Total Complaints
10 filings
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 · model year
10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETSILVERADO 1500 carries 10 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, 2 injuries, and 2 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 SILVERADO 1500 is service brakes, hydraulic with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1) and seat belts (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SILVERADO 1500, and 1 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.
Total Complaints
10 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 11/08/2017*CN
Mileage: 98,000
1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A GM SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY WERE AWARE OF COOLANT LEAKS. ESPECIALLY INTAKE LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOON DISCOVERED THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECTS. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR THE WIPER BOARD, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE INTAKE FIXED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2004. IN THE WINTER OF 2010, THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSES, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR CAP. HE ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT. THE COOLANT WAS DARK AND WITH SLUDGE. THE CONSUMER T
1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A GM SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY WERE AWARE OF COOLANT LEAKS. ESPECIALLY INTAKE LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOON DISCOVERED THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECTS. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR THE WIPER BOARD, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE INTAKE FIXED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2004. IN THE WINTER OF 2010, THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSES, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR CAP. HE ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT. THE COOLANT WAS DARK AND WITH SLUDGE. THE CONSUMER T
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER HIS VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD A FLAT TIRE AND NOTICED THE CABLE HAD BROKEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE SPARE TIRE. HE HAD NO IDEA WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE LAST PERSON WHO REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE REWIND CAUSED IT TO FALL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Mileage: 150,000
UPON BEING APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVY TRUCKS AND THAT IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE STATES THAT HAVE SNOW AND ICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ABS SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REMOVED & CLEANED. I REQUESTED THAT GM PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY DENIED THE REQUEST. *TR
Mileage: 32,548
VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGES IN UNWANTED FASHION AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP. EXACTLY DUPLICATES SYMPTOM IN RECALL BELOW. EXTENDS STOPPING DISTANCE AND CRASH POTENTIAL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V379000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2002 CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 1999-2002 CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2000-2002 CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2000-2002 GMC / SIERRA 1999-2002 GMC / YUKON 2000-2002 GMC / YUKON XL 2000-2002 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 29, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 PE05020 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1353718 CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAN
Mileage: 122,500
VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGES IN UNWANTED FASHION AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP. EXACTLY DUPLICATES SYMPTOM IN RECALL BELOW. EXTENDS STOPPING DISTANCE AND CRASH POTENTIAL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V379000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2002 CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 1999-2002 CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2000-2002 CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2000-2002 GMC / SIERRA 1999-2002 GMC / YUKON 2000-2002 GMC / YUKON XL 2000-2002 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 29, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 PE05020 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1353718 CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAN
Mileage: 122,500
TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB
Mileage: 75,000
TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB
Mileage: 75,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HAVE COME APART AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN THE PART FROM EITHER A CHEVROLET DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT PART NUMBER 15735411 WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 172,000.
Mileage: 172,000
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.