Total Complaints
8 filings
CHEVROLET K15 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET K15
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETK15 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 K15 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (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 K15, 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.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030825VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
COMPLAINT REGARDING THE RECALL RELATING TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. *MR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DIDN'T START OR STOP WHILE OPERATING. THE WIPER MOTOR MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT NHTSA TAKE ACTION IN PROCESSING CLAIM TO GM, AND A FULL AUDIT OF GM'S RECALL PROCEDURES(BOTH PAST AND PRESENT). *SCC *JB
20000918VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
98V150001 SHOULD COVER 4WD K1500 SAME FAILURE OCCURS WITH THESE MODELS AS THE SAME UNIT IS INVOLVED. DEALER WON'T FIX BECAUSE "ITS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL". THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT BY NHTSA AND THE 4WD PROBABLY HAS A GREATER FAILURE OCCURANCE SINCE THE FAILURE MODE IS THE SOLDER JOINTS FAILING DUE TO VIBRATION/ SHOCK, WHICH ON A 4WD I WOULD THINK IT TO BE WORSE. IN THE HTSA DISCRIPTION IT SAYS 2WD AND 4WD VEHICLES BUT GM IS ONLY COVERING 2WD. SO I GUESS I HAVE TO ASK WHY ??
20000905SEATS
RIGHT SIDE SEATS KEEP LOSENING, SIDE DOOR LINKAGE CONTINUES TO COME APART, NO WAY TO EASILY ESCAPE, WITHOUT ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN!
20000905STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RIGHT SIDE SEATS KEEP LOSENING, SIDE DOOR LINKAGE CONTINUES TO COME APART, NO WAY TO EASILY ESCAPE, WITHOUT ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN!
19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *YC
19990223VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONTATACTED GM CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER CURRENT RECALL OF THIS TYPE VEHICLE EVEN IF MY PROBLEM WAS THE SAME AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR 1996 VEHICLES. PLEASE LOOK INTO HAVING MY MODEL VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THANK YOU
19970814SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY.*AK
19960408SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES; EXPERIENCING BRAKE PEDAL FADING W/PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS. SERVICE MANAGER STATES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1996CHEVROLETK15 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 K15 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET K15 has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET K15?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET K15 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET K15 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.