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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
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040165

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10031464

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

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024776

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003
Power Train

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE TRAVELING, TRANSMISSION GOES OUT DURING PASSING GEAR. CONSUMER IS NOW ON 3RD TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024756

144,523 miles · Mar 27, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. TURNED TO HIGH THEY STARTED WORKING, IF PUT IN LIMIT TIME IT DID NOT WORK. SHUT OFF TRUCK AND RESTARTED TRUCK THEY WORKED O.K. FOR 5 MIN. THEN STOPPED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10013570

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2003
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10008927

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 27, 2002
Fuel System, OtherFire

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM FUEL LINE ONTO EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF A POSSIBILITY VEHICLE FIRE. THE LEAKAGE IS AS A RESULT OF THE WAY THE FUEL LINE IS DESIGNED,THE LINES RUB AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES A HOLE AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023407

68,000 miles · Nov 15, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY INTERMITTANTLY. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. TS *TT

NHTSA ODI #8022818

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems