Defect
PASSENGER VANS. THESE VANS EXPERIENCE FUEL ODORS OR LEAKAGE.
Consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED EVAPORATIVE EMISSION PIPE ASSEMBLY.
1996 Chevrolet Express Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1996 Chevrolet Express has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 109,344 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
Total complaints20
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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.…”
“After appointment was made, and upon arrival, dealership refused to do recall oov110000 repairs.*ak *slc”
“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 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…”
“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?”
“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”
“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”
“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”
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Chevrolet Express as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.