The 1996 GMC Sierra is a pickup truck that came with a choice of 4.3L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl and 6.5L 8-cyl engines. At 30 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Standard Pickup Trucks |
|---|---|
| Engines | 4.3L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 6.5L 8-cyl (turbocharged versions available) |
| Transmissions | Automatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline, Diesel |
| Fuel economy | 11–16 city / 16–21 highway / 13–18 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,700–$6,400 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 494–684 grams per mile |
| Versions tested by EPA | 19 configurations: Sierra 1500 2WD, Sierra 2500 2WD, Sierra 1500 4WD |
| Age | 30 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 1996 GMC Sierra. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
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.
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.
Owners have filed 251 complaints about the 1996 GMC Sierra with NHTSA. 20 reports involved a crash and 4 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 15 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
Manufacturers have filed 20 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 1996 GMC Sierra. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Chevrolet:GMC: engineering information-fuel tank pressure sensor, dtcs p0446, p0451 or p0454 set. GMC engineering is attempting to determine the root cause of the above c
Antilock brake (ABS) activation at low speeds. *tt
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
NHTSA opened 3 defect investigations covering the 1996 GMC Sierra.
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, gm has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached t
Headlight
Headlight
Based on the reports received by odi from consumers, failure of the headlight electrical circuit may occur in the subject vehicles, and may result from repeated adjustment ofthe tilt steering wheel in the subject vehicles.repeated adjustment of the steering wheel position may strain the wiring in the headlight circuit
It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 1996 Sierras that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1996 GMC Sierra; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
Get a free offer in minutes. Towing is always free and you get paid at pickup.