VehicleVerdict

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe visibility & wipers problems

The 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe has 47 visibility & wipers complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

47

Visibility & Wipers complaints

12%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Visibility & Wipers complaints by year

Related recalls

03V159000Visibility & WipersApril 28, 2003 · 1,755,876 units

Defect

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.

98V150001Visibility & WipersJuly 1, 1998 · 1,557,585 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

What owners report

WINDSHEILD WIPERS WORK IN RAINING CONDITIONS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN STOP. THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO START BACK IN 5 MINUTES , AND START THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. CONSUMER HAS MENTIONED THE RECALL TO THE MANUFACTURER. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. DEALER ISN'T…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers

Common questions

How many visibility & wipers complaints does the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe have?

NHTSA has 47 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe visibility & wipers — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe visibility & wipers?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the visibility & wipers: 03V159000, 98V150001.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.