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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.

About this comparison →

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

Structure complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2006
Structure

TAILGATE STRAPS FAILURE. MAN WAS STANDING ON TAILGATE PREPARING TO JUMP DOWN, AND BOTH STRAPS SNAPPED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WAS NO NOTICE THAT THE STRAPS WERE WORN OR FAILING. VEHICLE IS USED AS SHOW TRUCK, NOT WORK TRUCK, AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FAILURE IS AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL 04E067000, NHTSA ACTION EA0400…

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TAILGATE STRAPS FAILURE. MAN WAS STANDING ON TAILGATE PREPARING TO JUMP DOWN, AND BOTH STRAPS SNAPPED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WAS NO NOTICE THAT THE STRAPS WERE WORN OR FAILING. VEHICLE IS USED AS SHOW TRUCK, NOT WORK TRUCK, AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FAILURE IS AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL 04E067000, NHTSA ACTION EA04005 AND GM DEFECT NOTICE 04V-129, EXCEPTION FOR PRE 2000 VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155559

13,131 miles · Oct 27, 2005
Structure

ON MY 1996 SILVERADO, THE TAILGATE STRAPS ARE STARTING TO RUST AND BREAK. I THINK THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE THE RECALLED TAILGATE STRAPS ARE PUT TOGETHER THE SAME WAS EVEN IF IT IS NOT THE SAME MODEL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141094

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Structure

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747006

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2000
Structure

TWO CABLES THAT SUPPORT TAILGATE BROKE WHILE LOADING LAWN MOWER ONTO TRUCK, CAUSED BY CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #871576

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Structure

THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850512

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1998
Structure

DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS A WEAK METAL PART THAT FAILS WHEN THE DRIVER PULLS ON THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER MUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ODI #780704

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1998
Structure

BOTH DOORS OF VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS CONDITION IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A NORMAL CONDITION WEAR FOR 65000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826114

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeats

REMOTE DOOR OPENER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #525371

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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