Model year record

1996 Chevrolet C3500 recalls & problems

The 1996 Chevrolet C3500 has 1 safety recall and 26 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (11 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints26filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Pads; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	11	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	5	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	3	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables	2	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift; Driveline › Differential unit	2	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Fuel injection system	2	1	1	—
TiresTread/belt	2	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door › Hinge and attachments	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, diesel	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Fuel system, diesel
TRUCK SHUTS DOWN WHILE MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A 1996 CHEVROLET C3500 DIESEL. PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 120,000 MILES. PROBLEM NEVER SOLVED AND VEHICLE STILL SHUTS DOWN AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL. *TR
Feb 19, 2010 · 20,000 miles
Tires › Tread/belt
OVER TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD 3 BELT FAILURES ON B.F GOODRICH LT 225/75 R16 TIRES. ONE FAILURE RESULTED IN A BLOWOUT THE OTHER TWO WERE DETECTED BY EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTIFIED B.F. GOODRICH ON THE LAST FAILURE. 3 FAILURES OF THE SAME TYPE SEEM ABOVE NORMAL FOR A TIRE IN THIS CATEGORY. B.F. GOODRICH STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYP OF FAILURE BUT AGREED TO GIVE ME A CREDIT OF 20% OFF A NEW TIRE BASED ON THE TREAD REMAINING ON THE OLD ONE.
May 20, 2005
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
1996 CHEV. 1 TON DUALLY 6.5 DIESEL, ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE IT'S STARVING FOR FUEL. AFTER READING THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE WITH THE DOZENS OF EXACT SAME PROBLEMS I REALIZED THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM THAT CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS. WHAT IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD OUR 4 HORSES AND 3 CHILDREN WITH US ON A HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED? WHY ARE SO MANY OF US SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE IS AND REPLACING SO MANY PARTS WHEN THE DEALERSHIPS ARE APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM? HTTP://WWW.DIESELDOCTOR.COM/MESSAGEBOARD/DATA/119.HTML THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE LIFT, TRANSFER AND FUEL PUMPS AND A WIRE CHECK (TO ENSURE NO WIRES HAVE BEEN…
May 11, 2005 · 118,350 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
1996 CREWCAB DULEY 3500 PROBLEMS WITH EARLY WARE OF BRAKE. ROTORS TURNED AT 12000 AND NOW REPLACING BRAKE PADS EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES DUE TO EXCESIVE WARE. DEALERS HAVE HAD TRUCK IN AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR BREAKING ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996. PUT NEW PADS ON IN DEC AND AT 2000 MILES THEY ARE BEING REPLACE AGAIN. MAJOR WEAR TO THE PADS
Feb 12, 2003 · 12,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Aug 29, 2002
Tires › Tread/belt
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN TREAD SEPARATED ON THE REAR TIRE , ALSO OTHER TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING AND TREAD SEPARATION. AMERI STAR TIRE SIZE LT22575R16M+S DOT NUMBER AD1LCWA285. *AK THE REMAINING TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND WERE FOUND TO HAVE TREAD CRACKS AND SPLITS. THE MANUFACTURER WANTS THE DAMAGED TIRE TO BE RETURNED FOR PROCESSING THE CLAIM. *YH
Oct 16, 2000
Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › Cables
BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 2YEARS AGO. DEALER & MANUFACTURER KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T DOING ANYTHING UNTIL A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *AK
Jul 1, 1998
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
MOTOR SHUTS OFF AT ANYTIME,PARKED OR ON HIGHWAY. THE DEALERS SAY THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE INJECTOR PUMPS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THAT , THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO HAUL AND PULL VERY HEAVY LOADS. I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND G. M. REFUSES TO ASSIST IN ANYWAY. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND G.M. IS NOT RESPONSIBLE,EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BEING WORKED ON FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, ACTUALLY THE MILEAGE WENT OVER WARRANTY WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED. I HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THIS VEHICLE COULD KILL SOMEONE ,IF THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AT THE WRONG TIME E.G. DOWN HILL WITH TRAVEL…
May 23, 2000

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.