The 1996 GMC C35 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,026,751 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
THESE TIRES HAVE BEAD DAMAGE WHICH OCCURED DURING TIRE MOUNTING.
THIS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE REINFORCING STRUCTURE IN THE BEAD "TOE" AREA CAUSES A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER THE TIRE IS INFLATED. THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN A SLOW AIR LOSS CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO RESULT IN A RAPID AIR LOSS CAUSING INJURIES TO ANYONE IF THEY WERE…
DEALERS WILL DEMOUNT EACH TIRE AND INSPECT FOR BEAD DAMAGE. IF BEAD DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED.
THE FOUR U-BOLTS NUTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE WERE UNDER-TORQUED.
VEHICLE USAGE COULD CAUSE THE NUTS TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY FALL OFF THE U-BOLT. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL CHECK THE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE AND RE-TORQUE ANY LOOSE U-BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
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."
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
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.
CERTAIN TRUCKS HAVE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES WITH AN IMPROPERLY CRIMPED END RETAINER CLIP THAT RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK.
IF FUEL LEAKAGE OCCURS AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE ANY FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY WITH A JULIAN DATE CODE OF 95318 THROUGH 95338.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“During any speed on wet roads with heavy loads the brakes when they are applied they will instantly engage and then disengage. The brakes have to be reapplied several times in order for the brakes to operate correctly. *ak”
“The dealership will not honor his recall letter regarding interior seats. *ak”
“Recall 96v117000, two weeks is too long to wait for tire to come in. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 GMC C35 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.