RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Jul 29, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and electrical categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET C/K 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. ..UPDATED 08-26-14 *BF UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10617312
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
198,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2012

PUMP MOUNTED DRIVER HAS FAILED A NUMBER OF TIMES, CAUSING VERY HIGH FUEL TEMPERATURES. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OTHER PARTS IN FUEL/ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, BUT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PMD 3 TIMES SO FAR. WHEN THE PMD IS NEW, EVERYTHING WORKS GREAT, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS A FEW MONTHS AT BEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470676
Incident
Sep 21, 2011
Mileage
312,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 27, 2008

I OWN A 1996 CHEVROLET C3500 P.U. PURCHASED NEW IN FEB, 1996. THIS TRUCK CAME EQUIPPED WITH UNIROYAL LAREDO LT245/75R16E TIRES. THEY WERE REPLACED IN MAY OF 2004 AFTER 51,000 TROUBLE FREE MILES. I PURCHASED UNIROYAL LAREDO LT245/75R16E AWT TIRES AS A REPLACEMENT. I SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT FRONT ON JUNE 30, 2007. THAT TIRE ONLY HAD 15,000 MILE ON IT. I HAD A SECOND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON JULY 23, 2008 . THIS TIRE WAS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAD 19,000 MILES ON IT. ALWAYS PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED EVERY SPRING. THIS WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OUT OF A SET OF FOUR PURCHASED IN 2004. THE TIRES ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. I NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE NEXT SIZE SMALLER. PERHAPS THE RECALL DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239876
Incident
Jul 23, 2008
Mileage
15,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 24, 2007

1996 CHEVROLET 3500 REAR WHEELS FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THEY JUST FELL OFF AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. *KB THE POLICE REPORT STATED THE LEFT REAR WHEEL/HUB WAS DEFECTIVE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *JB

NHTSA ID
10207179
Incident
Sep 1, 2007

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

010604037

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING FUEL TRANSFER PUMP INOPERATIVE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet C/K 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999400—
1998901—
1996Viewing400—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.