTED SLIPPING, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO SHIFT AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #875257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harmony, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #852698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boise, ID

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION MOUNTING BOLTS BECAME LOOSE AND WORKED THEIR WAY OUT RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION SHIMMY AND SHAKING AS WELL AS RATTLING.

NHTSA complaint #714521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lemont, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IT APPREARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE .VEHICLE LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO SERVICE STATION.

NHTSA complaint #713562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Adkins, TX

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

C1500 DIFFERENTIAL OVER HEATED & FAILED WHILE TOWING A 5,000 LB RV. 2ND DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 100 MILES OF REPLACING THE 1ST DIFFERENTIAL.

NHTSA complaint #713277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #711910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plains, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED, THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PLACED INTO A GEAR WHILE OFF WITHOUT KEY AND ROLLED DOWN HILL. IT WAS STOPPED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PLACED BACK INTO PARK, ALL THIS WAS DONE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. GMC HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #846926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission VI, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Isle, ME

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #534086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Concord, NC

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED TO HOLD GREASE IN AXLE, GREASE DRIPPED ALL OVER LEFT REAR WHEEL & BRAKE PADS, POTENTIAL FOR FIRE/BRAKE FAILURE, DEALER REPLACED SEAL & BRAKE PADS, REFILLED AXLE WITH GREASE.

NHTSA complaint #815865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Methuen, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20MPH, OR 30 TO 40MPH, THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND AND VEHICLE IS JERKING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #813687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wichita Falls, TX Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION BURNED UP.

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

Wichita Falls, TX Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLER REPLACED.

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

Wichita Falls, TX Fire

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

FRONT AND REAR DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED.

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

Southaven, MS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

4-WHEEL DRIVE PUSH BUTTON ENGAGES THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING THE BUTTON.

NHTSA complaint #515428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT Bragg, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN THE WAY IT SHOULD WHEN DECELERATING WHILE IN GEAR; ALSO, SPEEDS TO 30 MPH IN 3RD GEAR WITH GAS PEDAL RELEASED.

NHTSA complaint #507806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 GMC Sierra problems

← Full 1996 GMC Sierra report