Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET C/K 1500 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETC/K 1500 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 C/K 1500 is electrical system with 1 filings, followed by power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1996 C/K 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20151231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT LIGHT WHEN SWITCHED ON. DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SWITCHED ON. HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE SWITCH IN THE PARKING LIGHT POSITION IN ORDER TO GET THE DASH BOARD AND TAILLIGHTS TO COME ON. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
Mileage: 230,000
20151231POWER TRAIN
HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. NO UP SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHICH FIXED THE 3RD GEAR PROBLEM, BUT INTERMITTENTLY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND. ALSO NOTICED THE IDLE RPMS ARE HIGHER WHEN THIS OCCURS AND WILL NOT LOWER.
Mileage: 235,000
Compare 1996CHEVROLETC/K 1500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 1500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.