Most common 1996 Chevrolet 1500 problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet 1500 complaints by model year
Best 1500 years: 2007, 1996. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
What 1996 Chevrolet 1500 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
I own a 1996 Chevrolet 1/2 ton p/u and what happened is on my fuel pump sender a few of the wires caught on fire, obviously causing my truck not to work. I got the part replaced, but I am concerned in the fact that I had a fire in my gas tank because of this problem. The person who fixed the fuel pump sender said that he has seen the same problem in another Chevrolet Mini-van and has herd of this problem about other Chevrolet vecihicles. He also informed me that he knows the NHTSA has been informed of this problem. My intent in this corespondence is that you look into this problem before one of these tanks blow up. I appreciate your time and hopefully we can get this resolved before there is a major incident with these fuel pump senders. If you have any futher questions please feel free to e-mail me. Respectfully, curtis j. Kohl.
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. …
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 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
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.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Windshield wipers will be working and then just stop, I have to turn them on and off again several times until they start back and then they only seem to work on the intermitten position. I have contacted cherolet and there is a recall but not for my VIN. I work at a government facitity and we have a Chevrolet truck with the same problem
During rainy weather front windshield wipers failed intermittently. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet 1500 a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 1500 rates better than average: 79% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 1500 at the same age. It is one of the best 1500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Chevrolet 1500?
The fuel & propulsion system — 6 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › fuel pump. Next are the brakes (4) and windows, wipers & sunroof (3).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Chevrolet 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.