1996 Gmc C1500 SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
155,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: . 2 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
Visibility is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 2 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 2 |
Visibility: 2
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility leads the component reports. 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 10283727 · 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)
MY WINDSHIELD WIPER RUNS INTERMITTENTLY,AND SOMETIMES STOPS ALTOGETHER OR RUNS AT FULL SPEED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. USUALLY I PULL OVER AND LIFT THE HOOD AND GIVE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR A THUMP AND THIS SEEMS TO SORT IT OUT TILL THE NEXT TIME. THE THING THAT ANNOYS ME MOST IS WHEN IT WONT START IN TRAFFIC.MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN AND I HAD RESIGNED MYSELF TO LIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I STUMBLED ON THE RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INCIDENTS OR EVEN COME NEAR WITH THIS COMPLAINT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO CHECK THIS OU…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328787 · 2010-05-04 (May 4, 2010)
THIS GMC SUBURBAN WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED IN 2007 UNDER THE RECALL. THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. THE WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE BY THE SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY. THEY COME ON WHEN NOT SELECTED ON OR WILL NOT COME ON WHEN SELECTED ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 216,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328787 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 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10296503 · 115,000 miBRAKE PEDAL "WENT TO THE FLOOR " WITHOUT WARNING ON MY 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. DASHBOARD FAILED TO SHOW A "RED" BRAKE LIGHT UNTIL ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER WHEN I CHECKED BRAKES AGAIN. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY BRAKING ABILITY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "BUILT IN SAFETY REDUNDANCY" TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING ? LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 325.0%ODI 10425064 · 135,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC C1500 SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WHEN THE BRAKED WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WHERE THE CONTACT DETECTED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. |
| Visibility | 2100.0%ODI 10343400 · 182,217 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE DURING RAINY WEATHER. WIPERS WILL SOMETIMES OPERATE AFTER BEING ASSISTED MANUALLY. FAULTY WIPERS WILL CAUSE WEATHER TO IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S VISION DURING RAINY OR FOGGY CONDITIONS RESULTING IN THE LIKELY POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS SAME YEAR HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE WITH WIPERS BUT GM DEALERSHIP'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. PROBLEM IS STILL EXISTING AND NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR REPAIRED FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN… | 2100.0%ODI 10283727 · 95,000 miMY WINDSHIELD WIPER RUNS INTERMITTENTLY,AND SOMETIMES STOPS ALTOGETHER OR RUNS AT FULL SPEED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. USUALLY I PULL OVER AND LIFT THE HOOD AND GIVE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR A THUMP AND THIS SEEMS TO SORT IT OUT TILL THE NEXT TIME. THE THING THAT ANNOYS ME MOST IS WHEN IT WONT START IN TRAFFIC.MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN AND I HAD RESIGNED MYSELF TO LIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I STUMBLED ON THE RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INCIDENTS OR EVEN COME NEAR WITH THIS COMPLAINT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO CHECK THIS OU… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 325.0%ODI 10568527 · 20,000 miCAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING, THIS HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR OVER A 12 YEAR PERIOD, DEALER KEEP SAYING IT WAS SWITCH OR FUEL PUMP, THEY KEPT CHARGING ME EVERYTIME... *TR |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 216.7%ODI 10604547 · 99,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES, HARDWARE, BRAKE CYLINDER AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,960. ALSO, THE A/C WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, AS IT WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. UPDATE… |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10511537TRAVELING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND KEEPS SKIDDING.TRUCK STARTED TO SKID SIDE WAYS,BRAKES GAVE OUT AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.TRUCK KEPT SKIDDING FOR ABOUT HALF MILE BEFORE BRAKES WORKED AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SUBURBAN.THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND PUMPED IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD NOT WORK.SEEMS LIKE ABS MODULE,BRAKES ARE GOOD.JUST ABS HAS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.SUBURBAN JUMPS AND KEEPS GOING WHEN STOPPED.FAILS TO MAKE COMPLETE STOP EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10608111 · 145,020 miEXCESSIVE BRAKE TRAVEL WITHOUT WARNING. BRAKE LIGHT THEN CAME ON BRIEFLY THEN WENT OFF. BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED. GOT HOME AND LOSING BRAKE FLUID FROM IN FRONT OF LEFT REAR TIRE. ADDED FLUID AND DROVE TO MECHANIC. BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REBUILT. COST TO REPAIR $412.00. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10511537TRAVELING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND KEEPS SKIDDING.TRUCK STARTED TO SKID SIDE WAYS,BRAKES GAVE OUT AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.TRUCK KEPT SKIDDING FOR ABOUT HALF MILE BEFORE BRAKES WORKED AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SUBURBAN.THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND PUMPED IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD NOT WORK.SEEMS LIKE ABS MODULE,BRAKES ARE GOOD.JUST ABS HAS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.SUBURBAN JUMPS AND KEEPS GOING WHEN STOPPED.FAILS TO MAKE COMPLETE STOP EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 10386644 · 172,000 miGMC SUBURBAN 1999 STEERING SPEED SENSOR FAILS CAUSING THE STEERING TO SUDDENLY JERK WHILE TURNING UNDER SPEED. IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS HIT "SLIPPERY ICE". *TR |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 10622285 · 93,000 miAIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. NEEDS NEW MODULE AND THE PART IS "CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE" FROM GMC. REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT GUARANTEE WORK ON INSTALLATION OF A THIRD PARTY PART. I HAVE SPOKEN EXTENSIVELY WITH GMC CORPORATE AND THEY CONTINUE TO DELEGATE THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL. IMO, THE DEALERSHIP (THORSON MOTOR CENTER, PASADENA, CA) HAS DONE ALL THEY CAN BY ORDERING THE PART FOR ME. IF THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE, THAT IS NOT THE DEALERSHIP'S FAULT. FURTHER, THERE IS NO ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL EVEN THOUGH THE ORDER HAS BEEN EXPEDITED. GMC CORPO… |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 18.3%ODI 10604547 · 99,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES, HARDWARE, BRAKE CYLINDER AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,960. ALSO, THE A/C WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, AS IT WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE, THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. UPDATE… |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Too few reports for a range | 155,500 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10283727 · 95,000 miMY WINDSHIELD WIPER RUNS INTERMITTENTLY,AND SOMETIMES STOPS ALTOGETHER OR RUNS AT FULL SPEED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. USUALLY I PULL OVER AND LIFT THE HOOD AND GIVE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR A THUMP AND THIS SEEMS TO SORT IT OUT TILL THE NEXT TIME. THE THING THAT ANNOYS ME MOST IS WHEN IT WONT START IN TRAFFIC.MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 GMC SUBURBAN AND I HAD RESIGNED MYSELF TO LIVING WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I STUMBLED ON THE RECALL NOTICE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INCIDENTS OR EVEN COME NEAR WITH THIS COMPLAINT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO CHECK THIS OU… ODI 10328787 · 216,000 miTHIS GMC SUBURBAN WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED IN 2007 UNDER THE RECALL. THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. THE WIPERS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE BY THE SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY. THEY COME ON WHEN NOT SELECTED ON OR WILL NOT COME ON WHEN SELECTED ON. *TR |
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: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 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 | Visibility |
|---|---|
| Visibility | — |
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.