1996 GMC Suburban Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Suburban years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 GMC Suburban. That ranks 4th out of 10 Suburban model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (61 complaints, 35%), typically at around 94,173 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 2 fires, 18 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
- 172owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 GMC Suburban problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 61 | 35% | 94,173 | “stopping distance” (21%) | — |
| Visibility | 26 | 15% | 208,671 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 18 | 10% | 58,007 | — | — |
| Power Train | 13 | 8% | 76,100 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 7% | 208,671 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 1% | 96,799 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 87,947 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 GMC Suburban recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Risk: If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on june 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Risk: This condition can result in inoperative wipers, reducing a driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: These vehicles were assembled with the throttle cable contacting the dash mat which could bind the throttle. This does not meet with the maximum return times required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: the engine speed may not return to idle increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for adequate throttle cable to dash mat clearance, and if there is insufficient clearance, cut out a portion of the dash mat to provide proper clearance.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Oem hitch receiver platform cracking (DP00001) — opened Jan 31, 2000, still open.
- Windshield wiper failure (EA02006) — opened May 31, 2002, closed Jul 23, 2003, led to recall 03V159000.
- Headlight (PE00017) — opened Apr 11, 2000, closed Sep 26, 2000.
- Battery leaks acid (PE99073) — opened Dec 3, 1999, closed May 2, 2000.
- Poor brake performance (EA95026) — opened Sep 20, 1995, closed Sep 20, 2001, led to recall 01I006000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1996 gmc suburban, caught on fire. Bf ohio traffic crash report #10-0580-91 updated 05/03/10 *bf
Traveling up from va, the right rear firestone tire which is a lt245/75r16 mounted on a 1996 2500 suburban load range e tire rated at max 80 psi, was inflated to 65 psi. I felt a bobbling then the tread came off the casing, damaging the side of my suburban, ripping off the mud flap and damage the…
On the gmc 6.5 the pmd, or pump mounted driver fails due to heat failure, also failing for no reason in 8 degree temperatures. When it fails there are no signs, warnings just stalling the power steering, power brakes gone. Now put yourself on a 2 mile hill of an insane descent, and yourself behind…
Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds on the highway, the engine stalled without warning. After stalling, the vehicle was not easily restarted. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined the fuel injector pump needed to be replaced. After the initial replacement, the…
Limited recall limits my safety! I had a recent close call in my 1996 gmc suburban. The brakes began to anti-lock on dry pavement when anti-lock assistance was not required, thus greatly increasing my stopping distance. The brakes were not pressed hard; the anti-lock should not have engaged. It was…
Other GMC Suburban years
← 1995 Suburban · 1997 Suburban →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Suburban | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 Suburban | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 Suburban | 7 | 1 |
| 2001 Suburban | 5 | 2 |
| 2000 Suburban | 15 | 2 |
| 1999 Suburban | 285 | 1 |
| 1998 Suburban | 100 | 2 |
| 1997 Suburban | 200 | 2 |
| 1996 | 172 | 3 |
| 1995 Suburban | 227 | 6 |
See all GMC Suburban problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC Suburban?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, electrical system problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 61 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 GMC Suburban?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 GMC Suburban a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Suburban model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.