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1996 Chevrolet C3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
199318
199447
199526
1996
Compare all C3500 years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Engine And Engine Cooling
5Visibility
3Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Power Train
2Tires
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Structure
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: 3 of 26 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. 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.

0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

9 reports
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12,000 miles · Feb 18, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1996 CREWCAB DULEY 3500 PROBLEMS WITH EARLY WARE OF BRAKE. ROTORS TURNED AT 12000 AND NOW REPLACING BRAKE PADS EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES DUE TO EXCESIVE WARE. DEALERS HAVE HAD TRUCK IN AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR BREAKING ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996. PUT NEW PADS ON IN DEC AND AT 2000 MILES THEY ARE BEING REPLACE AGAIN. MAJOR WEAR TO…

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1996 CREWCAB DULEY 3500 PROBLEMS WITH EARLY WARE OF BRAKE. ROTORS TURNED AT 12000 AND NOW REPLACING BRAKE PADS EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES DUE TO EXCESIVE WARE. DEALERS HAVE HAD TRUCK IN AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR BREAKING ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996. PUT NEW PADS ON IN DEC AND AT 2000 MILES THEY ARE BEING REPLACE AGAIN. MAJOR WEAR TO THE PADS

NHTSA ODI #10007745

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY CHEVROLET TRUCK HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3000MI. THEY FIRST NEEDED REPLACEING AT 12000MI WITH ALL OF THIS BEING UNLOADED HIGHWAY MILES THIS IS EXCESSIVE. THE PROBLEM HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE TO WHAT IT IS NOW AT 3000MI REPLACEMENT. I HAVE HAD 2 RELATIVES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON C-1500 AND C-2500 TRUCKS.…

Read full complaint

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY CHEVROLET TRUCK HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3000MI. THEY FIRST NEEDED REPLACEING AT 12000MI WITH ALL OF THIS BEING UNLOADED HIGHWAY MILES THIS IS EXCESSIVE. THE PROBLEM HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE TO WHAT IT IS NOW AT 3000MI REPLACEMENT. I HAVE HAD 2 RELATIVES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON C-1500 AND C-2500 TRUCKS. I WAS TOLD THAT YOU ALREADY HAD AN OPEN IVESTIGATION ON THE PROBLEM BUT I COULD NOT FIND IT ON YOUR WEB SIGHT. A LITTLE INFO IF YOU PLEASE. SHOWGOOD1@AOL.COM

NHTSA ODI #711556

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS WORN OUT. YH

NHTSA ODI #606693

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827308

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE BACK BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE DRUMS AND THE PADS THREE TIMES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821556

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY MISFIRES AND RUNS ROUGH WITH HESITATION.

NHTSA ODI #528185

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604889

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #519138

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES ARE SLOW TO RELEASE AFTER STOPPING.

NHTSA ODI #603886

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.