SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
186Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
69
1993210
1994263
1995186
1996272
1997279
19981,660
1999
Compare all Silverado years →

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

What owners reported most

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

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
75,000 miles · May 6, 2005
Electrical System

DT: WHILE DRIVING SHE WAS EXPERIENCING HESITATION, HIT POTHOLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE FACTORY WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED UP AT THE CONNECTOR, ONLY BEAR WIRING WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. FEARFUL THIS MAY CATCH FIRE. HARDWIRED THIS FEATURE PER OWNER WHO IS …

Read full complaint

DT: WHILE DRIVING SHE WAS EXPERIENCING HESITATION, HIT POTHOLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE FACTORY WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED UP AT THE CONNECTOR, ONLY BEAR WIRING WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. FEARFUL THIS MAY CATCH FIRE. HARDWIRED THIS FEATURE PER OWNER WHO IS ALSO MECHANIC. APPEARED TO BE FAULTY WIRING, DEFINITELY 4 PIN CONNECTOR AT THE TOP OF THAT WIRE ASSEMBLY. NO OTHER PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10120113

75,000 miles · Mar 16, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE TILT STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115205

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056044

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Electrical System

THE POSTIVE SIDE CONNECTION LEAKED ACID FROM THE BATTERY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO TURN AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE HIGHWAY LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER AND SITTING IN THE TRAVEL LANES. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED CURING THE…

Read full complaint

THE POSTIVE SIDE CONNECTION LEAKED ACID FROM THE BATTERY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL TIMES THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO TURN AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE HIGHWAY LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER AND SITTING IN THE TRAVEL LANES. MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED CURING THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #717709

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

Chevrolet Silverado transmission problems →Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems →