Total Complaints
7 filings
CHEVROLET C/K 3500 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETC/K 3500 carries 7 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 3500 is wheels:hub with 1 filings, followed by tires (1) and fuel/propulsion system (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 3500, 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.
7
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 |
|---|---|
| WHEELS:HUB | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140729SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. ..UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS
Mileage: 198,000
20140729SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. ..UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS
Mileage: 198,000
20120814FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER HAS FAILED A NUMBER OF TIMES, CAUSING VERY HIGH FUEL TEMPERATURES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER PARTS IN FUEL/ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PMD 3 TIMES SO FAR. WHEN THE PMD IS NEW, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS A FEW MONTHS AT BEST. *TR
Mileage: 312,000
20120814ENGINE
PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER HAS FAILED A NUMBER OF TIMES, CAUSING VERY HIGH FUEL TEMPERATURES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER PARTS IN FUEL/ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PMD 3 TIMES SO FAR. WHEN THE PMD IS NEW, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS A FEW MONTHS AT BEST. *TR
Mileage: 312,000
20120814ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER HAS FAILED A NUMBER OF TIMES, CAUSING VERY HIGH FUEL TEMPERATURES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER PARTS IN FUEL/ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PMD 3 TIMES SO FAR. WHEN THE PMD IS NEW, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS A FEW MONTHS AT BEST. *TR
Mileage: 312,000
20080827TIRES
I OWN A 1996 CHEVROLET C3500 P.U. PURCHASED NEW IN FEB, 1996. THIS TRUCK CAME EQUIPPED WITH UNIROYAL LAREDO LT245/75R16E TIRES. THEY WERE REPLACED IN MAY OF 2004 AFTER 51,000 TROUBLE FREE MILES. I PURCHASED UNIROYAL LAREDO LT245/75R16E AWT TIRES AS A REPLACEMENT. I SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT ON JUNE 30, 2007. THAT TIRE ONLY HAD 15,000 MILE ON IT. I HAD A SECOND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON JULY 23, 2008 . THIS TIRE WAS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAD 19,000 MILES ON IT. ALWAYS PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED EVERY SPRING. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OUT OF A SET OF FOUR PURCHASED IN 2004. THE TIRES ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. I NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE NEXT SIZE SMALLER. PERHAPS THE RECALL DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. *TR
Mileage: 15,000
20071024WHEELS:HUB
1996 CHEVROLET 3500 REAR WHEELS FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THEY JUST FELL OFF AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. *KB THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL/HUB WAS DEFECTIVE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB
Compare 1996CHEVROLETC/K 3500 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 3500 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 is WHEELS:HUB with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500 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.