1996 Chevrolet C Series 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 Series, 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
- Visibility428.6%
- Brakes214.3%
- Engine214.3%
- Airbags214.3%
- Powertrain (other)17.1%
- Tires & wheels17.1%
- Transmission17.1%
- Electrical17.1%
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
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I HAVE TWO OF THESE TRUCKS AND NEITHER MATCH THE RECALL AND TOLD TO FIX IT MYSELF...I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE WITH THESE TRUCKS AS WELL, THE VIN NUMBER ON THE OTHER IS [XXX], IT IS A 1996 K SERIES. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS TODAY MAKES THE 4TH TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE THE TRUCK WE PURCHASED IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND THE SERVICE ENGINE STILL IS ON. TALKED TO THE CHEVY CO THAT SAID TO MILES ON TRUCK FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED AT 2899 MILES. CASE # CO5800032 CAN YOU HELP IN ANY WAY? ALSO, THE ENGINE LITE STILL COME ON STATING REPAIR ENGINE SOON IT HAS BEEN LOOKED 6 DIFFERENTS TIMES AND IS STILL NOT FIXED THIS ALSO STARED AT 2899 MILES. JUST TALKED TO THE GM COMPANY THAT SAID THE TRUCK HAD TO MANY MILES ON FOR THENM THEY TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILIY EVEN THOUGHT THE STARTED THE YEAR THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT. *AK
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES FAILING TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *ALSO, FRONT BEARING FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOUNTING BRACKET AND WIRING WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.*AK
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
THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS TODAY MAKES THE 4TH TIMES TO HAVE THE BRAKES FIXED ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE THE TRUCK WE PURCHASED IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND THE SERVICE ENGINE STILL IS ON. TALKED TO THE CHEVY CO THAT SAID TO MILES ON TRUCK FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED AT 2899 MILES. CASE # CO5800032 CAN YOU HELP IN ANY WAY? ALSO, THE ENGINE LITE STILL COME ON STATING REPAIR ENGINE SOON IT HAS BEEN LOOKED 6 DIFFERENTS TIMES AND IS STILL NOT FIXED THIS ALSO STARED AT 2899 MILES. JUST TALKED TO THE GM COMPANY THAT SAID THE TRUCK HAD TO MANY MILES ON FOR THENM THEY TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILIY EVEN THOUGHT THE STARTED THE YEAR THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGES. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEY THINK IT MAY BE CAUSED BY THE ENGINE REAR SEAL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK *JB
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20MPH & DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. AIRBAG EMBRACED THE CONSUMER IN THE SEAT. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES FAILING TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *ALSO, FRONT BEARING FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOUNTING BRACKET AND WIRING WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING @ 60MP WEST BOUND 210FRWY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. REAR TIRE BLEW AND UPON LOOKING AT TIRE THE TIRE "THREW TOP TREAD" AND SEPARATED. *TR
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 HAS HARD SHIFT AFTER ZERO THROTTLE COASTDOWN. ACTS AS THOUGH LINE PRESSURE IS LATCHED HIGH. TWO DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ONE DEALER TOLD ME GM KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FIX IT. *AK
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
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES FAILING TO STOP VEHICLE PROPERLY WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *ALSO, FRONT BEARING FAILED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOUNTING BRACKET AND WIRING WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.*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 .