1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .