Most common 1996 Chevrolet C1500 problems
Share of the 229 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet C1500 complaints by model year
What 1996 Chevrolet C1500 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 56 →
The windshield wipers stop working on my 1996 silverado without any notice. They turn on and then depending on how long they are kept on, they just stop. I've had to drive home in the rain with very little visibility because of this. Chevrolet did a recall for this in 1998 for a limited number of VIN's. There are apparently many more problems than just what they recalled in 1998. The internet has hundreds of complaints from various Chevy truck owners in recent years. This is clearly a safety issue and a further recall should be considered because of the abrupt way the problem shows up. You don't know you have a problem until it is raining and you try to use the wipers and they don't work. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**768333
Tl contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet C1500. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motor works intermittently. He has had to tap the motor in order for it to function again. The dealer stated that the recall was no longer active. The failure mileage was 104,000 and current mileage was 104,500.
Brakes all 41 →
On 10/03/02 I had a Chevy truck [redacted] repaired for low speed ABS engagement, (under ext warr). In sept of 2005, I again started experiencing low speed ABS engagement. This time since it was out of warranty, I had it repaired at an independent shop. It occurred first at 51,409 mi and the next time at 70,000 mi. This could prove to be a real pain if this problem is going to resurface every 20,000 miles. Updated 07/17/2012
When applying all-wheel ABS brakes, the truck continued through intersection hitting another vehicle. Truck was towed to west covina auto body shop w/Chevrolet inquiring about owner wanting to participate in an inspection. Owner has not heard from them.
Seats all 21 →
Front seat mount, GM power seats. I am a automotive design engineer, my company makes the seat in question, but I do not work for that division. The lower front mount cracked and failed when I was leaning back on my seat while driving down the freeway, I was thrown into the back cab, I almost lost control of my truck. I investigated the failure and found that it is due to a very poor design. This mount has to eventually fail, because a bolt is inserted in the middle of a very thin sheet metal mount plate, every time there is a load placed on that seat, this flange bends beyond its elastic limit, this flange will eventually crack. I have repaired this myself but I would like to warn others of this problem my vechicle is a 1996 cheverolet z-71 silverado pick up truck with the 6 way power bucket seats. Thank you
Interior system anchor track is defective, and seat will not hold. Dealership is aware of problem. Consumer states that while traveling at a constant speed, the seat is fine, however once the brakes are applied the seat starts to slide forward automatically without anyone touching the lever.
1996 Chevrolet C1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet C1500 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the C1500 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 229 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Chevrolet C1500?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 56 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer › motor. Next are the brakes (41) and seats (21).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet C1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet C1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet C1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 14% 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.