IllustrationVEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR DUE TO MALFUNCTION WITHIN TRANSMISSION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *TT
1996 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Chevrolet Truck years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 49 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Power Train complaints
11 reportsTHIS VEHICLE HAS NOT PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN USED TO TOW.......THERE IS NO HITCH ON THE VAN
REAR END AXLE SEEMS TO RUN HOT AND NOISE PRESENT, REAR END COVER PLATE PAINT HAS PEELED OFF DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. *YC
ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE. ALSO SHIFTS HARD. HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 3 TIMES. TWICE BY DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRENTY ONCE BY A DIFFERENT DEALER JUST OUT OF WARRENTY. THIRD TIME WAS TOLD NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
MODEL Z71 WHEN TRANMISSION BURNS UP IT SPRAYS TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERYWHERE, AND IS EXTREMELY FLAMABLES. IT GOT ALL OVER TWO OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE BEHIND ME, THE FIRST TIME, THE SECOND TIME IT GOT ON THE EXHAUST PIPE AND SMOKED SO BAD A PASSER BY WAS GOING TO CALL THE FIREDEPARTMENT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, ATTEMPT REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES, MASTER CYLINDER, DUE TO FLUID LEAKAGE, ABS LIGHT STAYED ON, BRAKES SO HOT THE ROTORS WERE GLOWING AND THE SMOKE WAS POURING OFF THE FRONT END.
BROKEN TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE AT RADIATOR CONNECTION.
DRIVE TRAIN MAKES CLUNKING NOISE REAL BADLY WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA98024 · Fuel Leaks From The Vapor Canister
Opened Nov 10, 1998 · Closed Apr 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
In January 1998, GM issued the technical service bulletin describing conditions which may result in fuel leakage from the emission vapor canister.According to the bulletin, when the subject vehicles are parked on an incline, with a full tank of gasoline, fuel can flow into the vapor canister.The remedy is to replace of the vapor canister, both rollover valve assembles, and the associated piping.In April 1998, ODI opened Service Query 98-005 to understand GM's rationale for issuance of a service bulletin on a matter that appeared to result in fuel leakage, an issue that is usually address by conducting a safety recall campaign.On November 10, 1998 the SQ was elevated to an Engineering Analysis (EA98-024) to investigate an alleged defect in the fuel tank rollover valve system in certain 1996 through 1997 Chevrolet Trucks and OMC Full Size 010-030 panel and passenger vans.
SQ97020 · Unintended Release Of The Rear Hatch
Opened Oct 6, 1997 · Closed Nov 19, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
GM REPORTED THAT THIS TSB WAS ORIGINATED AFTER A PLANT ENGINEER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM.THIS WAS A PLANT GENERATED COMPLAINT. ODI HAS NO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS.GM REPORTED 6 FROM OWNERS BEING PUZZLED BY THE HATCH AJAR LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED.A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT, NOR A TREND, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
EA97007 · Steering Shaft Separations
Opened Apr 17, 1997 · Closed Mar 12, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
COUPLING BOLTS, JOINING THE STEERING SHAFT, MAY SEPARATE.IN SOME CASES, TOTAL UNFORESEEN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL MAY RESULT.