1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups 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 Pickups, 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
- Visibility626.1%
- Fuel system521.7%
- Brakes417.4%
- Body & structure313.0%
- Engine28.7%
- Transmission28.7%
- Airbags14.3%
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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
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
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
FAILURE OF BRAKE LINES ON 1996 CHEVY TRUCK. *TR
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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
1996 CHEVROLET EXT. CAB SILVERADO,93000 MILES. FUEL PUMP.& EGR VALVE REPLACEMENT? HOW COME SO SOON?*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .