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1996 Chevrolet K3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
13Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19936
199412
199513
1996
Compare all K3500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Air
1Suspension
1Trailer Hitches
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

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: 2 of 13 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

13 reports
59,000 miles · Aug 14, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

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 BU…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11244000

92,000 miles · Apr 17, 2007
Trailer HitchesCrash

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 DEST…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10188124

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Power TrainVisibility

REAR AXLE CAME OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, ENITRE WINDSHIED WIPER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884225

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736218

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Air

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

NHTSA ODI #732109

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES KEEP FAILING, EVEN AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS FROM DEALER TO CORRECT DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860811

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

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 INJECT…

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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

NHTSA ODI #828956

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS BRAKE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WHEEL WOULD LOCK-UP ( ONE WHEEL WOULD LOCK OR PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER). VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827059

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1998
Suspension

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #534745

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKES LOCK UP. THE BRAKES ARE PULLING, CAUSING ONE DISC BRAKE TO PULL MORE THAN THE OTHER WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES CAN'T STOP, VEHICLE HAS TO COAST TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822449

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.