1996 Chevrolet C/K PICKUPS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
96,123 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 19 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 15.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 15.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025365 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
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. …
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037253 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039356 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
MELTED WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON BOTH A SUBURBAN AND A CHEVY TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050795 · 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066435 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
1996 CHEVROLET EXT. CAB SILVERADO,93000 MILES. FUEL PUMP.& EGR VALVE REPLACEMENT? HOW COME SO SOON?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074644 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115387 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 13,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120632 · 2005-05-11 (May 11, 2005)
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR INTERMITTENT OPERATION;I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY MAKE ,MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER I WAS NOTIFIED MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I THEN CONTACTED GM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE RECALL AND IF I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM I SHOULD TAKE IT TO BE FIXED. I FEEL THEY DO NOT THINK LOSS OF YOUR WIPERS IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120632 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V159000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗