RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet C30

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.
5
Latest Aug 29, 2000
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.
6
Latest Mar 7, 1997
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet C30, most frequently naming the brakes and electrical categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 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

  • Brakes480.0%
  • Electrical120.0%

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

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V037000

SEATS

Mar 7, 1997
624,433 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS AND THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE. THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A PINCH POINT EXISTS IN THE RECLINER MECHANISM THAT CAN TRAP AND PINCH A PERSON'S HAND OR FINGER(S) WHEN THE EASY-ENTRY FEATURE IS ACTIVATED.
The risk: THIS PINCHING CAN CUT THE HAND OR POSSIBLY SEVER THE FINGER(S) WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
96V117000

TIRES:BEAD

Jul 1, 1996
5,773 units potentially affected
The defect: THESE TIRES HAVE BEAD DAMAGE WHICH OCCURED DURING TIRE MOUNTING.
The risk: THIS DAMAGE TO THE TIRE REINFORCING STRUCTURE IN THE BEAD "TOE" AREA CAUSES A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER THE TIRE IS INFLATED. THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN A SLOW AIR LOSS CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO RESULT IN A RAPID AIR LOSS CAUSING INJURIES TO ANYONE IF THEY WERE HANDLING THE TIRE WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL DEMOUNT EACH TIRE AND INSPECT FOR BEAD DAMAGE. IF BEAD DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
96V082000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE

May 7, 1996
16,918 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FOUR U-BOLTS NUTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE WERE UNDER-TORQUED.
The risk: VEHICLE USAGE COULD CAUSE THE NUTS TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY FALL OFF THE U-BOLT. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE AND RE-TORQUE ANY LOOSE U-BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2000

I HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM GM CANADA CONCERNING ANTILOCK BRAKES. WHEN I TOOK THE VAN TO BE FIXED, THE DEALER WOULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE THE VAN WAS CONVERTED TO AN RV BY ROADTREK AND IT WOULD REQUIRE 16 HOURS LABOR TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. NEITHER GM OR ROADTREK WOULD COVER THE COST. HOW CAN I GET THIS RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID
729459
Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2000
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
717964
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 1997

VEHICLE USED FOR POLICE USE. CONSUMER STATED WHEN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE REAR BRAKES GRAB AND ALSO LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FREEZE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE BEING FORCED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
816175
Incident
Jul 17, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 1997

SHORT IN CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUSED INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
603111
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Apr 14, 1997
Crash reported

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD AND QUICKLY. HAD AN ACCIDENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY AND THEY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL 30 FEET AND RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THAT WAS HOW THE BRAKES WORKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
810948
Incident
Feb 26, 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

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 C30 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999000—
1998210—
1997410—
1996Viewing560—
1995981—
1994791—
1993432—
1992221—
1991123—
1990232—
1989022—
1988135—
1987205—
1986136—
1985056—
1984144—
1983012—
1982012—
1981012—
1980021—
1979041—
1978021—
1977331—
1976241—
1975231—
1974021—
1973011—
1972001—
1971031—
1970011—
1967010—

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.