Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Chevrolet C1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 The dealer stated that the recall was no longer active.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.
Windshield wipers operate intermittently during use. Nthsa campaign 98V150000 addresses this issue for vehicles of the same make, model, and year of manufacturing. However, Chevrolet has not included my vehicle in the recall. I paid for service identical to that required by the recall campaign to correct the problem on 4/5/99 and was told by the dealership that I would have to contact Chevrolet for reimbursement. Chevrolet maintains that since my vehicle VIN was not included in the recall, they have no obligation to cover the expense (chev case #: 990184509). I believe Chevrolet should expand their recall to include my vehicle and any others of the same make, model, and year that experience the failure described in the recall.
Windshield wipers unexpectedly become inoperable when vehicle is driven in rainy weather conditions due to a malfunction within the wiper motor circuit board. Consumer states there are two rounded contacts on the motor control board which ride on a rotating disk to supply voltage to the motor, as these contacts wear flat due to use they began to ride up on the grease which coats the rotating disk to reduce wear, when this happens voltage is lost to the motor and the wipers stop working.
I received information about a product recall regarding the windshield wipers on Chevrolet trucks. When I contacted a local dealer I was told that the VIN of my truck was not included in the recall. I want to pursue having my vehicle included in the nthsa campaign id number: 150000 because I have already expierenced and had repaired the condition described in the recall.
Windshield wiper/ washer fail intermittently, sometimes during heavy rains. The shop (non dealer) replaced the circuit board, and stated that GMC have a history of doing this. I cannot locate a recall on a 96 C1500. All I can find is a 96 c10. Is there a recall, and if not, are there other reports of this problem occuring on 96 C1500's?
While driving in rain windshield wipers stopped working. The consumer had received recall notice but failed to take the vehicle to the dealer for windshield wiper as it was working properly. However, it failed later on and the dealer indicated that this vehicle was not part of the recall.
Windshield wipers quit working in the middle of operation. Sometimes windshield wipers will come out, and sometimes they will not. Dealer has been notified about this problem. The problem has not been corrected. Truck not included in recall # 98V150001 windshield wiper wiring due to VIN.
Windshield wipers worked intermittently or not at all . Dealer replaced wiper delay board, but stated my 96 chev truck was not one that was included in recent recall. I wanted to let you all know this 96 chev truck had the same problem as the other 95-96 GM trucks in recent recall.
Windshield wipers and washer work ,creating situations that warrant pulling off the road to avoid hazardous driving conditions in inclement weather. Both the driver and passenger seats are very loose along the tracks. When driving alone the passenger seat can be observed vibrating.
Window & Wiper complaints in other C1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 1996 Chevrolet C1500?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 1996 Chevrolet C1500, 24% of the model year's 229 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer › motor (37 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chevrolet C1500 window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 1996 Chevrolet C1500. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet C1500 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 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.