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1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup, most recently filed April 2003. Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 03V159000 Filed Apr 28, 2003

GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR

Visibility · windshield wiper/washer
Official NHTSA text
Summary
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Repair progress not yet reported1,755,876 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 03V159000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (22)

22 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility is mentioned most often.

1involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup, by component (top 7). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 22.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1996 compares with other C/K Pickup years

Best and worst C/K Pickup years →
1992199319941995199619971998199920002001
This year (1996)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1996 C/K Pickup for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All C/K Pickup years

Where to next

1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup FAQ

How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 03V159000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup problems?

Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility (6), Fuel system (5), Service brakes (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

How does the 1996 C/K Pickup compare with other years?

Among the 1992–2001 Chevrolet C/K Pickup model years at least five years old, the 1992 drew the fewest complaints (7) and the 1998 the most (78). The 1996 drew 22. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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