Total Complaints
230 filings
CHEVROLET SILVERADO · model year
230 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETSILVERADO carries 230 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 3 fires, 26 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 SILVERADO is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 51 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (18) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (18). 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 SILVERADO, 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.
Total Complaints
230 filings
Crashes Reported
17 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 51 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 18 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 18 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| SEATS | 9 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 8 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 3 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WITTMEIER CHEVROLET (2292 FOREST AVE, CHICO, CA 95928, (530) 895-8181) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
DURING A JUMP START IGNITION WOULD NOT DISENGAGE EVEN AFTER I TURNED OFF, AND REMOVED KEY. HAD TO REMOVER BATTERY CABLE 2 TIMES NOW
Mileage: 196,000
1996 CHEVY SILVERADO CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE MOTOR MIGHT FAIL RESULTING IN CRACKING SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD CUSTOMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATES HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO INSPECTION HAS BEEN MADE.
Mileage: 80,000
CONSUMER CHEVROLET SILRADO PICKUP HAS HAD THREE INJECTION PUMPS IN 92000 MILES. *TS ***REF 10157351*** *JB
TAILGATE STRAPS FAILURE. MAN WAS STANDING ON TAILGATE PREPARING TO JUMP DOWN, AND BOTH STRAPS SNAPPED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WAS NO NOTICE THAT THE STRAPS WERE WORN OR FAILING. VEHICLE IS USED AS SHOW TRUCK, NOT WORK TRUCK, AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FAILURE IS AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL 04E067000, NHTSA ACTION EA04005 AND GM DEFECT NOTICE 04V-129, EXCEPTION FOR PRE 2000 VEHICLES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINER FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE PUSHED UP AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. REPAIRS WERE MADE BY TEAM CHEVROLET SAMARIUM, TENNESSEE. THE COST WAS $ 250.00. THIS FAILURE ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CLASH. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP OFF HIGHWAY IN A DITCH. *AK
Mileage: 110,000
METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID LINE RUSTS, DEGRADING TO THE LEAKING OF FLUID AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. METAL LINE TO BE REPLACED WITH STAINLESS-STEEL. FUEL LINE IS IN SAME CONDITION, THOUGH NOT LEAKING FUEL. FUEL LINE TO BE REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL. *NM
Mileage: 10,300
ON MY 1996 SILVERADO, THE TAILGATE STRAPS ARE STARTING TO RUST AND BREAK. I THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE THE RECALLED TAILGATE STRAPS ARE PUT TOGETHER THE SAME WAS EVEN IF IT IS NOT THE SAME MODEL. *JB
Mileage: 13,131
1996 CHEVY 4X4 TRUCK (SILVERADO) ABS ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. VERY DIFFICULT STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP. KIDS IN THE TRUCK CAUSED A VERY UNNERVING EXPERIENCE. *JB
Mileage: 108,400
DT: WHILE THE CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE BRAKE FAILED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CALLER'S VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT WORK. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID THE MAIN BRAKE LINE TO THE BACK BRAKES WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CALLER SAID IT WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A CRASH. ONE PASSENGER W IN CALLERS VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CALLED HIM BACK. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD SOME DAMAGE TO THE REAR, BUT CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Mileage: 192,000
DT: WHILE THE CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE BRAKE FAILED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CALLER'S VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT WORK. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID THE MAIN BRAKE LINE TO THE BACK BRAKES WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CALLER SAID IT WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A CRASH. ONE PASSENGER W IN CALLERS VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CALLED HIM BACK. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD SOME DAMAGE TO THE REAR, BUT CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Mileage: 192,000
THE BRAKES ON OUR 1996 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 PICK UP FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE & THE TRUCK ACTUALLY BRAKING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN BRAKING & TURNING. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE TRUCK MAKES THE SAME SOUND & VIBRATION THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES KICK IN IF YOU'RE SLIDING ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO TRUST THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STOP COMPLETELY WHEN NEEDED. CAUTION IS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE. WE DON'T DARE TOW ANYTHING OR EVEN LOAD THE BED OF THE TRUCK WITH ANYTHING TO HEAVY SINCE WE'RE WORRIED THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT HANDLE THE EXTRA WEIGHT. WE'RE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT OPERATING IT IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WHICH IS FAST APPROACHING IN THE NORTHEAST. A MECHANIC TOLD US THAT ALOT OF CHEVY PICK-UPS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. WE INVESTIGATED THIS ON THE INTERNET & FOUND THAT GM DID A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON VEHICLES IN CANADA BUT HASN'T DONE ONE I
Mileage: 105,500
SIDEWALLS OF TWO TIRES SEPARATED, ONE AT THREE PLACES AND ONE AT ONE PLACE. ONE TIRE CRACKED ALONG THE BEAD. ONE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND PRORATED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONTINUAL COSTS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING HAS ALMOST EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS FROM $3,200.00-$3,900.00 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ANY FUTURE REPAIRS WILL NOW EXCEED THE PURCHASE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE TRUCK MY LOST WAGES HAVE EXCEEDED OR WILL EXCEED $10,000.00. BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVING LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE VEHICLES INCAPACITATE HAS CAUSED INSURMOUNTABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THE NECESSARY DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS TO MY FAMILY. MY ONCE FAIR CREDIT REPORT HAS BEEN RUINED. ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR AGREEING TO TAKE OUT A AUTO LOAN WAS TO HELP ACHIEVE A FAVORABLE CREDIT RATING TO OBTAIN A MORTGAGE LOAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. THERE IS CURRENTLY A INVESTIGATION AND CLASS ACTION SUITE PENDING BY THE VERMONT STATE ATTORNEY'S GENERALS OFFICE AGAINST WILLIAM DYDO JR. (DYDO AUTO SALES. ALTHOUGH I HOPE TO BE PART OF THIS SUIT I WILL NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR PAIN AND SUFFERIN
Mileage: 18,000
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONTINUAL COSTS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING HAS ALMOST EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS FROM $3,200.00-$3,900.00 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ANY FUTURE REPAIRS WILL NOW EXCEED THE PURCHASE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE TRUCK MY LOST WAGES HAVE EXCEEDED OR WILL EXCEED $10,000.00. BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVING LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE VEHICLES INCAPACITATE HAS CAUSED INSURMOUNTABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THE NECESSARY DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS TO MY FAMILY. MY ONCE FAIR CREDIT REPORT HAS BEEN RUINED. ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR AGREEING TO TAKE OUT A AUTO LOAN WAS TO HELP ACHIEVE A FAVORABLE CREDIT RATING TO OBTAIN A MORTGAGE LOAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. THERE IS CURRENTLY A INVESTIGATION AND CLASS ACTION SUITE PENDING BY THE VERMONT STATE ATTORNEY'S GENERALS OFFICE AGAINST WILLIAM DYDO JR. (DYDO AUTO SALES. ALTHOUGH I HOPE TO BE PART OF THIS SUIT I WILL NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR PAIN AND SUFFERIN
Mileage: 18,000
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONTINUAL COSTS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING HAS ALMOST EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS FROM $3,200.00-$3,900.00 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ANY FUTURE REPAIRS WILL NOW EXCEED THE PURCHASE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE TRUCK MY LOST WAGES HAVE EXCEEDED OR WILL EXCEED $10,000.00. BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVING LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE VEHICLES INCAPACITATE HAS CAUSED INSURMOUNTABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THE NECESSARY DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS TO MY FAMILY. MY ONCE FAIR CREDIT REPORT HAS BEEN RUINED. ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR AGREEING TO TAKE OUT A AUTO LOAN WAS TO HELP ACHIEVE A FAVORABLE CREDIT RATING TO OBTAIN A MORTGAGE LOAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. THERE IS CURRENTLY A INVESTIGATION AND CLASS ACTION SUITE PENDING BY THE VERMONT STATE ATTORNEY'S GENERALS OFFICE AGAINST WILLIAM DYDO JR. (DYDO AUTO SALES. ALTHOUGH I HOPE TO BE PART OF THIS SUIT I WILL NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR PAIN AND SUFFERIN
Mileage: 18,000
SINCE PURCHASED FROM MAHER CHEVROLET IN 2001, THE "C CLIP" IN THE "TRANSFER CASE" HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES AND WE HAVE NEVER USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS OCCURS DURING NORMAL DRIVING! THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME WAS 30,000 MILES AFTER IT REPLACED. NOW LESS THAN 20,000 MILES LATER, ITS BROKE AGAIN. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING DEFECTIVE INTERNALLY IN THE TRANSFER CASE. WHEN DRIVING AND THE "C CLIP" BREAKS, THE GEARS START GRINDING LOUDLY. YOU CAN NOT EXCEED 3 - 5 MILES PER HOUR. SINCE THIS IS AN INSTANT MOVEMENT, THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WEHN TRAVLING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHICH MY HUSBAND FREQUENTLY DOES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ON THE VEHICLE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED SINCE IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND SUPPOSEDLY, FIXED THEN. IS THE DEALERSHIP THE PROBLEM OR AM I DEALING WITH UNSAFE DEFECT WITH THE TRANSFER CASE. I WILL LIST THE APPROX. DATE THAT THE DEALE
Mileage: 58,000
DT: WHILE DRIVING SHE WAS EXPERIENCING HESITATION, HIT POTHOLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE FACTORY WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED UP AT THE CONNECTOR, ONLY BEAR WIRING WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. FEARFUL THIS MAY CATCH FIRE. HARDWIRED THIS FEATURE PER OWNER WHO IS ALSO MECHANIC. APPEARED TO BE FAULTY WIRING, DEFINITELY 4 PIN CONNECTOR AT THE TOP OF THAT WIRE ASSEMBLY. NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK
Mileage: 75,000
HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE TILT STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Mileage: 75,000
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.