Gmc TOPKICK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
17,848 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 13 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Steering:Linkages | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Steering:Linkages: 2; Air Bags: 1; Equipment:Electrical: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Parking Brake: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10166804 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
DRAGS LINKS FAILING PREMATURELY ON GMC TOPKICKS. FIRST FOUND AT 31,000 MILES. CHECKED THE REST OF THE FLEET AND FOUND 3 OTHERS FAILED. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD FAILURES IN AS LITTLE AS 6300 MILES. BRAND NEW JUST PUT IN SERVICE. THESE ARE 2004/2005 AND 2006 GMC. PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WARRANTY REFUSED ON THE SECOND GO AROUND. (SO FAR) DEALER IS INVESTIGATING. FAILURE WOULD MEAN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEATH AND INJURIES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166854 · 2006-08-29 (August 29, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE'S DRAG LINKS WERE WORN OUT TO THE POINT OF FALLING OFF. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT STEERING WOULD BE COMPLETELY LOST IF THE DRAG LINKS FELL OFF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178351 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON 1/10/07 UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, AND AT 80 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER LOSS LASTED ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE CAME BACK ON. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO APPROXIMATE 78 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE GAUGE LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WERE NOT VISIBLE DURING THE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE DID NOT LOSE POWER COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT WAS ON A DELIVERY RUN, AND WAS TOLD BY LL JOHNSON DISTRIBUTION TO CALL THE HOT LINE AND REPORT THIS INC…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,170 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456445 · 2012-04-25 (April 25, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC TOPKICK. WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT SET THE AUTOMATIC PARKING BRAKE BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD EITHER SET ITSELF OR NOT RELEASE UPON DISENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATION IN THE PARKING BREAK FLUID, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256500 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC TOPKICK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WIRING ERROR RELATED TO THE UPFITTER. WHILE THE BODY WAS BEING PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THEY CLIPPED THE WIRING THAT WAS SUPPLIED FROM GM. THE TAIL LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE CLIPPED WIRING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TAILLIGHTS, MARKER LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WERE ALL OUT. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BLOWN FUSE. UPDATED 03/19/09.(KB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141747 · 2005-11-04 (November 4, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A PUDDLE ON THE DRIVEWAY BENEATH THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPLACED THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. *AK THE FULE HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141747 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 1; 1999: 0; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 1