Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT) · model year
1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT)
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETC SERIES (LIGHT) carries 3 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, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 C SERIES (LIGHT) is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 1 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist:pump (1) and electrical system:wiring: rear compartment/trunk (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1996 C SERIES (LIGHT), and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
FUEL PUMP QUIT, I'VE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS. I BELIEVE THE WIRE GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP ON THE CHEV/GMC TRUCKS INCLUDING PICKUP IS UNSAFE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL SHOW THAT THE REASON THEY QUIT IS BECAUSE THE WIRE HAS BEEN HOT. THIS WIRE CONNECTOR IS ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE PLATE ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. I DON'T KNOW HOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FIRE YET.
19960628STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT BROKE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER/STOP VEHICLE. *DH
19960601CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN DRIVER TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ENTER INTERSECTION, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *DSH
Compare 1996CHEVROLETC SERIES (LIGHT) 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 SERIES (LIGHT) have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT) has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT) is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT) 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 CHEVROLET C SERIES (LIGHT); no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.