CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS · model year

1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS

24 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996CHEVROLETC/K PICKUPS carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 PICKUPS is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 3 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (2) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (2). 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 PICKUPS, 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.

24
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL2
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER1
AIR BAGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1

Recent Complaints

20100415SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

FAILURE OF BRAKE LINES ON 1996 CHEVY TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 96,123

20091220STRUCTURE

1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB Z71 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. TRUCK HAS NO RUST PROTECTION ON THE FRAME OR BRAKE LINES WHICH CAUSE RUST THROUGH OF THE BRAKE LINES AND THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THE FRAME ITSELF. *TR

Mileage: 96,123

20090328VISIBILITY

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY PICKUP. THE WIPERS KEPT ON TURNING OFF WHEN RAINING. I HAVE TALKED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL AS WELL CHEVY COMPANY AND THE BOTH SAID NO. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THIS COMPLAINT ON OTHER VEHICLES (CHEVY P/U) ON THE SAME YEAR. BUT MY VIN DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. WHEN I WAS COMING IN TO WORK THIS MORNING AT 0430 IN THE RAIN THE WIPER TURNED OFF AND WOULD COME BACK ON. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20061202SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES DEFECTIVE, FRONT CROSSOVER BRAKE LINE UNDER TRANSMISSION SUPPORT BURST. UPON EXAMINATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE HOSES REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION, FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED, REAR DRUMS AND LININGS REPLACED, WITH NEW BRAKE HARDWARE AS WELL, AND REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDERS. BRAKES BLED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURE, BUT PEDAL STILL SPONGY. BRAKES BLED TWO MORE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN SPONGINESS. BRAKES HAVE TIME DELAY BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND ACTIVATION OF BRAKES. BRAKES ARE INADEQUATE FOR EMPTY TRUCK. CARRYING LOAD ON TRUCK OR PULLING TRAILER IS JUST PLAIN SCARY AND DANGEROUS, AS BRAKES DO NOT STOP TRUCK. ANTILOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. PUTTING ALL MY WEIGHT, 275 POUNDS, AND ALL MY STRENGTH, ON BRAKES WHEN TRUCK IS EMPTY, AND ON A WET ROAD, WILL LOCK THE FRONT BRAKES, BUT NO ANTILOCK FUNCTIONS. BAD BRAKES ARE A COMMON GM PROBLEM ACROSS ALL MODEL LINES. I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY LUMINAS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS

Mileage: 110,000

20061127STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE,WENT TO GET UP, TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED. I FELL OFF WITH PAIN TO MY LEGS(I HAVE BAD KNEES), AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE TAILGATE WAS DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT WITH THE BUMPER. *NM

Mileage: 120,787

20060315SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKES ENGAGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. HAD THE ABS SENSOR ( FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 47,000

20060315STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TAILGATE STRAP BROKE. *NM

20051221FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED IN THE DIESEL TRUCK. THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY CAME TO COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH OR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ELECTRONIC DIESEL CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO COMPLETE STOP.*AK

Mileage: 15,000

20051221FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED IN THE DIESEL TRUCK. THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY CAME TO COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH OR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ELECTRONIC DIESEL CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO COMPLETE STOP.*AK

Mileage: 15,000

20050930VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER ON FEBRUARY 23, 2003 FROM CHEVROLET, IT WAS A SPECIAL PROVISION LETTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CONTACTED THE TWO DEALERS ,THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE FELL WITHIN THE SEVEN YEAR LIMIT OR 70,000 AND MY VEHICLE HAS 41,000 BUT THEY SAID IT PAST THE SEVEN YEARS, BUT IT WAS OUTSIDE THE SEVEN YEARS. IT WAS VOID WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED IT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMENTLY ON THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER MOTOR FAIED. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. WHEN TURN INGIT ON ON E COULD HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SOUND, IF ONE HIT THE COVER WITH SOMETHING COULD GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK. *AK

20050511VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INTERMITTENT OPERATION;I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE ,MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER I WAS NOTIFIED MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I THEN CONTACTED GM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE RECALL AND IF I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM I SHOULD TAKE IT TO BE FIXED. I FEEL THEY DO NOT THINK LOSS OF YOUR WIPERS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 105,000

20050318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK

Mileage: 13,300

20040602FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

DIESEL ENGINE UNEXPECTED AND VIOLENTLY SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED, THEN RACED AND RAN ERRATICALLY. IT THEN SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED RESULTING IN SEVERE JERKING AND BUCKING, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN BEING REAR-ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS IS THE PUMP DRIVER MODULE AND EXPRESSED THAT IT IS WELL KNOWN FAILURE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND A LATENT DEFECT THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IN A DIESEL, IT IS AN EXTREMELY STARTLING AND VIOLENT SHUTOFF THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE PROFESSIONAL REPAIR CIRCLES. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS PART SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE...NOW I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $2,000 TO REPAIR IT OUT OF MY POCKET.*AK

Mileage: 130,000

20040419FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

1996 CHEVROLET EXT. CAB SILVERADO,93000 MILES. FUEL PUMP.& EGR VALVE REPLACEMENT? HOW COME SO SOON?*AK

Mileage: 93,000

20040419ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

1996 CHEVROLET EXT. CAB SILVERADO,93000 MILES. FUEL PUMP.& EGR VALVE REPLACEMENT? HOW COME SO SOON?*AK

Mileage: 93,000

20031219CrashAIR BAGS

AIR BAG FOR OUR VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT AND THEY ASSURED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AIRBAG NOT TO GO OFF UNLESS HIGH IMPACT.*AK

Mileage: 75,000

20030923FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

MELTED WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON BOTH A SUBURBAN AND A CHEVY TRUCK.

Mileage: 120,000

20030904POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

20030703POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT, NO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT IT THEMSELVES TO ASSURE QUALITY JOB. IT ONLY LASTED TEN MONTHS, AND THIRD GEAR AGAIN WENT OUT IN MARCH, 2003. REPAIRED AGAIN. ON JULY 2, 2003 AGAIN TO SHOP AS NOW SECOND GEAR WENT OUT. DECISION WAS TO CHANGE THE SOLENOID AND UP THE PRESSURE TO CREATE CRISPER SHIFTS AND LESS WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION. TRANS SHOP FEELS TRUCKS FROM CHEVY OF 94-96 YEARS HAD NEW ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS AND WAS A WEAK DESIGN, CAUSING THESE FAILURES. NEWER TRUCKS HAVE A IMPROVED TRANSMISSION TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 75,000

20020311VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND GET OUT TO START WINDSHIELD WIPER BACK TO WORK BY HAND. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

Compare 1996CHEVROLETC/K PICKUPS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS has 24 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS 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.