Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET K20 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET K20
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETK20 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 K20 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1996 K20, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19990722CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IN MY OPINION DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE THE TRUCK FAILS TO STOP IN A TIMELY FASHION OR DISTANCE. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS HAS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SEEKING RESOLUTION. THE LATEST OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK AND A CAR BACKED OUT AND STOPPED FORCING ME TO USE TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IF THE CAR HAD NOT MOVED I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY HIT HIM. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE . I HAVE SAID AS MUCH IN A SATISFACTION QUESTIONARE TO CHEVY AND ASKED FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ONE. I AM DISMAYED TO NOT FIND MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL OF GM VEHICLES. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF THOSE AROUND ME WHEN I AM OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. *AK
19980107VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELS WIPERS. GENERALLY HAPPENS IN A RAIN STORM AND AFFECTS VISIBILITY.
Compare 1996CHEVROLETK20 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 K20 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET K20 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET K20?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET K20 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET K20 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 CHEVROLET K20; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.