Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the brakes. It has been recalled 3 times.
Most common 1996 Chevrolet K20 problems
1 of the 2 complaints (50%) are about the brakes.
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes
1
1
0
0
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › U-bolt, Leaf Spring to Axle96V082000
Filed May 7, 199616,918 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. THE FOUR U-BOLTS NUTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE WERE UNDER-TORQUED.
Risk. VEHICLE USAGE COULD CAUSE THE NUTS TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY FALL OFF THE U-BOLT. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL CHECK THE U-BOLT NUT TORQUE AND RE-TORQUE ANY LOOSE U-BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.
Filed Mar 25, 19962,400 vehiclesVehicle Safety Systems
Defect. THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THIS COULD RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTALL NEW ATTACHING BOLTS TORQUED TO A HIGHER SPECIFICATION. THESE CORRECTIONS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS.
All 3 campaigns on file, newest first.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jul 22, 1999CT
THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IN MY OPINION DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE THE TRUCK FAILS TO STOP IN A TIMELY FASHION OR DISTANCE. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS HAS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SEEKING RESOLUTION. THE LATEST OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK AND A CAR BACKED OUT AND STOPPED FORCING ME TO USE TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IF THE CAR HAD NOT MOVED I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY HIT HIM. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE . I HAVE SAID AS MUCH IN A SATISFACTION QUESTIONARE TO CHEVY AND ASKED FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ONE. I AM DISMAYED TO NOT FIND MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL OF GM VEHICLES. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF THOSE AROUND ME WHEN I AM OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK IS RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. *AK
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jan 7, 1998ID
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELS WIPERS. GENERALLY HAPPENS IN A RAIN STORM AND AFFECTS VISIBILITY.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 7, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.