Total Complaints
12 filings
CHEVROLET TRACKER · model year
1996 CHEVROLET TRACKER
12 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETTRACKER carries 12 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, 2 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 TRACKER is engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:gas recirculation valve (egr valve) with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (1) and steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm (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 TRACKER, 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.
12
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110117WHEELS
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES LEAKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. WHEEL LUG NUTS HAD TO BE CUT-OFF DUE TO RUST. DASH PANEL COVERING SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND GAUGES WAS REMOVED AND SPEEDOMETER WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL.
20110117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES LEAKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. WHEEL LUG NUTS HAD TO BE CUT-OFF DUE TO RUST. DASH PANEL COVERING SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND GAUGES WAS REMOVED AND SPEEDOMETER WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL.
20110117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES LEAKING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. WHEEL LUG NUTS HAD TO BE CUT-OFF DUE TO RUST. DASH PANEL COVERING SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND GAUGES WAS REMOVED AND SPEEDOMETER WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL.
20011031SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH AND DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SKIDDING A BIT.*AK
20010808CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WATING TO TURN WHILE IT WA SRAININ, APPLIED BRAKES, AND SKIDDED INTO VEHICLE FROM REAR. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
20010530STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM IS NOT STABILITY CONTROLLABLE, WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO STEERING AND KEPT MOVING TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND HIT A POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DURING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE WAS OUT OF POSITION, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BECAME WINDING AND THE FRONT KNUCKLE WAS BENDED. *JB
20010530STEERING:LINKAGES
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM IS NOT STABILITY CONTROLLABLE, WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO STEERING AND KEPT MOVING TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND HIT A POLE, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DURING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE WAS OUT OF POSITION, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BECAME WINDING AND THE FRONT KNUCKLE WAS BENDED. *JB
20010406SEATS
BACK SEAT WILL NOT PROPERLY INSTALL A CONVERTABLE REAR FACING CAR SEAT, THE CONSUMER HAS EVEN HAD A TRAINED TECHNICIAN INSTALL THE SEAT WITH NO LUCK. NLM
20000922ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TIRE HAD SPLIT FROM THE TREAD TO THE FIREWALL ON THE OUTSIDE, AND HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. WE HAD REPLACED THE TIRE ON 6/17/2000 WITH A MICHELIN BRAND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT FIRESTONE HAD DISCONTINUED THIS TIRE, THE REMAINING THREE TIRES SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION. THE TIRES IN QUESTION HAD A THREE YEAR ,75,000 MILE WARRANTY WHICH WAS NOT HONORED. AS TO THE ISSUE OF THE ENGINE STALLING OUT AND CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING AND KICKING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMUROUS OCCASIONS, WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WITH THIS IN MIND THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 7/28/2000 DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, FROM ANY SPEED WHEN DECELERATION BEGINS, THE VEHICLE HAS CUT OUT CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. AFTER THE SPEED OF 50 MPH THE GEAR KICKS OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDP21570R TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )
20000922STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
TIRE HAD SPLIT FROM THE TREAD TO THE FIREWALL ON THE OUTSIDE, AND HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. WE HAD REPLACED THE TIRE ON 6/17/2000 WITH A MICHELIN BRAND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT FIRESTONE HAD DISCONTINUED THIS TIRE, THE REMAINING THREE TIRES SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION. THE TIRES IN QUESTION HAD A THREE YEAR ,75,000 MILE WARRANTY WHICH WAS NOT HONORED. AS TO THE ISSUE OF THE ENGINE STALLING OUT AND CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING AND KICKING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMUROUS OCCASIONS, WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WITH THIS IN MIND THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 7/28/2000 DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, FROM ANY SPEED WHEN DECELERATION BEGINS, THE VEHICLE HAS CUT OUT CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. AFTER THE SPEED OF 50 MPH THE GEAR KICKS OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDP21570R TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )
20000922TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE HAD SPLIT FROM THE TREAD TO THE FIREWALL ON THE OUTSIDE, AND HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. WE HAD REPLACED THE TIRE ON 6/17/2000 WITH A MICHELIN BRAND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT FIRESTONE HAD DISCONTINUED THIS TIRE, THE REMAINING THREE TIRES SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION. THE TIRES IN QUESTION HAD A THREE YEAR ,75,000 MILE WARRANTY WHICH WAS NOT HONORED. AS TO THE ISSUE OF THE ENGINE STALLING OUT AND CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING AND KICKING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMUROUS OCCASIONS, WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WITH THIS IN MIND THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 7/28/2000 DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, FROM ANY SPEED WHEN DECELERATION BEGINS, THE VEHICLE HAS CUT OUT CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. AFTER THE SPEED OF 50 MPH THE GEAR KICKS OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDP21570R TIRE SIZE: 21570R15 )
20000905ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
EGR SENSOR IS COMING LOOSE TIME AFTER TIME. CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL AT LIGHTS.
Compare 1996CHEVROLETTRACKER 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 TRACKER have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET TRACKER has 12 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET TRACKER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET TRACKER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET TRACKER 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.