1996 Chevrolet K1500 problems

SEAT BELTS

MY VEHICLE FAILED MASSACHUSETTS SEAT BELT TEST. THEY DONT LOCK WHEN PULLED ON QUICKLY. I HAVE REMOVED AND INSPECTED THEM AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE MECHANISM ITSELF IS NOT CAPABLE OF PASSING THIS TEST I AM BELIEVING THAT THE TEST HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AFTER THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN OF SEAT BELT, AND AM ASKING IF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GRANDFATHERED FOR THIS TEST THERE ARE INTERTIA WEIGHTS IN THEM THAT WILL LOCK THEM IN A COLLISION, AND I HAVE TESTED THIS IN A WIDE OPEN PARKING LOT BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND THEY DO LOCK BUT MY INSPECTION STATION IS UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THIS I WISH TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET A PASSING INSPECTION STICKER ON MY VEHICLE IS THERE A RECALL FOR AND UPDATED DESIGN OF SEAT BELT ? I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BOTH EXISTING SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE ARE "BAD" WILL THE NHTSA ASSIST ME, PLEASE ? THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #11383128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE ON THE GROUND TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TOOK THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A GM SERVICE MANAGER STATED, THEY WERE AWARE OF COOLANT LEAKS. ESPECIALLY INTAKE LEKAS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOO DISCOVERED THE WIPER DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECT. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA complaint #10860764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

UNIROYAL LAREDO P245-R16 TIRES HAVE DRY-ROT CRACKS NEXT TO TREAD BLOCKS AFTER LESS THAN FIVE YEARS AND 24,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10595325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER BUCKET SEAT RELEASED AND DROPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A DRIVER. I HAVE SINCE PUT A SCISSOR LIFT JACK UNDERNEATH IT TO HOLD IT UP. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I BEING A LICENSED P&C INSURANCE AGENT HERE IN ARIZONA - KNOW ALL ABOUT RISKS/HAZARD'S IN THE INDUSTRY. I WILL NOT SPEND THE $658 FOR A NEW POWER DRIVER ASSEMBLY WITH MOTOR #15662432. AS I HAVE SEEN THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S POSTED ON THIS SITE. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED FOR EVERYONE!

NHTSA complaint #10547230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET K1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INSPECTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE PART AND CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10384143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED A CRUISE CONTROL FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS FROM SALVAGE, IN EVERY CASE, THE ONLY PARTS TO FAIL ARE THE SAME TWO PLASTIC GEARS WORTH ABOUT $5 RETAIL. SINCE GM WILL NOT SELL REPAIR PARTS, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT IS OVER $500. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT FAILURES HOWEVER THESE ARE ALIKE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1996 CHEVY, K1500, SILVERADO, 5.7 L ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROLLER #25169208.

NHTSA complaint #10375556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

FAILING DIESEL INJECTION PUMP ON 1996 CHEVROLET K1500 PICKUP WITH 6.5L DIESEL ENGINE CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, RENDERING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES INOPERABLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 1994 THROUGH 1999 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS ENGINE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, DESPITE AN 11-YEAR, 120,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVISION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS PUMP.

NHTSA complaint #10187285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE. WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE IT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE, NOT THE U JOINTS, IT CRACKED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND PUT A DENT IN THE GASOLINE TANK.WE WERE IN PROCESS OF GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, AND GETTIN A DRIVESHAFT MADE OUT OF STEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10186078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE. WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE IT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE, NOT THE U JOINTS, IT CRACKED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND PUT A DENT IN THE GASOLINE TANK.WE WERE IN PROCESS OF GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, AND GETTIN A DRIVESHAFT MADE OUT OF STEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10186078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY SUN SHELL I'M WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 3 AND A HALF YEARS, I'VE HAD A GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE OF THE SUN SHELL SHEARING OFF AND DAMAGING INTERNAL PARTS INSIDE THE HOUSING ON TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND FINDING 3 NEIGHBORS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS A PATTERN. ADDITIONALLY, INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED MY SUSPICION, AS GM IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE INHERENT PROBLEM, AND TRANSMISSION CENTERS ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HENCE ROUTINELY STOCK KITS NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE FROM THE FAILED SHELL, NOT TO MENTION THE TCC VALVE ISSUE. I'VE OWNED A NUMBER OF GM VEHICLES AND OWN TWO NOW A 1996 K1500 PICKUP AND A 1999 TAHOE. AS MENTIONED ABOVE, BOTH HAD THE SAME DEFECT AND CONSEQUENTLY NEEDED TO BE REBUILT NOT AN INEXPENSIVE ITEM. WHILE I SUPPORT AMERICAN AUTO MANUFACTURERS, I AM SADLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF NOT ONLY THE DEFECTIVE PART, BUT ALSO IN GMS COMMITMENT TO THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. IN 2004, GM FINALLY ADDRESSED THE FAULTY SUN SHELL AND HAS BEGUN PUTTING IN A STRONGER MACHINED (NOT WELDED) PART IN THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. HOWEVER, FOR THE MAJORITY OF CHEVROLET TRUCK OWNERS PRE 2004, WE HAVE BEEN STUCK WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND CONSEQUENTLY REPLACED/REBUILT THE TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO ITS FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10182978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND MY TRANSFER CASE ON MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE THREW ITSELF INTO 4 LOW. WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL . I MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND PULL OF ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I DISCONNECTED THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS GAVE ME TWO WHEEL DRIVE WHICH GOT ME HOME. BUT I AM AFRAID TO HOOK THE BOX BACK UP IN FEAR OF KILLING MYSELF OR OTHERS IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10106078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THIS LETTER IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING A HAZARDOUS AND POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC MATERIEL DEFECT ON THE 1996 CHEVROLET PICKUP (MODEL: K1500 1/2 TON 4.3 L F/I V6). THE VEHICLE HAD 112231 ORIGINAL MI. AND WAS OPERATED CONSISTENT WITH ITS INTENDED USE. THE VEHICLE IS PRODUCTION REPRESENTATIVE WITH NO MODIFICATIONS OR HISTORY OF DAMAGE. ON 20 APR 04 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MI/HR THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO IMPENDING INDICATIONS OF A FAILURE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION AND REPAIR WAS CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT RON'S FIRESTONE, GENEVA, AL. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CONNECTOR AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT SHORTED-OUT AND MELTED AND THAT APPROXIMATELY 2.5 IN. OF THE PLASTIC INSULATION ON THE GRAY WIRE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE SENDING UNIT WAS MELTED. RON BLAIR (OWNER/MECHANIC) COMMENTED: WIRING INSIDE GAS TANK WAS MELTED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FUEL PUMP. IF FUEL TANK HAD NOT BEEN FULL IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE TANK TO HAVE BLOWN UP. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS BEFORE. *AK *SC

NHTSA complaint #10075265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. HEATER BLOWER SWITCH MELTED, CAUSING THE BURNING SMELL.

NHTSA complaint #10057707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 70MPH, THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED RAPIDLY, RESULTING IN COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. AFTER INSTALLING THE SPARE AND RETURNING HOME, I INSPECTED THE OTHER THREE TIRES WHICH ALL HAVE DISTINCT CRACKS FORMING AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL CORNERS. ON ONE TIRE, I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE STEEL BELTS BETWEEN THE CRACKS.

NHTSA complaint #10033110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 CHEVY Z71 WENT OUT, WHICH ALSO TOOK THE TRANSFER CASE OUT. THE TRUCK WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED ON TIME AND BABIED. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY IS UP SO I AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE VERY COMMON AMONG 96-98 OWNERS. CALLING GM DOES NOTHING. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10011066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THE THE VEHICLE FUEL SENDING UNIT SHORTED OUT IN THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER FELT IF THERE WAS ANY AIR IN TANK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10012507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

ABS BRAKE FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #10004940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ANTIFREEZE USED ON THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO DETERIORATE THE GASKETS USED ON THIS ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND WATER PUMP LEAKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT FOR REPAIRS. *JG THE ALTERNATOR WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #568022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE ANTIFREEZE USED ON THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO DETERIORATE THE GASKETS USED ON THIS ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS AND WATER PUMP LEAKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT FOR REPAIRS. *JG THE ALTERNATOR WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE ENGINE LEAKED OIL. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #568022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHICH WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THE AIR BAG WIRING THAT COMES UP THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME WORN EVERYTIME THE "TILT" MECHANISM WAS USED. THIS CAUSED A SHORT LEADING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8019825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 50MPH! I WAS VERY SCARED. PLEASE CHECK IN TO THIS AS I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED SO LONG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA complaint #767436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.