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1996 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Silverado 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: 26 of 186 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

13 reports
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18,000 miles · May 17, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicInjury

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONTINUAL COSTS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING HAS ALMOST EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS FROM $3,200.00-$3,900.00 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ANY FUTURE REPAIRS WILL NOW EXCEED THE PURCHASE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE TRUCK MY LOST WAGES HAVE EXCEEDED OR WILL EXCEED $10,000.…

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SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONTINUAL COSTS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING HAS ALMOST EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. REPAIR COSTS FROM $3,200.00-$3,900.00 AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE. ANY FUTURE REPAIRS WILL NOW EXCEED THE PURCHASE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE INCAPACITY OF THE TRUCK MY LOST WAGES HAVE EXCEEDED OR WILL EXCEED $10,000.00. BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVING LOST MY JOB DUE TO THE VEHICLES INCAPACITATE HAS CAUSED INSURMOUNTABLE PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THE NECESSARY DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS TO MY FAMILY. MY ONCE FAIR CREDIT REPORT HAS BEEN RUINED. ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR AGREEING TO TAKE OUT A AUTO LOAN WAS TO HELP ACHIEVE A FAVORABLE CREDIT RATING TO OBTAIN A MORTGAGE LOAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. THERE IS CURRENTLY A INVESTIGATION AND CLASS ACTION SUITE PENDING BY THE VERMONT STATE ATTORNEY'S GENERALS OFFICE AGAINST WILLIAM DYDO JR. (DYDO AUTO SALES. ALTHOUGH I HOPE TO BE PART OF THIS SUIT I WILL NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10121196

73,262 miles · Jun 30, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE TOWING A TRAILER. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND REPLACED TWO FRONT BRAKE HOSES THAT ERUPTED. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10080225

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056044

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024933

62,000 miles · Feb 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING WATER IN THE FRONT AND REAR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10007021

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

NO COLLISIONS, BUT THIS TRUCK HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 3 WIPER MOTORS, (2 REPLACEMENTS) AND IT IS A 1996 MODEL WITH 81000 MILES ON IT: I READ IN TRUCK TREND THAT GM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR WIPER MOTOR FAILURE, SO I WANTED TO TELL HOW I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE FAILURES IN MY OWN VEHICLE. DT

NHTSA ODI #769365

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, AND ON FOUR OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAS SURGED FORWARD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND HAD FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM WOULD REOCCUR. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881966

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF DRIVER. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #869134

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH TRANSMISSION/ EGR VALVE AND HEADLIGHT'S WENT OUT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852507

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED, CONSUMER WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & FUEL PUMP REPLACED 5 TIMES BY MECHANIC. MECHANIC DO NOT KNOW CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852128

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.

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