Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | typical | 2 | — | Few |
| 2000 | 1 | typical | 3 | Brake | Few |
| 1999 | 0 | typical | 4 | — | Few |
| 1998 | 0 | typical | 2 | — | Few |
* Complaints compared with the median C6500 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common GMC C6500 problems
Latest GMC C6500 recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and correctly install the two fuel filter mounting bolts, if necessary. Owner notification began August 8, 2002.
Service brakes, air › Antilock
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…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new shift cable.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the GMC C6500 should you avoid?
None of the GMC C6500 years has an unusually high number of complaints compared with the others at the same age.
What are the most common GMC C6500 problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the brakes (1). Brake complaints peak in the 2000 model year.
How many recalls has the GMC C6500 had?
6 recalls across 1998–2001. The model year with the most is 1999. See all GMC C6500 recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.