Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET C30 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET C30
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETC30 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 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 C30 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 4 filings, followed by equipment:electrical (1). 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 C30, 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.
5
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20000906SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM GM CANADA CONCERNING ANTILOCK BRAKES. WHEN I TOOK THE VAN TO BE FIXED, THE DEALER WOULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS CONVERTED TO AN RV BY ROADTREK AND IT WOULD REQUIRE 16 HOURS LABOR TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. NEITHER GM OR ROADTREK WOULD COVER THE COST. HOW CAN I GET THIS RESOLVED.
20000127CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
19970909SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE USED FOR POLICE USE. CONSUMER STATED WHEN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE REAR BRAKES GRAB AND ALSO LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FREEZE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE BEING FORCED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
19970424EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
SHORT IN CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS TO FAIL.
19970414CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD AND QUICKLY. HAD AN ACCIDENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND THEY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL 30 FEET AND RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THAT WAS HOW THE BRAKES WORKED. *AK
Compare 1996CHEVROLETC30 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 C30 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET C30 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET C30?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET C30 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET C30 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.