CHEVROLET C1500 · model year

1996 CHEVROLET C1500

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.

278
Complaints
16
Crashes
4
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

278 filings

Crashes Reported

16 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR37
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP26
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER14
SEATS13
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
SUSPENSION:FRONT6
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4

Recent Complaints

20100312POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20080311VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

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

20080225STRUCTURE

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

20070614FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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

20051129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20050622FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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

20050329VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

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

20050124POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20050124LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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

20041202STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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

20041001SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

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

20040917VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

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

20040630STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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

20040628VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

20040327ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

20031211CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

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

20030929UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

20030929SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

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

20030709VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK DUE TO CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE WIPER ARMS UNDER RECALL. *AK

20030611VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. *AK

Compare 1996CHEVROLETC1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 has 278 NHTSA complaints, 16 crashes, 4 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C1500?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 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.