1996 Chevrolet K3500 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 K3500, 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
- Brakes850.0%
- Fuel system212.5%
- Engine16.3%
- Other / unspecified16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Suspension16.3%
- Visibility16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS.*AK
ABS LIGHT CAME ON EARLY IN LIFE AND REPORTED TO DEALER BEFORE WARANTEE EXPIRED, BRAKE FAILURE ALSO REPORTED TO DEALER NOW FAILURE HAS NOW OCCURED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST DAY
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) CHEVROLET K3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT TANK CHASSIS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET (5200 S BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113, (720) 259-0391) AND SHORTLINE BUICK GMC (1301 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012, (303) 751-3400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5424607971. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE TACKOMETER/ ODOMETOR REACHES 21,000 RPMS ,IT LOSES ALL THROTTLE CONTROL AND GOES TO A WIDE OPEN POSITION. THE DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. ALSO, THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 10-14 TIMES SINCE 5/24/96. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN AT THIS TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 (NA) CHEVROLET K3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT TANK CHASSIS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET (5200 S BROADWAY, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113, (720) 259-0391) AND SHORTLINE BUICK GMC (1301 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80012, (303) 751-3400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5424607971. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K3500 WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 92,000 MILES. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A TRAILER HITCH ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE TRAILER HITCH FAILED. THE TRAILER BROKE THE SAFETY CHAINS AND IT CRASHED INTO A DITCH, WHICH DESTROYED THE TRAILER AND THE VEHICLE IN TOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HITCH WAS HIGH FOR THE TRIPLE BALL ASSEMBLY. *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
REAR AXLE CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, ENITRE WINDSHIED WIPER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, ENITRE WINDSHIED WIPER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE TACKOMETER/ ODOMETOR REACHES 21,000 RPMS ,IT LOSES ALL THROTTLE CONTROL AND GOES TO A WIDE OPEN POSITION. THE DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. ALSO, THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 10-14 TIMES SINCE 5/24/96. THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN AT THIS TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *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 .