Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET SIERRA PU · model year
1996 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETSIERRA PU 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 SIERRA PU is tires:tread/belt with 1 filings, followed by steering (1) and air bags:frontal (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 SIERRA PU, 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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY MELTED AND BURNED THE INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK. *JB
Mileage: 127,000
20000508SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT SUCKS BACK IN AFTER IT'S LOCKED IN BUCKLE. KEEPS TIGHTENING IF A BUMP IS HIT OR A PERSON MOVES. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED IT'S FOR A CHILD RESTRAINT. CAN PULL OUT BELT, BUT IT KEEPS TIGHTENING. HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML
19990921CrashSTEERING
PULLED OUT OF PARKING LOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY 29 IN LIBERTY HILL AND WENT OVER A OIL SPILL ABOUT A GALLON OF OIL.AFTER GOING OVER IT, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING AND WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD .THE STEERING SHOT TO THE RIGHT, AND COULN'T MOVE THE WHEEL. VEHICLE RAN INTO THE DITCH AND HIT A TREE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DRIVING SPEED 40 TO 45MPH EVEN ROAD.TOOK THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *AK
19990921CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PULLED OUT OF PARKING LOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY 29 IN LIBERTY HILL AND WENT OVER A OIL SPILL ABOUT A GALLON OF OIL.AFTER GOING OVER IT, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING AND WENT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD .THE STEERING SHOT TO THE RIGHT, AND COULN'T MOVE THE WHEEL. VEHICLE RAN INTO THE DITCH AND HIT A TREE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DRIVING SPEED 40 TO 45MPH EVEN ROAD.TOOK THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *AK
19981020TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO TIRES WENT FLAT DUE TO PUNCTURE OF THE TREAD SIDE OF TIRE (WRANGLER 265/7R16 TIRES).
Compare 1996CHEVROLETSIERRA PU 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 SIERRA PU have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET SIERRA PU 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.