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1996 Chevrolet K1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 15 of 94 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

94 reports
196,000 miles · Dec 12, 2020
Seat Belts

MY VEHICLE FAILED MASSACHUSETTS SEAT BELT TEST. THEY DONT LOCK WHEN PULLED ON QUICKLY. I HAVE REMOVED AND INSPECTED THEM AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE MECHANISM ITSELF IS NOT CAPABLE OF PASSING THIS TEST I AM BELIEVING THAT THE TEST HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN OF SEAT BELT, AND AM A…

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MY VEHICLE FAILED MASSACHUSETTS SEAT BELT TEST. THEY DONT LOCK WHEN PULLED ON QUICKLY. I HAVE REMOVED AND INSPECTED THEM AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE MECHANISM ITSELF IS NOT CAPABLE OF PASSING THIS TEST I AM BELIEVING THAT THE TEST HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN OF SEAT BELT, AND AM ASKING IF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GRANDFATHERED FOR THIS TEST THERE ARE INTERTIA WEIGHTS IN THEM THAT WILL LOCK THEM IN A COLLISION, AND I HAVE TESTED THIS IN A WIDE OPEN PARKING LOT BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DO LOCK BUT MY INSPECTION STATION IS UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THIS I WISH TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET A PASSING INSPECTION STICKER ON MY VEHICLE IS THERE A RECALL FOR AND UPDATED DESIGN OF SEAT BELT ? I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH EXISTING SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE ARE "BAD" WILL THE NHTSA ASSIST ME, PLEASE ? THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11383128

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A GM SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY WERE AWARE OF COOLANT LEAKS. ESPECIALLY INTAKE LEKAS…

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1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A GM SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY WERE AWARE OF COOLANT LEAKS. ESPECIALLY INTAKE LEKAS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOO DISCOVERED THE WIPER DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECT. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #10860764

234,000 miles · May 31, 2014
Tires

UNIROYAL LAREDO P245-R16 TIRES HAVE DRY-ROT CRACKS NEXT TO TREAD BLOCKS AFTER LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AND 24,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595325

225,000 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Seats

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER BUCKET SEAT RELEASED AND DROPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A DRIVER. I HAVE SINCE PUT A SCISSOR LIFT JACK UNDERNEATH IT TO HOLD IT UP. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I BEING A LICENSED P&C INSURANCE AGENT HERE IN ARIZONA - KNOW ALL ABOUT RISKS/HAZARD'S IN THE INDUSTRY. I WILL N…

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THE DRIVER SIDE POWER BUCKET SEAT RELEASED AND DROPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A DRIVER. I HAVE SINCE PUT A SCISSOR LIFT JACK UNDERNEATH IT TO HOLD IT UP. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I BEING A LICENSED P&C INSURANCE AGENT HERE IN ARIZONA - KNOW ALL ABOUT RISKS/HAZARD'S IN THE INDUSTRY. I WILL NOT SPEND THE $658 FOR A NEW POWER DRIVER ASSEMBLY WITH MOTOR #15662432. AS I HAVE SEEN THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S POSTED ON THIS SITE. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED FOR EVERYONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547230

160,000 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INSPECTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE PART AND CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE DEA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INSPECTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE PART AND CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10384143

2,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED A CRUISE CONTROL FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS FROM SALVAGE, IN EVERY CASE, THE ONLY PARTS TO FAIL ARE THE SAME TWO PLASTIC GEARS WORTH ABOUT $5 RETAIL. SINCE GM WILL NOT SELL REPAIR PARTS, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT IS OVER $500. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT FAILURES HOWEVER THESE ARE ALIKE. M…

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SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED A CRUISE CONTROL FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS FROM SALVAGE, IN EVERY CASE, THE ONLY PARTS TO FAIL ARE THE SAME TWO PLASTIC GEARS WORTH ABOUT $5 RETAIL. SINCE GM WILL NOT SELL REPAIR PARTS, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT IS OVER $500. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT FAILURES HOWEVER THESE ARE ALIKE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 CHEVY, K1500, SILVERADO, 5.7 L ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROLLER #25169208. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375556

107,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Fuel System, GasolineFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K1500. THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE WIRES WERE TOO SMALL A GAUGE FOR THE LOAD. THE PLASTIC INSULATION CAUSED THE WIRES TO OVER HEAT AND IT BURNED DOWN TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE PARTS TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. HE ATTEMPTE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K1500. THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE WIRES WERE TOO SMALL A GAUGE FOR THE LOAD. THE PLASTIC INSULATION CAUSED THE WIRES TO OVER HEAT AND IT BURNED DOWN TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE PARTS TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. HE ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #10229033

85,000 miles · Apr 8, 2007
Fuel System, Diesel

FAILING DIESEL INJECTION PUMP ON 1996 CHEVROLET K1500 PICKUP WITH 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, RENDERING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES INOPERABLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 1994 THROUGH 1999 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDE…

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FAILING DIESEL INJECTION PUMP ON 1996 CHEVROLET K1500 PICKUP WITH 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, RENDERING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES INOPERABLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 1994 THROUGH 1999 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE AN 11-YEAR, 120,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS PUMP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187285

105,000 miles · Mar 24, 2007
Power Train

WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE. WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE IT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE, NOT THE U JOINTS, IT CRACKED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND PUT A DENT IN THE GASOLINE TANK.WE WERE IN PROCESS OF GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, AND GETTIN A DRIVESHAFT MADE OUT OF STEEL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10186078

111,000 miles · Feb 19, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY SUN SHELL I'M WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE HAD A GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE OF THE SUN SHELL SHEARING OFF AND DAMAGING INTERNAL PARTS INSIDE THE HOUSING ON TWO SEPARATE VEHICL…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY SUN SHELL I'M WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE HAD A GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE OF THE SUN SHELL SHEARING OFF AND DAMAGING INTERNAL PARTS INSIDE THE HOUSING ON TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FINDING 3 NEIGHBORS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS A PATTERN. ADDITIONALLY, INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED MY SUSPICION, AS GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM, AND TRANSMISSION CENTERS ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HENCE ROUTINELY STOCK KITS NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE FROM THE FAILED SHELL, NOT TO MENTION THE TCC VALVE ISSUE. I'VE OWNED A NUMBER OF GM VEHICLES AND OWN TWO NOW A 1996 K1500 PICKUP AND A 1999 TAHOE. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, BOTH HAD THE SAME DEFECT AND CONSEQUENTLY NEEDED TO BE REBUILT NOT AN INEXPENSIVE ITEM. WHILE I SUPPORT AMERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURERS, I AM SADLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF NOT ONLY THE DEFECTIVE PART, BUT ALSO IN GMS COMMITMENT TO THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. IN 2004, GM FINALLY ADDRESSED THE FAULTY SUN SHELL AND HAS BEGUN PUTTING IN A STRONGER MACHINED (NOT WELDED) PART IN THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. HOWEVER, FOR THE MAJORITY OF CHEVROLET TRUCK OWNERS PRE 2004, WE HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND CONSEQUENTLY REPLACED/REBUILT THE TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO ITS FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10182978

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.