CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK · model year

1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK

81 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK carries 81 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 CHEVROLET TRUCK is power train:automatic transmission with 7 filings, followed by seats (5) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (5). 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 CHEVROLET TRUCK, 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.

81
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

81 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
SEATS5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
TIRES2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
AIR BAGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2

Recent Complaints

20101221CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50MPH WHEN A CAR DID A U-TURN IN FRONT OF ME, AFTER HITTING THE CAR I WAS SPUN AROUND AND HIT A SIGN AND THEN A POLE BEFORE STOPPING, THE FRONT END WAS TOTALED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NO INJURIES.*TR

Mileage: 176,500

20050428STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

FORTUNATELY WHILE STILL IN MY GARAGE, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY LIFTING THE DOOR HANDLE. UPON DOING SO THE DOOR UNLATCHED AND IMMEDIATELY FELL INTO MY CHEST AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WITH MY RIGHT HAND STILL ON THE DOOR HANDLE. AFTER SUPPORTING THE DOOR WITH A FOOT STOOL IT WAS OBVIOUS THE DOOR HAD FALLEN OFF THE TOP HINGE COMPLETELEY. YES, THE 4 SPOT WELDS HAD SIMPLY GIVEN WAY. TO SAY THE LEAST I AM AMAZED SOMETHING AS HEAVY AS THAT DOOR IS SIMPLY SPOT WELDED ON AT THE HINGES. I AM GREATFUL MY WIFE OR ANYONE ELSE WAS NOT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEED MAKING A TURN WHILE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN LEANING ON THE DOOR. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LOCAL GARAGE I DO BUSINESS WITH AND THEY RECOMMENDED A CLOSE BY RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP. UNFORTUNATELY I PREFER NOT TO TAKE MY CARS TO THE DEALERS ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF WARRANTY FOR REASONS I WON'T GO INTO HERE. THEY ORDERED A NEW HINGE FROM THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND I THINK IT INTERES

Mileage: 81,209

20030202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRE PLUG INSIDE GAS TANK OVERHEATED AN MELTED THE WIRES AND THE PLUG. THE PUMP OF COURSE STOPPED WORKING SO TRUCK WOULD NOT START. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY HUBLER CHEVROLET ON US31 IN GREENWOOD. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THEN. THE BILL SAYS THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AT THAT TIME. THIS TIME THE TRUCK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MYSELF. WHEN I PULLED THE PUMP FROM THE TANK I FOUND THE BURNT WIRES. I BENCH TESTED THE PUMP AND IT STILL WORKED. ALSO THE WIRES FOR FUEL GAUGE WERE MELTED. THE FUEL GAUGE HAD BEEN WORKING OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I WAS WAITING FOR WARMER WEATHER TO PULL THE FUEL TANK AND FIX IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS HOT AS IT HAD TO GET TO MELT THE WAY IT DID, MY FAMILY AND I ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE FUEL TANK DID NOT EXPLODE. *JB

Mileage: 160,000

20030202FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WIRE PLUG INSIDE GAS TANK OVERHEATED AN MELTED THE WIRES AND THE PLUG. THE PUMP OF COURSE STOPPED WORKING SO TRUCK WOULD NOT START. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY HUBLER CHEVROLET ON US31 IN GREENWOOD. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THEN. THE BILL SAYS THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AT THAT TIME. THIS TIME THE TRUCK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MYSELF. WHEN I PULLED THE PUMP FROM THE TANK I FOUND THE BURNT WIRES. I BENCH TESTED THE PUMP AND IT STILL WORKED. ALSO THE WIRES FOR FUEL GAUGE WERE MELTED. THE FUEL GAUGE HAD BEEN WORKING OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. I WAS WAITING FOR WARMER WEATHER TO PULL THE FUEL TANK AND FIX IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS HOT AS IT HAD TO GET TO MELT THE WAY IT DID, MY FAMILY AND I ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE FUEL TANK DID NOT EXPLODE. *JB

Mileage: 160,000

20030117VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

1996 CHEVROLET 1 TON 4-DOOR PICKUP TRUCK 4X4 WITH A 350 VORTEC AND AUTOMATIC THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WIRE-PLUG SHORTS OUT AND THE WIPERS STOP WORKING. I STUCK A PIECE OF WOOD SHIM BETWEEN THE PLUG-IN AND HOUSING AND THIS KEEPS THE IT FROM SHORTING OUT. I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY VERY COMMON WITH THESE TRUCKS AND THAT IT IS A SHORT INSIDE THE LITTLE BOX WHERE THE PLUG PLUGS INTO. I WAS DRIVING HOME PULLING A LARGE TRAILOR IN THE RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE FREEWAY RAILING AND HAD TO STOP ON THE FREEWAY NEAR SEATTLE! I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFEC IN THE WIRING, WHEN MY OLD 1976 CHEVY TRUCK NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THAT!

Mileage: 125,000

20020930CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VAN PULLS TO THE LEFT. VAN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. CONSUMER ADVISED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN HAD TO SUDDENLY APPLY BRAKES AND VAN PULLED TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. VAN CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT A DUROSTOP NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED ON VAN TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE ON BRAKE PADS. VAN DID NOT HAVE COMPONENT WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN 01/97. NLMTHE GAS GAUGE BOUNCES ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE CONCERNING THIS DEFECT, TO NO AVAIL. *JG

20020930CrashFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VAN PULLS TO THE LEFT. VAN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. CONSUMER ADVISED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN HAD TO SUDDENLY APPLY BRAKES AND VAN PULLED TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. VAN CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT A DUROSTOP NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED ON VAN TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE ON BRAKE PADS. VAN DID NOT HAVE COMPONENT WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN 01/97. NLMTHE GAS GAUGE BOUNCES ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE CONCERNING THIS DEFECT, TO NO AVAIL. *JG

20020930CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VAN PULLS TO THE LEFT. VAN CHECKED BY DEALER WHO REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS. CONSUMER ADVISED WHILE DRIVING AGAIN HAD TO SUDDENLY APPLY BRAKES AND VAN PULLED TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. VAN CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT A DUROSTOP NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED ON VAN TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE ON BRAKE PADS. VAN DID NOT HAVE COMPONENT WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN 01/97. NLMTHE GAS GAUGE BOUNCES ERRATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE CONCERNING THIS DEFECT, TO NO AVAIL. *JG

20020924FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK USED IN VIRGINIA. I RAN A CARFAX CHECK, HAD IT INSPECTED AND ASKED IF IT HAD ANY KNOWN DEFECTS. I DID NOT KNOW WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP AND SOLENOID WERE BAD. THE TRUCK STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FACT IT MAY STALL ANYTIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP, BUT IT ONLY COVERS 10 YEARS OR 120,000. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 122,400 MILES AND HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 100 OR SO MILES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. I HAVE TALKED TO GM AND THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND WILL CONTINUE TO FILE COMPLAINTS UNTIL GM/CHEVROLET FIXES THE TRUCK. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS AT $2,500. I FEEL THEY SHOULD HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND WAS WHEN I BOUGHT IT.*AK

20020412CrashAIR BAGS

HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER TRUCK AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT WORK.

20020109POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR DUE TO MALFUNCTION WITHIN TRANSMISSION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT

20010717SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED, AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN WITH AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILES ON BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

20010518VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

OUTSIDE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE AT SPEES FROM APPROX 25 TO 70 MPH. REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

20010206TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER REPLACED ALL 4 GOODYEAR WRANGER 16" LOAD RANGE E TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING THIS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR EVEN THOUGH THE TIRES FAILED AT ONLY 20000 MILES. *SLC

20001219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS WHICH SENT AN IMPROPER GROUND TO THE PCM AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. NLM

20001205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS WHICH SENT AN IMPROPER GROUND TO THE PCM AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. NLM

20000911SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNED ON AND SOMETIMES DO NOT COME ON OR STOP WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS MAKES VISABILITY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES PUMP THE BRAKES SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SLOW SPEEDS.

20000911VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNED ON AND SOMETIMES DO NOT COME ON OR STOP WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS MAKES VISABILITY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES PUMP THE BRAKES SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT AT SLOW SPEEDS.

20000905POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN USED TO TOW.......THERE IS NO HITCH ON THE VAN

20000905VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NO SUNMMARY

Compare 1996CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK has 81 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK 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.