Most common 1996 Chevrolet Pickup problems
Share of the 60 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Pickup complaints by model year
Best Pickup years: 2003, 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1995, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Chevrolet Pickup:
Steering shaft separations
Bolt in the coupling, joining the upper intermediate and steering column shafts, falls out.total loss of steering occurs when the shafts then separate.
Steering shaft separations
Coupling bolts, joining the steering shaft, May separate.in some cases, total unforeseen, loss of steering control May result.
What 1996 Chevrolet Pickup owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 21 →
Windshield wipers will quit operating unexpectedly during there operation, during extremely heavy rain, loss of driver visibility greatly increases the risk of a vehicle crash. This has ocurred to me on numerous occassions. A recall was initiated by the Chevrolet motor division on all light duty Pickup trucks & sport utility vehicles, 2 & 4 wheel drive. A solder joint near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the problem. Owner notification began on December 15, 1998. I have notified the Chevrolet motor division of the problem & have ben informed by there customer relationship manager larry larson that my vehicle was not subject to the recall & not involved in any special policy for the windshield wiper motors. He stated that this problem could be related to owner maintenance, age or wear. …
The vehicle was just recently transfered to my name though I have been the primary driver since the vehicle was purchased in December of 1995. The windshield wipers have failed on numerous occassions. I have had the service station where I trade look at it and unless I want to cover the expense of having the motor replaced they recommended that I "jiggle" the wire to the wiper box. After seeing a newspaper article on this specific problem in this model vehicle I took the article to the dealer and his suggestion was to replace the motor at my expense and hope an official recall is eventually issued at which time I would be reimbursed. This is a danger and it is a persistant and ongoing problem. I fail to see why the responsibility and expense should be mine. I am asking that NHTSA further investigate this problem before someone is seriously hurt due to the failure of the wiper system.
Brakes
When driving under wet road conditions and putting foot on the brake pedal to stop the truck, it takes longer for the truck to stop, it continues to travel and then stops. It only does this when it rains. The insurance report indicates that there was a high rate of problems with this vehicle.
While applying brakes pedal went nearly to floor. Found hole in steel brake line that was rusty along the frame near the last plastic clamp before it jumps to the flex hose. Ampp.
Fuel & propulsion system
I have had these things go bad on this truck and they are things that other people have told me that have went wrong on their truck also. I like the chevrolets but if these things keep going wrong like this I will have to switch to a nice new Dodge I think. Nlm
Motor will shut off at various times, at idle or while driving, without warning. Truck is used for trailering horses and heavy equipment and the engine shutting down severely effects braking and steerage and is a serious safety hazard. The truck was repaired by the dealership for fuel injection pump problems at 55812 miles with the pump being replaced. Searching internet and talking to mechanics found that this is a persistent problem with the 6.5l diesel engine with the fault being the pump mounted driver (pmd) sometimes called a fuel solenoid driver (fsd) which GM lists it as part #12562836 and manufactured by stanadyne. This module is mounted on the side of the fuel pump in front of the intake manifold between the heads. It would seem that the intense heat of the engine is causing the electronics in this pmd to break down and fail. …
1996 Chevrolet Pickup engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 22 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 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 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Pickup a good car?
Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Pickup rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Pickup at the same age. It is one of the Pickup years we suggest avoiding. 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 Pickup?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 21 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer › motor. Next are the brakes (9) and fuel & propulsion system (7).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Pickup have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Pickup. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Pickup?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1997 and 1996. See the full Chevrolet Pickup years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet Pickup problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 38,000 miles; 67% 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.