1996 Chevrolet Pickup

Routine

Owners filed 60 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer › motor. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor10
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer9
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
100
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery3
100
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior2
000
Seats2
000
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
010
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 1, 200438,000 milesNY

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER AND SERVICE WAS REFUSED BECAUSE IT IS A SALVAGED VEHICLE. *AK *TC

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jan 20, 200480,000 milesCO

DOOR HANDLES CONSTANTLY BREAK OFF. DRIVER'S DOOR IS TILTED OFF THE HINGES. DRIVER MUST ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO EXIT VEHICLE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Dec 10, 200324,000 milesNE

THE FRONT OF THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS NO UPPER BODY RESTRAINT FOR THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. *AK THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *SCC *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 3, 2003TX

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2003OH

THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Oct 9, 2002TX

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Sep 2, 2002WI

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.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 22, 2002MD

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. REPLACING THIS PMD RESOLVED THE STALLING PROBLEM BUT I FEEL IF THIS PMD IS NOT COOLED PROPERLY, RELOCATED TO A COOLER LOCATION OR REDESIGNED THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. THERE ARE AFTERMARKET KITS AVAILABLE TO RELOCATE THE PMD BUT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER (GM) TO CORRECT THE DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 4, 2002MN

GM IS AWARE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM THAT EXISTS WITH THEIR TRUCKS AND THEY NEED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Apr 30, 2002TX

DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN BROKEN 4 TIMES, EACH TIME HE HAS REPAIRED IT HIMSELF. HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.*AK *TT

Tires
Filed Apr 22, 2002GA

WAS DRIVING FROM LAS VEGAS TO ATLANTA. WHILE PASSING THROUGH TALLADEGA, AL ON APRIL 20, 2002, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE. I WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH (WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC) IN THE PASSING LANE WHEN IN MY PERIPHERY I SAW A BLACK THING COME FROM THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK. NEXT CAME A LOUD THUMP. MADE IT TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WITH HELP FROM THE ALABAMA HIGHWAY ASSISTANCE PEOPLE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TIRE AND CHANGED TO THE SPARE. AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, MY DAD AND I INPSECTED THE GENERAL GRABBER AW AND NOTICED SOME OF THE STEEL OF THE RADIALS POKING OUT, ALONG WITH 1/2 TO 1" OF TREAD MISSING FROM THE TIRE. CURRENTLY WE HAVE A CALL INTO GENERAL AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM; A CALL WAS ALSO MADE TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN ADJUSTER WILL BE CONTACTING US REGARDING THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK FROM THE TIRE.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryCrash
Filed Apr 17, 2002IL

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

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Mar 4, 2002AZ

FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WIRES MELTED/ INSIDE GAS TANK. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Dec 3, 2001TX

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Aug 21, 2001SD

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHEN ON DELAY OR LOW. THEY START WORKING ONLY BY TURNING WIPERS ON HIGH. *SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***751088

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Aug 15, 2001WV

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. I ADVISED HIM THAT A CIRCUIT BOARD IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, & I DON'T SEE HOW A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT ON A CIRCUIT BOARD PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER COULD BE CONSIDERED A OWNER MAINTENANCE ITEM. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THIS SITUATION THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE & IT IS OCURRING TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THE MAKE & VINTAGE THE SAME AS MINE. THIS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF A MANUFACTURER HIDING DEFECTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES THAT CAN GET YOU KILLED. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 4, 2001CA

WINSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.A CHECK OF RECALL INFORMATION SHOWS MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THAT.LOCAL DEALER, SAID MY VIN WASN'T COVERED AS PART OF RECALL. . COMPLAINT TO CHEVY WAS IGNORED. CHEVY COMPLAINT REQUEST #C04529859. TSB #98043. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jun 8, 2001OH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Structure › Body › Tailgate
Filed May 30, 2001MS

FEEL THAT THE CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE RIPING UNLIKE WHEN METAL WAS USED IN PAST YEARS FOR THE TAILGATE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 6, 2001DE

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. *AK

20 of 60 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200310000Routine
200217000Routine
200117000Routine
200032000Routine
199939000Routine
199874120Routine
199775100Routine
1996 — this page60110Routine
199579110Routine
199458110Routine
199213010Routine
199116010Routine
199011000Routine

Compare every Pickup year →

Reading this record

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: Aug 11, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.