RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
22
Latest Apr 15, 2010
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.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 31, 1999

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

Brakes
Filed Apr 15, 2010

FAILURE OF BRAKE LINES ON 1996 CHEVY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325909
Incident
Aug 31, 2004
Mileage
96,123 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 20, 2009

1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB Z71 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. TRUCK HAS NO RUST PROTECTION ON THE FRAME OR BRAKE LINES WHICH CAUSE RUST THROUGH OF THE BRAKE LINES AND THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THE FRAME ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296512
Incident
Jul 1, 2009
Mileage
96,123 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 28, 2009

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY PICKUP. THE WIPERS KEPT ON TURNING OFF WHEN RAINING. I HAVE TALKED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL AS WELL CHEVY COMPANY AND THE BOTH SAID NO. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THIS COMPLAINT ON OTHER VEHICLES (CHEVY P/U) ON THE SAME YEAR. BUT MY VIN DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. WHEN I WAS COMING IN TO WORK THIS MORNING AT 0430 IN THE RAIN THE WIPER TURNED OFF AND WOULD COME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10263308
Incident
Mar 28, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2006

BRAKES DEFECTIVE, FRONT CROSSOVER BRAKE LINE UNDER TRANSMISSION SUPPORT BURST. UPON EXAMINATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL BRAKE LINES AND BRAKE HOSES REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION, FRONT ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED, REAR DRUMS AND LININGS REPLACED, WITH NEW BRAKE HARDWARE AS WELL, AND REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDERS. BRAKES BLED ACCORDING TO PROCEDURE, BUT PEDAL STILL SPONGY. BRAKES BLED TWO MORE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN SPONGINESS. BRAKES HAVE TIME DELAY BETWEEN STEPPING ON PEDAL AND ACTIVATION OF BRAKES. BRAKES ARE INADEQUATE FOR EMPTY TRUCK. CARRYING LOAD ON TRUCK OR PULLING TRAILER IS JUST PLAIN SCARY AND DANGEROUS, AS BRAKES DO NOT STOP TRUCK. ANTILOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. PUTTING ALL MY WEIGHT, 275 POUNDS, AND ALL MY STRENGTH, ON BRAKES WHEN TRUCK IS EMPTY, AND ON A WET ROAD, WILL LOCK THE FRONT BRAKES, BUT NO ANTILOCK FUNCTIONS. BAD BRAKES ARE A COMMON GM PROBLEM ACROSS ALL MODEL LINES. I HAVE OWNED 3 CHEVY LUMINAS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! IF YOU DON'T, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU THERE AND US PAYING YOUR SALARIES? I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE PLAIN STEEL BRAKE LINE BROKE. THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? GET OFF YOUR DEAD ASSES AND MAKE GM FIX THE PROBLEM! IF YOU FORCE THEM TO DO RECALLS, THEY MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT MAKING SUBSTANDARD, UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLES. THE ENGINE IN THIS TRUCK IS VERY POWERFUL, THE BRAKES CAN'T HOPE TO KEEP UP WITH THE POWER AND SPEED THAT THIS TRUCK IS CAPABLE OF. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174989
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 27, 2006

WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE,WENT TO GET UP, TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED. I FELL OFF WITH PAIN TO MY LEGS(I HAVE BAD KNEES), AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE TAILGATE WAS DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT WITH THE BUMPER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174386
Incident
Nov 23, 2006
Mileage
120,787 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2006

PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKES ENGAGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. HAD THE ABS SENSOR ( FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152779
Incident
Sep 25, 2003
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 15, 2006

TAILGATE STRAP BROKE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152777
Incident
Jan 15, 2006
Fuel system
Filed Dec 21, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED IN THE DIESEL TRUCK. THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY CAME TO COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING AT 50-60 MPH OR WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. THE DEALER CHANGED THE ELECTRONIC DIESEL CONTROL, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO COMPLETE STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10145859
Incident
Jul 15, 1996
Mileage
15,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 30, 2005

DT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER ON FEBRUARY 23, 2003 FROM CHEVROLET, IT WAS A SPECIAL PROVISION LETTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CONTACTED THE TWO DEALERS ,THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE FELL WITHIN THE SEVEN YEAR LIMIT OR 70,000 AND MY VEHICLE HAS 41,000 BUT THEY SAID IT PAST THE SEVEN YEARS, BUT IT WAS OUTSIDE THE SEVEN YEARS. IT WAS VOID WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED IT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMENTLY ON THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER MOTOR FAIED. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. WHEN TURN INGIT ON ON E COULD HEAR AN ELECTRICAL SOUND, IF ONE HIT THE COVER WITH SOMETHING COULD GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10138210
Incident
Feb 23, 2003
Visibility
Filed May 11, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INTERMITTENT OPERATION;I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE ,MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER I WAS NOTIFIED MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I THEN CONTACTED GM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE RECALL AND IF I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM I SHOULD TAKE IT TO BE FIXED. I FEEL THEY DO NOT THINK LOSS OF YOUR WIPERS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
10120632
Incident
Apr 18, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2005

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10115387
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
Mileage
13,300 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2004

DIESEL ENGINE UNEXPECTED AND VIOLENTLY SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ENGINE FINALLY RESTARTED, THEN RACED AND RAN ERRATICALLY. IT THEN SHUT OFF REPEATEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED RESULTING IN SEVERE JERKING AND BUCKING, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN BEING REAR-ENDED BY A LARGE TRUCK. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS IS THE PUMP DRIVER MODULE AND EXPRESSED THAT IT IS WELL KNOWN FAILURE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND A LATENT DEFECT THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IN A DIESEL, IT IS AN EXTREMELY STARTLING AND VIOLENT SHUTOFF THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE PROFESSIONAL REPAIR CIRCLES. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS PART SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE...NOW I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $2,000 TO REPAIR IT OUT OF MY POCKET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10074644
Incident
May 25, 2004
Mileage
130,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2004

1996 CHEVROLET EXT. CAB SILVERADO,93000 MILES. FUEL PUMP.& EGR VALVE REPLACEMENT? HOW COME SO SOON?*AK

NHTSA ID
10066435
Incident
Mar 19, 2004
Mileage
93,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2003
Crash reported

AIR BAG FOR OUR VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT AND THEY ASSURED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE AIRBAG NOT TO GO OFF UNLESS HIGH IMPACT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10050795
Incident
Dec 18, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 23, 2003

MELTED WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON BOTH A SUBURBAN AND A CHEVY TRUCK.

NHTSA ID
10039356
Incident
Jul 8, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2003

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037253
Incident
Dec 19, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 3, 2003

AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT, NO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT IT THEMSELVES TO ASSURE QUALITY JOB. IT ONLY LASTED TEN MONTHS, AND THIRD GEAR AGAIN WENT OUT IN MARCH, 2003. REPAIRED AGAIN. ON JULY 2, 2003 AGAIN TO SHOP AS NOW SECOND GEAR WENT OUT. DECISION WAS TO CHANGE THE SOLENOID AND UP THE PRESSURE TO CREATE CRISPER SHIFTS AND LESS WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION. TRANS SHOP FEELS TRUCKS FROM CHEVY OF 94-96 YEARS HAD NEW ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS AND WAS A WEAK DESIGN, CAUSING THESE FAILURES. NEWER TRUCKS HAVE A IMPROVED TRANSMISSION TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
10025365
Incident
May 9, 2002
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND GET OUT TO START WINDSHIELD WIPER BACK TO WORK BY HAND. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005303
Fuel system
Filed Jul 31, 2000

BEGINS WITH HESITATION AND JERKING, THEN SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR PARKED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMPS ARE DEFECTIVE AS WELL AS AN ARRAY OF OTHER EXCUSES. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, STEERING AND BRAKING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE 10TH TIME IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
726263
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Sep 29, 1999

BRAKES DON'T WORK. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
849294
Incident
Sep 29, 1999
Visibility
Filed Sep 20, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INADVERTENTLY. THEY SOMETIMES DON'T WORK AT ALL . DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
848001
Incident
Mar 20, 1999
Visibility
Filed Mar 31, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OFTEN FAIL WHEN TURNED ON, OWNER HAS TO HIT THE MOTOR TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE GM RECALL ON THE 1996 MODEL DUE TO VIN#. ALSO, HAD A STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTION WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. OWNER BELIEVES THAT THE SOLDER JOINTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
836357
Incident
Mar 26, 1999

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .