Most common 1996 Chevrolet Van problems
Share of the 28 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Van complaints by model year
Best Van years: 2002, 2001. Years to avoid: 1996, 1997, 2000. Compare all years →
What 1996 Chevrolet Van owners say
Brakes
ABS brake problems; when pushing on the brake pedal, the pedal would go to the floor and there would be no braking ability. The dealer could not find a problem with the brake system. This happened on dry road conditions. This incident caused a crash on 4/17/97. The vehicle was repaired by a Ford dealership because Chevrolet wanted consumer to sign a letter that he would not sue anyone over this wreck.
I have a previous report on this vehicle back in April of 2000. This Van would not stop when I was going down a hill and I went into a house. They found nothing wrong, which I never could believe. Ever since this incident the brakes never felt the same. I have returned this Van to dealership several times and they could never find anything wrong. I transport my daughter in this who is in a wheel chair. Two weeks ago I brought this Van in again to be serviced and they said something to do with the sensor, claimed they fixed it but my v an again did not stop on my 1st attempt of applying my brake. The anti-locke light keeps going on and off. I have noticed when light is on the brakes work o.k., when light is off the brakes malfunction. I do not feel safe for myself but most of all my family. It is in the dealership today again 4/15/01.
Engine & cooling
Prior to complete brake failure on July 29, 2001, there is minimum of nine documented service reports with the dealer for brake problems beginning in May of 1997. To date, this problem still exists. There is severe pulling to the right and wheel vibration upon quick or heavy appliance of brakes. The rear brakes do not work and have not worked properly from the beginning; thus, the front brakes must handle the load. The front brake lining must be replace every six months. The back brake lining has been replaced only once. The dealer indicated the recent brake failure was a result of the rotars rusting and splitting in half (a first they say). This occurred only three months after having this vehicle into the dealer to check the brakes again! The rear drive shaft was replaced in nov. Of 1997, the catalytic converter had to be replaced in feb. …
Intermittently when driving the vehicle the vehicle shuts down. Just before the vehicle shuts down, the engine light comes on. The dealer has repaired the vehicle several times.
Body & structure
I am disapointed that all newer cars on the road today only come with painted bumpers.bumpers that are painted are like having no bumper at all when it comes to minor collisions. Bumpers, I believe, should be protection for the painted areas as well as the lights, grill etc. I would like to see a mandate that bumpers not be painted. Seems like common sense to not drive around with the most likely areas to be damaged as painted or otherwise delicate.please consider this in your evaluations as it will greatly reduce consumer expences involving accidents that are not covered by auto insurance ( accidents under 500.00). Thank you.
Failure of the passenger side rear door hinge. When the door was opened the hinge broke, causing the door to drop down. This failure could easily have been when a passenger was leaning against that door, either falling out or into the opening resulting in serious injury. The general motors customer service manager indicated that the hinge failure was due to the high mileage and age of the vehicle. I don't understand how mileage can effect the life of a hinge which should last the life of the vehicle. The other hinge on the same door was very stiff and needed pin replacement. It May have metal fatigue and break later. The mating door is also very stiff and could potentially have metal fatigue and fail later. The replacement of the broken hinge was not covered under warranty or considered to be an abnormal failure by the dealer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Chevrolet Van a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Van rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Van at the same age. It is one of the Van 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 Van?
The brakes — 11 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Van have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Van. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Van?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996, 1997 and 2000. See the full Chevrolet Van years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet Van problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 150,000 miles; 0% 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.