RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet C15

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.
26
Latest Sep 16, 2003
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.
0
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.
6
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet C15, most frequently naming the brakes, airbags and driver assistance 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

  • Brakes930.0%
  • Airbags620.0%
  • Driver assistance310.0%
  • Visibility26.7%
  • Interior & seats26.7%
  • Suspension26.7%
  • Transmission13.3%
  • Seat belts13.3%

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

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

View all 26
Visibility
Filed Sep 16, 2003

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER STATED NO RECALL CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040026
Incident
Sep 16, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 1999

CONSUMER REARENDED A TRAILER AT A 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT ,DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
842786
Visibility
Filed Apr 7, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATE ON HIGH SPEED. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
836583
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 5, 1999

BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN TWO YEARS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
836473
Incident
Sep 21, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 1999

EGR VALVE FAILED CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.

NHTSA ID
544185
Incident
Oct 24, 1996
Brakes
Filed Aug 11, 1998

BRAKE PADS ON THE LEFT SIDE FAILED BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE BRAKE PADS MALFUNCTIONED. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. ALSO TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
825406
Incident
Aug 5, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 1997

ABS BRAKE PROBLEM; ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, UNDER HEAVY BRAKING, THE BACK WHEELS SLIDE AND PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
814402
Incident
Jun 25, 1997
Suspension
Filed Apr 29, 1997

FRONT SUSPENSION, THE SWAY BAR BROKE/BUSHING IS MISSING, NEVER INSTALLED BY MANUFACTURER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
811819
Incident
Jan 1, 1997

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

010730021

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *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 C15 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1996Viewing260041.7
1995600046.8
1994410039.9
1993350045.3
1992140032.9
1991100046.4
1990810—
1989120039.4
1988901—
1987200—
1986511—
1985201—
1984101—
1983001—
1982001—
1981001—

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.