Most common 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet C/K Pickups complaints by model year
Best C/K Pickups years: 1995, 1996, 2002. Years to avoid: 1998, 1997. Compare all years →
1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups recalls (1)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups:
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
HEADLIGHT
What 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
I have a 1996 Chevy pickup. The wipers kept on turning off when raining. I have talked to my local Chevy dealer if there was a recall as well Chevy company and the both said no. I have seen recalls on this complaint on other vehicles (Chevy p/u) on the same year. But my VIN doesn't have a recall. Windshield wiper motor controller circuit board. When I was coming in to work this morning at 0430 in the rain the wiper turned off and would come back on.
Windshield wiper motor intermittent operation;I researched the problem and found there was a recall for my make ,model. However after taking my truck to the dealer I was notified my VIN was not on the list. I then contacted GM. I was told there was nothing they could do about the recall and if I felt this was a safety problem I should take it to be fixed. I feel they do not think loss of your wipers is a safety concern.
Fuel & propulsion system
Diesel engine unexpected and violently shut off in middle of busy intersection and would not restart. Engine finally restarted, then raced and ran erratically. It then shut off repeatedly at highway speed resulting in severe jerking and bucking, and nearly resulted in being rear-ended by a large truck. The dealer reports that this is the pump driver module and expressed that it is well known failure. I consider this to be an extremely dangerous condition and a latent defect that must be addressed. In a diesel, it is an extremely startling and violent shutoff that could easily result in an accident. There are reports of this problem posted all over the internet and especially throughout the professional repair circles. This is the second failure of this part since I have owned the vehicle...now I am expected to pay $2,000 to repair it out of my pocket.
Dt: the contact stated the fuel injection system failed in the diesel truck. The engine intermittently came to complete stop while driving at 50-60 MPH or while the engine was idling. The dealer changed the electronic diesel control, but the problem recurred. The engine was restarted when the truck came to complete stop.
Brakes
Brakes defective, front crossover brake line under transmission support burst. Upon examination of brake system, all brake lines and brake hoses replaced, due to corrosion, front rotors and pads replaced, rear drums and linings replaced, with new brake hardware as well, and rear brake wheel cylinders. Brakes bled according to procedure, but pedal still spongy. Brakes bled two more times with no improvement in sponginess. Brakes have time delay between stepping on pedal and activation of brakes. Brakes are inadequate for empty truck. Carrying load on truck or pulling trailer is just plain scary and dangerous, as brakes do not stop truck. Antilock system does not work. Putting all my weight, 275 pounds, and all my strength, on brakes when truck is empty, and on a wet road, will lock the front brakes, but no antilock functions. Bad brakes are a common GM problem across all model lines. …
Problems with ABS brakes engaging when slowing down to stop. Had the ABS sensor ( front drivers side) replaced which corrected problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 C/K Pickups rates better than average: 44% fewer complaints than a typical year of the C/K Pickups at the same age. It is one of the best C/K Pickups 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 C/K Pickups?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 6 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer › motor. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (5) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet C/K Pickups?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998 and 1997. See the full Chevrolet C/K Pickups years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickups problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 96,000 miles; 21% 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.