Total Complaints
278 filings
CHEVROLET C1500 · model year
278 NHTSA complaints, 16 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETC1500 carries 278 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 16 crashes, 4 fires, 15 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 C1500 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 37 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (26) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (14). 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 C1500, 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.
Total Complaints
278 filings
Crashes Reported
16 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 37 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 26 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 14 |
| SEATS | 13 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
WHEN EVER IT RAINS OR IF I GO THROUGH THE CARWASH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. SEEMS LIKE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HARNESS GETS WET IS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET C1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. HE HAS HAD TO TAP THE MOTOR IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER ACTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,500.
Mileage: 104,000
CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT CAME OFF OF THE FINISH SEVERAL YEARS BACK AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THAT ISSUE. I TAKE SERIOUS PRIDE IN MY VEHICLE AND IF GENERAL MOTORS ASSUMES PRIDE IN THEIR PRODUCT AS THEY ADVERTISE THEM TO BE THEN THEY WON'T MIND AMENDING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SO ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SUPPLY TO ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Mileage: 40,000
TL-THE ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT GOES INTO THE FUEL TANK THAN MAKES THE GAS TANK AND THE GAS GAUGE WORK SHORTED OUT THE FUEL PUMP SO THAT IT WON'T WORK AND THE GAS GAUGAE ALSO. HE HAD IT REPAIR IN MO AND AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A 100 MILES THE GAS GAUGE WOULD NOT WORK AND HE TOOK TI TO A DEALER TO GET IT SERVICED AND THEY STATED THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. WHAT IS THE RECOURSE IF GETTING A REIMBURSEMENT THIS IS THE THIRD FUEL PUMP HE HAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE
Mileage: 80,400
ON 10/03/02 I HAD A CHEVY TRUCK [XXX] REPAIRED FOR LOW SPEED ABS ENGAGEMENT, (UNDER EXT WARR). IN SEPT OF 2005, I AGAIN STARTED EXPERIENCING LOW SPEED ABS ENGAGEMENT. THIS TIME SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD IT REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. IT OCCURRED FIRST AT 51,409 MI AND THE NEXT TIME AT 70,000 MI. THIS COULD PROVE TO BE A REAL PAIN IF THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO RESURFACE EVERY 20,000 MILES. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mileage: 70,000
DT: CONTACT STATED THE FUEL PUMP BURNED UP, THE WIRES INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP HAD MELTD. THE FUEL PUMP WAS BEING REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. CONTACT STATED HE CONTACTED THE GM MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY RESOLUTION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, N RAINY WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
TRANSMISSION THIS IS THE THIRD TIME FOR REBUILDING THIS TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM,ROUGH SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND & NO SHIFT TO 3RD OR OVERDRIVE & EVERY REBUILD IS $1,000.00. NOT TO MENTION THE HOW UNSAFE THIS COULD BE . IS SOMEONE GOING TO HAVE TO GET KILLED AS A RESULT FROM THE FAILURE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE SOMEONE HAS THEM RECALLED? *NM
Mileage: 70,000
TRANSMISSION THIS IS THE THIRD TIME FOR REBUILDING THIS TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM,ROUGH SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND & NO SHIFT TO 3RD OR OVERDRIVE & EVERY REBUILD IS $1,000.00. NOT TO MENTION THE HOW UNSAFE THIS COULD BE . IS SOMEONE GOING TO HAVE TO GET KILLED AS A RESULT FROM THE FAILURE OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE SOMEONE HAS THEM RECALLED? *NM
Mileage: 70,000
FAILED TAILGATE CABLES ON 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERAGO 1/2T PICKUP. WHY ARE ONLY VEHICLES STARTING IN 2000 MODEL YEAR BEING RECALLED? I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THEM ON MY 1996. MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT 1994 THRU 1998 MODELS THAT I KNOW.*AK
FRONT SEAT MOUNT, GM POWER SEATS. I AM A AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN ENGINEER, MY COMPANY MAKES THE SEAT IN QUESTION, BUT I DO NOT WORK FOR THAT DIVISION. THE LOWER FRONT MOUNT CRACKED AND FAILED WHEN I WAS LEANING BACK ON MY SEAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, I WAS THROWN INTO THE BACK CAB, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK. I INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT IT IS DUE TO A VERY POOR DESIGN. THIS MOUNT HAS TO EVENTUALLY FAIL, BECAUSE A BOLT IS INSERTED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY THIN SHEET METAL MOUNT PLATE, EVERY TIME THERE IS A LOAD PLACED ON THAT SEAT, THIS FLANGE BENDS BEYOND ITS ELASTIC LIMIT, THIS FLANGE WILL EVENTUALLY CRACK. I HAVE REPAIRED THIS MYSELF BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WARN OTHERS OF THIS PROBLEM MY VECHICLE IS A 1996 CHEVEROLET Z-71 SILVERADO PICK UP TRUCK WITH THE 6 WAY POWER BUCKET SEATS. *AK THANK YOU
Mileage: 140,000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER TALKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALE CONSUMER WAS TOLD, THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 83,000
CHEVROLET FULLSIZE TRUCK RECALL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES.*MR GM ISSUED A RECALL OF 2000-2004 SILVERADOS FOR TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES WHICH ARE KNOWN TO RUST AND FAIL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO AT LEAST 1995 VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE CABLE TAILGATE HANGER SINCE THOSE ARE ALSO KNOWN TO RUST AND BREAK. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE CABLE HANGER ON HIS 1996 C1500 2 YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NM
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
INTAKE GASKETS LEAKING ANTYFREEZE.THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKING AT FRONT AND REAR OF THE INTAKE AND CYLINDER HEAD,ON BOTH SIDES, FRONT AND REAR. THE GASKETS STARTS TO BRAKE DOWN AND CRACKS AT ALL OF THE WATER JACKETS CAUSE THEM TO LEAK ANTYFREEZE.THIS IS THE THIRD VEHICLE I HAVE DONE ,ALL OF THEM BEING 1996 CHEVY C1500 TRUCK HAVING THE 305 ENGINE .ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS MINE WHICH ONLY HAD 70,650 MILES ON IT AND WAS MAINTAINED BY ME .I,M A {A.E.S.} CERTIFIED MECH WITH OVER 25YR OF SERVICE.*AK
Mileage: 13
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
VEHICLE IS MISSING TWO OF THE THREE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR SEATS. ALSO, VIN NUMBER IS MISSING FROM THE DOOR, AND THE DASH VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TITLE OF THE VEHICLE SHOWS 89000 MILES AND THE ODOMETER SHOWS 106000 MILES.*AK
Mileage: 106,000
VEHICLE IS MISSING TWO OF THE THREE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR SEATS. ALSO, VIN NUMBER IS MISSING FROM THE DOOR, AND THE DASH VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TITLE OF THE VEHICLE SHOWS 89000 MILES AND THE ODOMETER SHOWS 106000 MILES.*AK
Mileage: 106,000
CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK DUE TO CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE WIPER ARMS UNDER RECALL. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. *AK
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.