CHEVROLET PICKUP · model year

1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP

75 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996CHEVROLETPICKUP carries 75 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 3 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 PICKUP is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 10 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (9) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 PICKUP, 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.

75
Complaints
7
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

75 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR10
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SEATS2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20040909VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND SERVICE WAS REFUSED BECAUSE IT IS A SALVAGED VEHICLE. *AK *TC

Mileage: 38,000

20040120LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DOOR HANDLES CONSTANTLY BREAK OFF. DRIVER'S DOOR IS TILTED OFF THE HINGES. DRIVER MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO EXIT VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

20031106SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE FRONT OF THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS NO UPPER BODY RESTRAINT FOR THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. *AK THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 24,000

20030703VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20030501VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHEN ON DELAY OR LOW. THEY START WORKING ONLY BY TURNING WIPERS ON HIGH. *SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***751088

20030417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

20021009VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

20020905VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RECENTLY TRANSFERED TO MY NAME THOUGH I HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 1995. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I TRADE LOOK AT IT AND UNLESS I WANT TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF HAVING THE MOTOR REPLACED THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I "JIGGLE" THE WIRE TO THE WIPER BOX. AFTER SEEING A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE I TOOK THE ARTICLE TO THE DEALER AND HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AT MY EXPENSE AND HOPE AN OFFICIAL RECALL IS EVENTUALLY ISSUED AT WHICH TIME I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THIS IS A DANGER AND IT IS A PERSISTANT AND ONGOING PROBLEM. I FAIL TO SEE WHY THE RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPENSE SHOULD BE MINE. I AM ASKING THAT NHTSA FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE WIPER SYSTEM.*AK

20020724ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MOTOR WILL SHUT OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES, AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING. TRUCK IS USED FOR TRAILERING HORSES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN SEVERELY EFFECTS BRAKING AND STEERAGE AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR FUEL INJECTION PUMP PROBLEMS AT 55812 MILES WITH THE PUMP BEING REPLACED. SEARCHING INTERNET AND TALKING TO MECHANICS FOUND THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE WITH THE FAULT BEING THE PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) SOMETIMES CALLED A FUEL SOLENOID DRIVER (FSD) WHICH GM LISTS IT AS PART #12562836 AND MANUFACTURED BY STANADYNE. THIS MODULE IS MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL PUMP IN FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE HEADS. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE ENGINE IS CAUSING THE ELECTRONICS IN THIS PMD TO BREAK DOWN AND FAIL. REPLACING THIS PMD RESOLVED THE STALLING PROBLEM BUT I FEEL IF THIS PMD IS NOT COOLED PROPERLY, RELOCATED TO A COOLER LOCATION OR REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM

20020724FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

MOTOR WILL SHUT OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES, AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING. TRUCK IS USED FOR TRAILERING HORSES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN SEVERELY EFFECTS BRAKING AND STEERAGE AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR FUEL INJECTION PUMP PROBLEMS AT 55812 MILES WITH THE PUMP BEING REPLACED. SEARCHING INTERNET AND TALKING TO MECHANICS FOUND THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE WITH THE FAULT BEING THE PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER (PMD) SOMETIMES CALLED A FUEL SOLENOID DRIVER (FSD) WHICH GM LISTS IT AS PART #12562836 AND MANUFACTURED BY STANADYNE. THIS MODULE IS MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL PUMP IN FRONT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE HEADS. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE ENGINE IS CAUSING THE ELECTRONICS IN THIS PMD TO BREAK DOWN AND FAIL. REPLACING THIS PMD RESOLVED THE STALLING PROBLEM BUT I FEEL IF THIS PMD IS NOT COOLED PROPERLY, RELOCATED TO A COOLER LOCATION OR REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM

20020606VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

GM IS AWARE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITH THEIR TRUCKS AND THEY NEED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

20020430STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN BROKEN 4 TIMES, EACH TIME HE HAS REPAIRED IT HIMSELF. HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.*AK *TT

20020425TIRES

WAS DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO ATLANTA. WHILE PASSING THROUGH TALLADEGA, AL ON APRIL 20, 2002, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE. I WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH (WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC) IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN IN MY PERIPHERY I SAW A BLACK THING COME FROM THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. NEXT CAME A LOUD THUMP. MADE IT TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WITH HELP FROM THE ALABAMA HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE PEOPLE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TIRE AND CHANGED TO THE SPARE. AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, MY DAD AND I INPSECTED THE GENERAL GRABBER AW AND NOTICED SOME OF THE STEEL OF THE RADIALS POKING OUT, ALONG WITH 1/2 TO 1" OF TREAD MISSING FROM THE TIRE. CURRENTLY WE HAVE A CALL INTO GENERAL AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM; A CALL WAS ALSO MADE TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN ADJUSTER WILL BE CONTACTING US REGARDING THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK FROM THE TIRE.*AK

20020424CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

I HAVE HAD THESE THINGS GO BAD ON THIS TRUCK AND THEY ARE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT HAVE WENT WRONG ON THEIR TRUCK ALSO. I LIKE THE CHEVROLETS BUT IF THESE THINGS KEEP GOING WRONG LIKE THIS I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH TO A NICE NEW DODGE I THINK. NLM

20020424CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

I HAVE HAD THESE THINGS GO BAD ON THIS TRUCK AND THEY ARE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT HAVE WENT WRONG ON THEIR TRUCK ALSO. I LIKE THE CHEVROLETS BUT IF THESE THINGS KEEP GOING WRONG LIKE THIS I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH TO A NICE NEW DODGE I THINK. NLM

20020424CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE HAD THESE THINGS GO BAD ON THIS TRUCK AND THEY ARE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT HAVE WENT WRONG ON THEIR TRUCK ALSO. I LIKE THE CHEVROLETS BUT IF THESE THINGS KEEP GOING WRONG LIKE THIS I WILL HAVE TO SWITCH TO A NICE NEW DODGE I THINK. NLM

20020308FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WIRES MELTED/ INSIDE GAS TANK. *AK

20011204VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

20010820VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT OPERATING UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THERE OPERATION, DURING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN, LOSS OF DRIVER VISIBILITY GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS HAS OCURRED TO ME ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. A RECALL WAS INITIATED BY THE CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION ON ALL LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS & SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 & 4 WHEEL DRIVE. A SOLDER JOINT NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE PROBLEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 1998. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION OF THE PROBLEM & HAVE BEN INFORMED BY THERE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER LARRY LARSON THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL & NOT INVOLVED IN ANY SPECIAL POLICY FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS. HE STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO OWNER MAINTENANCE, AGE OR WEAR. I ADVISED HIM THAT A CIRCUIT BOARD IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, & I DON'T SEE HOW A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT ON A CIRCUIT BOARD PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER COULD BE CONSIDERED A OWNER MAINTENANCE ITEM.

20010710VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.A CHECK OF RECALL INFORMATION SHOWS MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THAT.LOCAL DEALER, SAID MY VIN WASN'T COVERED AS PART OF RECALL. . COMPLAINT TO CHEVY WAS IGNORED. CHEVY COMPLAINT REQUEST #C04529859. TSB #98043. *AK

Compare 1996CHEVROLETPICKUP to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP has 75 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP 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.