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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1997–2009

GMC C6500 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints for the GMC C6500, covering model years 1997 to 2009. The 1997 model year drew the most complaints (2), and Equipment is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your GMC C6500 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 7 recall campaigns on file
  • 5 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 8 model years with data (1997–2009)
  • most complaints: 1997 (2 for that model year)
  • top component: Equipment (1 complaint)
  • latest recall 15V112000 (reported Feb 25, 2015)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

GMC C6500 complaints by model year

4 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1997 model year has the most complaints: 2 of 5, or 40.0%. Next come 2000 (1) and 2007 (1). The fewest are for 2009, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
GMC C6500 owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1997–2009Column chart of 5 complaints across 13 model years. The highest is 1997 with 2. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1997: 2 complaints219971998: 0 complaints19981999: 0 complaints19992000: 1 complaint120002001: 0 complaints20012002: 0 complaints20022003: 0 complaints20032004: 0 complaints20042005: 0 complaints20052006: 0 complaints20062007: 1 complaint120072008: 0 complaints20082009: 1 complaint12009
GMC C6500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
GMC C6500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
199720000
200010000
200710000
200910000
All model years50000

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported GMC C6500 components

top 5 · NHTSA categories

Equipment is the component named most often, in 1 complaint (20.0% of all 5), followed by Power Train (1) and Service Brakes (1).

Components named most often in GMC C6500 complaints (top 5)
Components named most often in GMC C6500 complaints (top 5)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Equipment120.0%
Power Train120.0%
Service Brakes120.0%
Steering120.0%
Tires120.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

GMC C6500 recalls

7 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C6500, newest first. The 7 campaigns cover model years 1998 to 2007. The 1999 model year appears in the most campaigns (4).

  • 7 recall campaigns
GMC C6500 recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
1998: 2 campaigns1999: 4 campaigns
2000: 3 campaigns2001: 2 campaigns2002: 1 campaign2003: no campaigns2004: no campaigns2005: no campaigns2006: no campaigns2007: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 15V112000

    Reported

    Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

    Model year 2007

    Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

    Consequence:
    If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
    Remedy:
    Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.

    Filed by Ford Motor Company

  2. NHTSA campaign 02V287000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline

    Model years 1999–2000

    Certain medium duty c-series and B7 school bus chassis equipped with a 7.4 liter gas engine and an impco LPG conversion kit. Some of these vehicles may have engine backfires with sufficient force to damage the engine air intake system and the air cleaner filter element.

    Consequence:
    If the damaged air cleaner parts are dislodged from their normal position, these parts could come in contact with the hot exhaust manifold and/or hot exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve tube resulting in a possible engine compartment fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install a redesigned mixer bonnet and air cleaner housing cover, selective upgrades in various connections related to the air induction system, and if needed, a new air cleaner filter. Owner notification began December 18, 2002. 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 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 02V183000

    Reported

    Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting

    Model years 2001–2002

    On certain medium duty trucks equipped with 8.1 l engines and left hand or dual fuel tanks, some of these vehicles have a condition where the fuel filter-to-component box mounting bolts are reversed. With the bolts reversed, the threaded bolt end is oriented toward the front wall of the left hand fuel tank.

    Consequence:
    In the event of a frontal crash, the threaded end of the bolts could pierce the front wall of the fuel tank resulting in flue leakage. If an ignition source were present, fuel leakage could result in a vehicle fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and correctly install the two fuel filter mounting bolts, if necessary. Owner notification began August 8, 2002. 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 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  4. NHTSA campaign 00V232008

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Air › Antilock

    Model years 1998–2001

    Vehicle description: school buses, medium duty trucks and tractors built with bendix air ABS with an EC-17 1030R electronic control unit (ECU), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

    Consequence:
    This condition could cause the ABS ECU to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  5. NHTSA campaign 00V236000

    Reported

    Power Train › Automatic Transmission

    Model years 1999–2000

    Vehicle description: medium duty trucks. The transmission fluid could leak from a heat degraded transmission fluid cooler hose onto the exhaust system on the passenger's side of the vehicle.

    Consequence:
    This condition could result in a fire.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install a new transmission fluid cooler inlet hose and outlet hose designed with a heat sleeve and ensure adequate clearance to the exhaust system take-down pipe. Dealers will also inspect the right-hand exhaust manifold seal for leakage, and replace if necessary.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  6. NHTSA campaign 99V320000

    Reported

    Power Train › Automatic Transmission

    Model year 1999

    Vehicle description: medium duty conventional cab trucks and school bus chassis equipped with an automatic transmission, have transmission shift cable end rods that have not been crimped to the proper specification. Over time, the shift cable could be pulled out of the rod end causing the driver to lose the ability to manually change transmission gears.

    Consequence:
    With this condition, the vehicle may move in a direction not anticipated by the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install a new shift cable.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  7. NHTSA campaign 98V073000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood

    Model year 1998

    Vehicle description: medium duty trucks equipped with air brakes and anti-lock brake systems. Chaffing of the electric brake control harness can occur resulting in an electrical grounding condition. This will illuminate a warning light on the instrument panel and shut off the ABS feature.

    Consequence:
    This condition can cause reduced braking capability of the front brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the harness for chaffing and proper routing and will repair if necessary.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

GMC C6500 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the GMC C6500 have?

NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recall campaigns for the GMC C6500, covering model years 1997 to 2009. The most recent, 15V112000, was reported on February 25, 2015 and is filed under “Equipment adaptive/mobility”. The 1999 model year is covered by the most campaigns (4).

Which GMC C6500 model year has the most complaints?

The 1997 model year, with 2 of the 5 complaints in NHTSA’s file (40.0%). The next are 2000 (1) and 2007 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common GMC C6500 complaint?

Equipment is the component named most often: 1 complaint, or 20.0% of all 5. Power Train (1) and Service Brakes (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my GMC C6500?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a GMC dealer.

How many GMC C6500 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 5 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other GMC models

8 models · most complaints first

The GMC models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the GMC VIN decoder with every GMC model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • GMC Sierra 1500 1995–2026 · 60 recalls · 8,852 complaints
  • GMC Acadia 2007–2026 · 38 recalls · 5,557 complaints
  • GMC Yukon 1995–2026 · 74 recalls · 4,874 complaints
  • GMC Sierra 1995–2017 · 52 recalls · 3,585 complaints
  • GMC Terrain 2010–2026 · 22 recalls · 3,110 complaints
  • GMC Envoy 1995–2009 · 27 recalls · 2,459 complaints
  • GMC Yukon XL 1999–2026 · 54 recalls · 2,403 complaints
  • GMC Jimmy 1995–2004 · 18 recalls · 1,869 complaints

All GMC models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.