1996 Chevrolet Express
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Chevrolet › Express › 1996
These records cover every 1996 Chevrolet Express. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 1996 Chevrolet Express. Newest first.
Sabersport IS recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. these headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. the safety recall began on may 11, 2009. owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Passenger vans. these vans experience fuel odors or leakage.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a revised evaporative emission pipe assembly.
One of the four rear axle u-bolts can break. This can potentially lead to the spring lifting from the axle under certain rebound, braking or cornering maneuvers.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could result in sudden loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the four rear axle u-bolts on the affected vehicles.
Owner complaints
15 complaints1 involved a crash3 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system
The horn relay was smoking and melted the relay panel it was mounted to. Mora fire department was called. They disconnected the battery. The relay and fuse have been removed as a temporary fix until a dealer can install a new relay panel and find the problem. This gave no warning signs. The van…
The horn relay was smoking and melted the relay panel it was mounted to. Mora fire department was called. They disconnected the battery. The relay and fuse have been removed as a temporary fix until a dealer can install a new relay panel and find the problem. This gave no warning signs. The van had been turned off since 12:20 pm. The horn was silent at 2:00 pm when my wife brought something in from the rear compartment of the van. At around 3:10 pm my wife noticed the horn sounding and went to check it out. she noticed smoke from driver's side coming out from under the hood. She opened the hood and noticed the battery was also starting to smoke. She dialed the sheriff's office dispatcher to get the fire department on the scene. The fire department disconnected the battery and stayed afterwards to ensure no hot embers existed. *ak ----dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis-----751677.
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Torque converter
We were on our way to florida when we started smelling something. We pulled to the side of the road and turned off the ignition. We opened the hood at that time noticed flames coming from under neath the drivers side. We barely had enough time to get out before it was totally engulfed with flames.…
We were on our way to florida when we started smelling something. We pulled to the side of the road and turned off the ignition. We opened the hood at that time noticed flames coming from under neath the drivers side. We barely had enough time to get out before it was totally engulfed with flames. At the time we were towing an enclosed trailer with a 2003 honda goldwing. Nothing prior to this incidence gave us any clue that the van was on fire. We lost all our possessions in the van and trailer. It was all 100% destroyed. Unknown cause. We had noticed that we were using more fuel. And when we pulled the van over to the side of the road we noticed transmission fluid on the ground from where we pulled over until we got stopped.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
After appointment was made, and upon arrival, dealership refused to do recall oov110000 repairs.*ak *slc
- Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/rack
The steel cable system securing the spare tire rusted throughand severed releasing the spare tire to fall freely from under the van to the road below. At the slow speed I was traveling I incurred no loss of control or danger to other motorists, however if I was traveling at highway speeds this…
The steel cable system securing the spare tire rusted throughand severed releasing the spare tire to fall freely from under the van to the road below. At the slow speed I was traveling I incurred no loss of control or danger to other motorists, however if I was traveling at highway speeds this failure would have resulted in a 65mph missle going down the road. Calls to the manufacturer resulted in no action. I am in possession of all failed parts. thank you
- Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion) · Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump
When parked steering will not turn. Steering gear box & pump replaced with no efect.
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control · Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump · Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
Consumer contacted dealer in reference to recall 00v110000/manufacturer's recall 00031 concerning fuel odor/leakage. dealer corrected recall problem. Consumer believed recall problem has caused additional problems in fuel system. fuel system was contaminated, and fuel pump/ filler needed to be replaced. Please provide any further details.*ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
While driving vehicle had stalled out. Lost steering and braking power. Towed to dealership. Informed by mechanic that fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. This has happened 3 times already.*ak the dealer said there was no recall on the fuel pump which was failing numerous times. *yh
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Diminished braking ability,diagnosed as faulty anti-lock system. *ak
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump
After making a u turn, the power steering assist was lost. the power steering pump shaft had broken making the vehicle nearly impossible to control. could this be the problem of nhtsa campaign #: 96v187000?
- Air bags › Frontal
When the van was involved in a pretty severe frontal crash, passenger's side air bag did deploy, but the driver's side did not. van was traveling about 5 mph when this happened. Frontal damage totalled over $7,000 dollars. The van IS being repaired. Please provide any further information. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Engine runs ruff with no power. Sounds like engine IS dieseling. Black smoke comes out of exhaust, somtimes backfires. ecm never sets trouble code. eventually the ecm set trouble code for right cat comming apart. the fourth (most resent) both cats came apart. *ak
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices
No summary
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Brake pedal moves to 2-3 inches before it will begin to brake, and pedal travels too far down.this defect causes increased reaction time. Dealer and manufacturer claim it was designed like that. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Van totally destroyed ,had been sitting for over 2 hours before it decided to catch fire had trouble with keyless remote prior to catching fire remote would not unlock doors fire started under neath pass. Side dashboard in what I was told the area where the computer IS
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle's fuel tank was filled on the morining of 8/6/98 and driven 33 miles. it was parked in the driveway with the nose down on a 30 degree grade. on the afternoon of 8/7/98 as we were leaving on vacation I smelled gasoline while getting into the van. I looked underneath to find fuel draining…
Vehicle's fuel tank was filled on the morining of 8/6/98 and driven 33 miles. it was parked in the driveway with the nose down on a 30 degree grade. on the afternoon of 8/7/98 as we were leaving on vacation I smelled gasoline while getting into the van. I looked underneath to find fuel draining from out underneath the gas tank plastic shield onto the driveway. it was determined at the dealership that gas was going through the vent pipe, to the charcoal canister and then out of the canister into the plastic shield around the tank. it was also found that one of the top seals on the tank was also leaking. mine was the 3RD express van at the dealership with a similar problem. with repeated discussions with the factory rep, I was told I would have to pay for these safety related defects and parts of the exact design that failed were reinstalled. there IS an inherent defect in this design. when the tank IS filled cool, and the vehicle sits or IS driven with the nose down and the temperature increases, gasoline IS forced throught the vent pipe, to the charcoal canister, then out onto the ground. I was just lucky I noticed this prior to starting my van. it could have blown up, especially with the heat and leaving it sit to cool down so my newborn wouldnt have to get into the hot vehicle. I was very upset with this situation and have not been satisfied with a response, or lack thereof from chevrolet. I also saw a similar vehicle as mine sitting by the roadway the other day with flames coming out from underneath the van. Please help myself and others before someone gets hurt.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10232287This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10020952Side cargo door IS hard to open. Install new hinge pins.
- 10017191Supplement to bulletin 99-06-04-047a for fuel system cleaning.
- 10013491Turn signal flash too fast, opposite side dim.
- 10010375Service engine soon light and p0300 when towing, cruising uphill or on hard acceleration.
- 10007838Diagnostic information for intermittent transmission downshift, slip, busy/cycling tcc or noisy cooling fan.
- 10007717Engine coolant leak at intake gasket. * mj
- 100069526.5 L57 engine- cranks or starts with the key in run. 94-98 GMC P32 rv/van chassis, 94-98 chevrolet P32 rv/van chassis.
- 10005439Malfunction indicator lamp on with a p0300 set and a misfire. Various models including 1996 - 1999 P32 models. Sit bulletin 1416475.
- 10004726This bulletin IS being revised to inform dealers that the vcm / pcm (powertrain control module) may be susceptible to corrosion and / or water intrusion.
- 10004371Rattle noise in engine.
- 10004358This bulletin IS being revised to inform dealers that the vcm / pcm (powertrain control module) may be susceptible to corrosion and / or water intrusion.
- 10004301Rattle noise in engine.
- 10004223Malfunction indicator lamp on with a p0300 set and a misfire. Various models including the 1996-1999 P32 and the 1996-2002 GMC c/k truck.
- 10004208Powertrain control module (pcm) will not fit in new tray per bulletin 02-06-04-020a.
- 100041356.5L L49 L56 L57 L65 diesel engine requiring fuel injection pump replacement. Models p32/p42 1994-1999 included.
- 10002842Side cargo door binds.
- 10001141Outside rearview mirror shake or vibration.
- 634999Diagnosis of cracked or broken transmission case. 2006 and prior cars and light duty trucks.
- 634727This bulletin IS being revised to inform dealers that the vcm / pcm (powertrain control module) may be susceptible to corrosion and / or water intrusion.
- 634592Side cargo doors are hard to open or stiff on 1996 - 2002 chevrolet and GMC g-van models.
- 629613Addressing customers comments about engine oil cooler lines leaking.
- 628070Some vehicles may exhibit an exhaust noise, rattle noise at 550 rpm.
- 626337Customers may complain of binding side cargo door hinges. *Slc
- 617786This service message addresses customer concerns regarding theft deterrents, a new rear door outside handle and license plate housing developed for added theft protection.
- 608382Subject regarding ABS 3-sensor EBC4 - special policy.
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