1996 Gmc C/K 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Equipment is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 1 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 1 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 1 |
Equipment: 1; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 1; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013985 · 2003-04-05 (April 5, 2003)
1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174275 · 2006-11-26 (November 26, 2006)
TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND BREAK, JUST AS IN RECALLS OF NEWER TRUCKS! THESE CABLES HAVE BEEN BREAKING FOR YEARS, WHY WAS THE RECALL ONLY APPLICABLE TO 2000 AND NEWER TRUCKS? *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174275 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 150.0%ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10146600 · 23,000 miDT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICKED IN AND OUT. INSTEAD OF STOPPING IT WILL JUST SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK UPDATED 1/25/2006. THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN AT LOW SPEED DUE TO FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. THE IS A RECALL BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM |
| Equipment | 150.0%ODI 10174275TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND BREAK, JUST AS IN RECALLS OF NEWER TRUCKS! THESE CABLES HAVE BEEN BREAKING FOR YEARS, WHY WAS THE RECALL ONLY APPLICABLE TO 2000 AND NEWER TRUCKS? *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10239087 · 119,865 miI HAVE A 1998 GMC K3500 PICK-UP TRUCK WITH A 6.5 TURBO DIESEL HO ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY CUTS OFF AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL OF FUEL. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER TO HAVE PROBLEM CORRECTED. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT FUEL IN TANK WAS BIO-DIESEL AND MY TRUCK WOULD NOT BURN BIO-DIESEL. THEY INFORMED ME MY TANK NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND CLEANED ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY REMOVED TANK/CLEANED SYSTEM - COST $691.78, AND ADDED NEW FUEL. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, TRAVELED LES… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 150.0%ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 150.0%ODI 10174275TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND BREAK, JUST AS IN RECALLS OF NEWER TRUCKS! THESE CABLES HAVE BEEN BREAKING FOR YEARS, WHY WAS THE RECALL ONLY APPLICABLE TO 2000 AND NEWER TRUCKS? *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10030991 · 57,000 miCONTINENTAL AMERI 550 TIRE FAILURE CARCUSS SEPERATION. *PH |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 150.0%ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | Too few reports for a range | 25,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Too few reports for a range | 25,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | Too few reports for a range | 25,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Equipment | Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10174275TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND BREAK, JUST AS IN RECALLS OF NEWER TRUCKS! THESE CABLES HAVE BEEN BREAKING FOR YEARS, WHY WAS THE RECALL ONLY APPLICABLE TO 2000 AND NEWER TRUCKS? *JB | 0 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 0 | — | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 0 | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 0 | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | — | 0 | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 1ODI 10174275TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND BREAK, JUST AS IN RECALLS OF NEWER TRUCKS! THESE CABLES HAVE BEEN BREAKING FOR YEARS, WHY WAS THE RECALL ONLY APPLICABLE TO 2000 AND NEWER TRUCKS? *JB | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 0 | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 1ODI 10013985 · 25,000 mi1996 GMC 1 TON TRUCK 4X4: ABS FAILURE WITH MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. IT GETS STIFF AND GROANS AND THEN KICKS IN AFTER I GO THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WIPER MOTOR-WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RAIN STORMS AND I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. FOUR WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE ON SNOWY STREETS WHEN I WANT TO ACCELERATE. *JB | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.