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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
186Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1996 Chevrolet Silverado

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 186 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Visibility: 73 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 31 reports
  • Power Train: 22 reports
  • Seats: 15 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 13 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    69
    1993    210
    1994    263
    1995    186
    1996    272
    1997    279
    1998    1,660
    1999
    Compare all Silverado years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Visibility
    73    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    31    Power Train
    22    Seats
    15    Engine And Engine Cooling
    13
    All reported categories
    Fuel System, Gasoline
    12    Air Bags
    11    Structure
    8    Exterior Lighting
    5    Unknown Or Other
    5    Vehicle Speed Control
    5    Electrical System
    4    Steering
    4    Equipment
    2    Fuel System, Other
    2    Suspension
    2    Seat Belts
    1    Tires
    1    Trailer Hitches
    1    Visibility/wiper
    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: 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
    Clear category filter
    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.

    Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems

    Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems →Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems →