FaultScore

FaultScore report

1996 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with NHTSA between 2008 and 2015. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 25 of 32 worst.

B

FaultScore 35/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

2 complaints report a death.

110,250 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

13%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 1 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 21 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 1
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
60% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 21
13% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1996 compares with every other Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 4 40.0%

Median failure at 110,250 miles

Seat Belts 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,000 mi

Wheels 1 10.0%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 10.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 10.0%

Median failure at 172,000 miles

Steering 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 1 10.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 12.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 37.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 25.0%
150,000+ miles 2 25.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 2008 peak 2 Jul 2015

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 75,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured 1 killed

SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10235486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured 1 killed

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10235486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 98,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ UPDATED 11/08/2017

NHTSA complaint #10732704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Girard, OH

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 LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOON DISCOVERED THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECTS. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR THE WIPER BOARD, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE INTAKE FIXED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2004. IN THE WINTER OF 2010, THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSES, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR CAP. HE ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT. THE COOLANT WAS DARK AND WITH SLUDGE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE TRUCK AS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AT THE INTAKE BELOW THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING.

NHTSA complaint #10637901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Girard, OH

VISIBILITY

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 LEAKS. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING, AND HE SOON DISCOVERED THE WIPERS DIDN'T WORK. HE DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME TRUCKS FOR A WIPER BOARD DEFECTS. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER EVENTUALLY RECEIVED A REFUND FOR THE WIPER BOARD, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE INTAKE FIXED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2004. IN THE WINTER OF 2010, THE CONSUMER NOTICED ANTI-FREEZE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR HOSES, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR CAP. HE ALSO CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT. THE COOLANT WAS DARK AND WITH SLUDGE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE TRUCK AS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AT THE INTAKE BELOW THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING.

NHTSA complaint #10637901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Siloam Springs, AR

WHEELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDER HIS VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD A FLAT TIRE AND NOTICED THE CABLE HAD BROKEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE SPARE TIRE. HE HAD NO IDEA WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE LAST PERSON WHO REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE REWIND CAUSED IT TO FALL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10458787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,548 miles Wales, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

UPON BEING APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVY TRUCKS AND THAT IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE STATES THAT HAVE SNOW AND ICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ABS SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REMOVED & CLEANED. I REQUESTED THAT GM PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY DENIED THE REQUEST.

NHTSA complaint #10355300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,500 miles Granger, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGES IN UNWANTED FASHION AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP. EXACTLY DUPLICATES SYMPTOM IN RECALL BELOW. EXTENDS STOPPING DISTANCE AND CRASH POTENTIAL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V379000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2002 CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 1999-2002 CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2000-2002 CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2000-2002 GMC / SIERRA 1999-2002 GMC / YUKON 2000-2002 GMC / YUKON XL 2000-2002 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 29, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 PE05020 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1353718 CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NOTES: GM RECALL NO. 05068. GM REVISED THE INVOLVED VEHICLES BY AMENDING THE ORIGINAL 573 REPORT ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. GM REVISED THE ORIGINAL 573 REPORT ON DECEMBER 16, 2005, TO INCLUDE ADDTL STATES AND VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10320986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,500 miles Granger, IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGES IN UNWANTED FASHION AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP. EXACTLY DUPLICATES SYMPTOM IN RECALL BELOW. EXTENDS STOPPING DISTANCE AND CRASH POTENTIAL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 05V379000 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / AVALANCHE 2002 CHEVROLET / SILVERADO 1999-2002 CHEVROLET / SUBURBAN 2000-2002 CHEVROLET / TAHOE 2000-2002 GMC / SIERRA 1999-2002 GMC / YUKON 2000-2002 GMC / YUKON XL 2000-2002 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. MFR'S REPORT DATE: AUG 29, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V379000 PE05020 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05020 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1353718 CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY. CONSEQUENCE: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NOTES: GM RECALL NO. 05068. GM REVISED THE INVOLVED VEHICLES BY AMENDING THE ORIGINAL 573 REPORT ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. GM REVISED THE ORIGINAL 573 REPORT ON DECEMBER 16, 2005, TO INCLUDE ADDTL STATES AND VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10320986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured 1 killed

SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10235486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Houston, TX Crash 1 injured 1 killed

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SEAT BELT, THE CONTACT'S SON REALIZED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THEREFORE, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ENTERED A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY AND HAD A HEAD-ON CRASH WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10235486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,000 miles Durham, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HAVE COME APART AND CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN THE PART FROM EITHER A CHEVROLET DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT PART NUMBER 15735411 WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 172,000.

NHTSA complaint #10214492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.