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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

What owners actually said

186 reports
200,000 miles · Dec 11, 2019
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WITTMEIER CHEVROLET (2292 FOREST AVE, CHICO, CA 95928, (530) 895-8181) AND WAS IN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WITTMEIER CHEVROLET (2292 FOREST AVE, CHICO, CA 95928, (530) 895-8181) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11288439

196,000 miles · Jun 10, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DURING A JUMP START IGNITION WOULD NOT DISENGAGE EVEN AFTER I TURNED OFF, AND REMOVED KEY. HAD TO REMOVER BATTERY CABLE 2 TIMES NOW

NHTSA ODI #10873661

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2007
Visibility

1996 CHEVY SILVERADO CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE MOTOR MIGHT FAIL RESULTING IN CRACKING SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD CUSTOMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER STA…

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1996 CHEVY SILVERADO CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE MOTOR MIGHT FAIL RESULTING IN CRACKING SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD CUSTOMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS DOCUMENTATION THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATES HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188981

80,000 miles · Jun 2, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO INSPECTION HAS BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10158860

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2006
Fuel System, Other

CONSUMER CHEVROLET SILRADO PICKUP HAS HAD THREE INJECTION PUMPS IN 92000 MILES. *TS ***REF 10157351*** *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157362

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

110,000 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Seats

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINER FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE PUSHED UP AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. REPAIRS WERE MADE BY TEAM CHEVROLET SAMARIUM, TENNESSEE. THE COST WAS $ 250.00. THIS FAILURE ALMOST…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINER FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE PUSHED UP AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. REPAIRS WERE MADE BY TEAM CHEVROLET SAMARIUM, TENNESSEE. THE COST WAS $ 250.00. THIS FAILURE ALMOST RESULTED IN A FATAL CLASH. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP OFF HIGHWAY IN A DITCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10152001

10,300 miles · Jan 5, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

METAL HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID LINE RUSTS, DEGRADING TO THE LEAKING OF FLUID AND TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. METAL LINE TO BE REPLACED WITH STAINLESS-STEEL. FUEL LINE IS IN SAME CONDITION, THOUGH NOT LEAKING FUEL. FUEL LINE TO BE REPLACED WITH STAINLESS STEEL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146990

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

108,400 miles · Oct 17, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1996 CHEVY 4X4 TRUCK (SILVERADO) ABS ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. VERY DIFFICULT STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP. KIDS IN THE TRUCK CAUSED A VERY UNNERVING EXPERIENCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140014

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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