1996 GMC Sierra 3500 SX from North America - Comments

- 4 injection pumps

- transmission ($3k or so to fix)

- power steering pump

- various front end components (ball joint, steering linkage)

- front brake cylinder

- transfer case 4wd sending switch

- front hub 4wd engagement solenoid.

This is a beautiful looking truck. It's a 1 ton crew cab with all the options. Very nice to drive, very smooth for a 1 ton. However, it eats parts and $$ like there's no tomorrow. I'm never going to own another vehicle that is newer than 1992.

The electronic injection pump on this truck failed 3 times in 100,000km. Luckily it was under an extended warranty until 190,000kms. The last one only made it about 12,000kms.

The 4l80e transmission is supposed to be good, but I guess by "good" they mean expensive and manages to make it 180,000kms. Not good in my book.

If it was just a few things it wouldn't be too bad, but every time I touch the thing something fails. I'm afraid to drive it!

In short I'm very unimpressed. We also have a Toyota Corolla with 390,000kms on it that has had 1/10th the amount of work done to it.

We got this (GMC) truck believing that American cars were back on track, but our 1996 GMC diesel 3500 has made it clear to us never to buy anything, but cars from Japan again!

We now know why the price for this used truck was so good. It has cost us in repairs as much as we had paid for the truck.

The list of troubles is too long to give, and I just as soon spend my time looking for another truck then talk about what a fool I was to believe in our country's turning the corner on the quality problem of the past. Never again!!!

Well the 6.5 liter engine was probably the worst engine GM put out. Or the worst diesel engine in general. I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins turbo diesel. This truck has just rolled 400k and still runs as good as new. And I work the heck out of it, but maintain it religiously as you should with any vehicle.

I have a friend who once owned a 1995 Ram Cummins that had over 700k on the original motor, and still ran great. If you want a real diesel truck, then you definitely can't go wrong with a Cummins.