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1996 Chevrolet 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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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: 14 of 20 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports
76,000 miles · Oct 1, 2015
Service Brakes

VEHICAL IS ONE FAMILY OWNER, HAS 76000 MILES ON IT. BRAKES ARE VERY BAD, HAVE REPLACED ALL HYDROLICS, PADS HOSES DISC AND DRUMS, VEHICLE ON BRAKE APPLICATION WILL SHAKE VERY BAD, AND ALSO WILL JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW FOR AT LEAST 8 TIMES TO TRY AND FIX. VERY DANGEROUS TRUCK, CANNOT BE TRUST…

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VEHICAL IS ONE FAMILY OWNER, HAS 76000 MILES ON IT. BRAKES ARE VERY BAD, HAVE REPLACED ALL HYDROLICS, PADS HOSES DISC AND DRUMS, VEHICLE ON BRAKE APPLICATION WILL SHAKE VERY BAD, AND ALSO WILL JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW FOR AT LEAST 8 TIMES TO TRY AND FIX. VERY DANGEROUS TRUCK, CANNOT BE TRUSTED.CALIPERS WERE REPLACED ALSO TWICE ON MOST ALL UNITS ON TRUCK. SOMETIME 3 TIMES. HAVE PAID OUT $1500.00 SO FAR. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THESE TRUCKS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALL MADE. TRUCK IN DEALER TODAY FOR A FINAL REPAIR ATTEMP. 10-01-2015

NHTSA ODI #10779054

98,000 miles · Jul 8, 2015
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS GETTING OFF AT A EXIT RAMP AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PAD THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES AT THAT POINT AND ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME I FINALY CAME TO A STOP AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SEEN BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE UNDER THE WHEEL WELL I CAREFULLY…

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I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS GETTING OFF AT A EXIT RAMP AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PAD THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES AT THAT POINT AND ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME I FINALY CAME TO A STOP AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SEEN BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE UNDER THE WHEEL WELL I CAREFULLY DROVE IT HOME TAKING BACK ROADS AND GOING VERY SLOW GOT HOME AFTER A LONG SCARY DRIVE AND JACKED THE TRUCK UP REPLACED THE WHEEL CYLINDER AND WAS GOING TO BLEED THE BRAKES BUT THERE WAS NO FLUID COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINE NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING OFF OF THE FRAME I LOOKED AT THE BRAKE LINE AND IT WAS RUSTED AND PITTED AND SEEN THE BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM LITTLE HOLES IN THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE. LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR WAYS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SO I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP ME SO I WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND I GOT SOME STEEL TUBING AND STARTED TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE MY SELF SO FAR I HAVE BENT AND CUT AND DOUBLE FLARED THE NEW BRAKE LINE BUT IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I HAVE TO WORK SO I WILL FINISH IT THIS COMING WEEKEND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK. COULD NOT AFFORD THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES IT WOULD COST TO TOW IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO TELL ME WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITCH IS VERY PLAIN TO SEE THEN ADD A PERCENTAGE TO PARTS AND THEN THE LABOR AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE AND THEY CHARGE BY THE HOUR SO THEY WOULD NOT BE IN ANY HURRY TO FIX IT. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT WASHING AND WAXING AND MAINTENANCE THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OF THE TRUCK AND THE EXHAUST IS NOT RUSTED BUT THE BRAKE LINE IS

NHTSA ODI #10732711

140,000 miles · Apr 30, 2015
Service Brakes

WENT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED PEDAL WHEN TO FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEAR THE REAR OF VEHICLE INSIDE FRAME NEAR THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY. THIS VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND LOOKS PERFECT BESIDES RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713931

218,931 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH A 5 LITER WHICH WAS REPLACED WITH A 5.7 LITER. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT DUE TO THE OLD PART WAS NO LONGER GOOD. WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE NEW PART SHORTED OUT, FRYING ONE OF THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE PART OF SENDING UNIT, INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. I AGAIN REPLACED THE P…

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I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET C1500 ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH A 5 LITER WHICH WAS REPLACED WITH A 5.7 LITER. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT DUE TO THE OLD PART WAS NO LONGER GOOD. WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE NEW PART SHORTED OUT, FRYING ONE OF THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE PART OF SENDING UNIT, INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. I AGAIN REPLACED THE PART THINKING I HAD BOUGHT A DEFECTIVE ITEM THE FIRST TIME. I AM NOW STARTING TO GET THE SAME SYMPTOMS IT HAD THE LAST TIME RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST SENDING UNIT WENT OUT. I DID AN ELECTRIC CHECK ON THE OLD/NEW FUEL PUMP AND IT WAS O.K. THE SYMPTOMS ARE, WHEN I'M COMING TO A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, CRANK IT, AND IT STARTS BACK ON. IT DID THE SAME THING LAST TIME UNTIL FINALLY IT FAILED TO START. I KNOW OF A 1996 CHEVROLET ASTRO WITH A 4.3 LITER AND IT ALSO SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM AND USES THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER. ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE TNT WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541964

220,563 miles · Mar 30, 2013
Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK ON CRAIGSLIST AND WHEN I GOT IT HOME IT WOULDN'T BACK UP OR SHIFT IN TO SECOND GEAR RIGHT SO I AM HAVING THE TRANNY REBUILT NOW WHIT A MASTER REBUILD KIT AND NEW SUN SHELL AND NEW TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505017

102,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDDLE LEFT REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE PEDDLE AND STOPPING ABILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491461

140,000 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET 1500. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 30 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDERS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED; HOWEVER, TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET 1500. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 30 MPH TO MAKE A TURN, THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDERS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE AIR BAG FAILURE. POLICE REPORT NUMBER 192224-92-99 WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN TEXAS CRASH REPORT 04/02/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217977

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO AND SINCE I HAVE HAD IT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED 5 TIMES BY A MECHANIC SHOP, COSTING OVER $300 EACH TIME IT WAS DONE. IT WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE THEN QUIT, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN REMOTE AREAS. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC BEFORE A BACK INJURY SO I FINALLY PULLED THE FULL …

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I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO AND SINCE I HAVE HAD IT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED 5 TIMES BY A MECHANIC SHOP, COSTING OVER $300 EACH TIME IT WAS DONE. IT WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE THEN QUIT, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN REMOTE AREAS. I USED TO BE A MECHANIC BEFORE A BACK INJURY SO I FINALLY PULLED THE FULL TANK DOWN AND PULLED THE SENDING UNIT OUT. I NOTICED THE GRAY WIRE GOING TO THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP HAS MELTED THE COATING OFF THE WIRE AND IT IS LOOSE. I HAVE ORDERED A COMPLETE SENDING UNIT AND PUMP AND HOPE IT SOLVES THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS COULD BE A VERY BAD FIRE HAZARD IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO SHORT OUT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10137908

73,000 miles · Mar 15, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

THE FRONT AXLE SEAL KEEPS LEAKING. IT WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND NO ASSISTANCE OFFERED.*AK ENGINE HAD COOLANT RUNNING OUT OF IT. DEALER FOUND WATER PUMP LEAKING. REPLACED WATER PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER. FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING UNIT WAS ALSO REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10109254

127,110 miles · Dec 17, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT LOST POWER AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB 0716…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT LOST POWER AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A WIRE INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD MELTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB 07161996 VEHICLE STARTED THEN STALLED SEVERAL TIMES THEN FINALLY DIED IN TRAFFIC. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10097215

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.