CHEVROLET C2500 · model year

1996 CHEVROLET C2500

61 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996CHEVROLETC2500 carries 61 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 C2500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 20 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (8) and seats (4). 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 C2500, 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.

61
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

61 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR8
SEATS4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
TIRES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1

Recent Complaints

20050620FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

DT: CONTACT STATES HE HAS A DIESEL VEHICLE THAT LOSES POWER, AND THE MOTOR SHUTSDOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARMER OR RAINING. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE PMD NEEDSED TO BE REPLACED, GENERAL MOTORS WILL COVER THIS COMPONENT UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT CONTACT CANNOT FIND A SERVICE DEALER TO DO THIS WORK. *AK

20040114CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND HIT A POLE. *AK

Mileage: 175,000

20020827SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES GRAB IF VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE FEELS AS IF HE IS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WINDOW.*YH

20020225TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON INTERSTATE HEARD A BANGING NOISE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE . GOODYEAR TIRES. *AK

20011206VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO FUNCTION SOMETIMES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND NOTHING DEALER CAN DO .*AK

20010503SEATS

CONSUMER WAS GOING 35 MPH DOWN A 3 LANE STREET HE SHIFTED HIS WEIGHT, AND AS A RESULT SEAT BROKE AWAY FROM FLOORBOARD. SEATBACK TOUCHED THE BACK SEAT. DEALER IS SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER, TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

20001020STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

THE HAZARD FLASHERS ARE INOPERABLE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE SERVICING DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM. THE REPAIR SEEMS TO INVOLVE THE HAZARD FLASHER/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPAIR COSTS $200-$300. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE HAZARD FLASHERS A RE AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY RELATED COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

20000710CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, COMING OFF A RAMP, TRIED TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC AND CONSUMER REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK *ML

20000526VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY DOWNPOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. ALSO, A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

20000511VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP HALF WAY ON THE WINDOW. WIPERS FAILED IN RAINSTORM. WIPER CONTROL MODULE WAS RECALLED, BUT CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.ET.

20000316VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN CONSUMER TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, AND THEY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

20000211VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION ,CAUSING VISUAL DIFFICULTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 1995 MAKE/MODEL, BUT NOT FOR 1996 WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20000127VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. CONSUMER COULD HARDLY SEE THE ROAD. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODELS. HOWER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXHIBITS THE SAME DEFECT. *AK

20000121SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILETRAVELING 15-20 MPHAND MAKING A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAK PEDAL VEHICLECONTINUED TO L TRAVEL INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, CAN OT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991129VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98043 (98V-150). NLM

19991129VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98043 (98V-150). NLM

19991124SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN TRAVELING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID , AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

19991123VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS COME ON AND THEN STOP. SOMETIMES THE WIPERS DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. DEALER SAYS CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDS REPLACEDMENT. *AK

19990907SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

REAR WHEELS LOCKS UP WHEN TRYING AND STOP,AND VEHICLE SLIDES UNTIL THE BRAKES KICK IN. *AK

19990726VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND APPLYING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY DON'T WORK. TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD THAT SOME COMPUTER BOARDS WERE SHORTING OUT IN MOISTURE. RECALL ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

Compare 1996CHEVROLETC2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET C2500 have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET C2500 has 61 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C2500?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C2500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and SEATS.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C2500 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.