Total Complaints
9 filings
CHEVROLET K10 · model year
1996 CHEVROLET K10
9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETK10 carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 K10 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1996 K10, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031008TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY WIFE HAD HER TIRE SEPARATED AT 60 MPH. I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE (40 PSI) 2 HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. IT NEVER HAD PRESSURE LOSSES WITH THIS TIRE OR THE SET. THE OUTER SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED, THE INNER SIDE HALF DIAMETER WAS ALSO SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS LE P265/70R16 DOT 8X72 WL2 3501, WHICH IS 2 YEARS OLD, AND HAS 25,000 MILES ON RIGHT REAR. *LA
Mileage: 101,000
20031008TIRES:SIDEWALL
MY WIFE HAD HER TIRE SEPARATED AT 60 MPH. I HAD CHECKED THE PRESSURE (40 PSI) 2 HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. IT NEVER HAD PRESSURE LOSSES WITH THIS TIRE OR THE SET. THE OUTER SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED, THE INNER SIDE HALF DIAMETER WAS ALSO SEPARATED. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS LE P265/70R16 DOT 8X72 WL2 3501, WHICH IS 2 YEARS OLD, AND HAS 25,000 MILES ON RIGHT REAR. *LA
Mileage: 101,000
20010423FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. UNKNOWN ORIGIN OTHER THAN SOMETHING ELECTRICAL LIKELY SHORTED AND STARTED FIRE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY GUTTED, ONLY METAL REMAINS. ALL OTHER PARTS BURNED/MELTED. FIRE DETECTED AT 12:30 AM ON 4/14/01 BUT LIKELY STARTED EARLIER. PROPERTY DAMAGE ALSO TO GARAGE/$19K DAMAGE VALUE IS ONLY FOR VEHICLE/$$ VALUE OF OTHER DAMAGE STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK
20001026EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
NO SUMMARY
19970606SEATS
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR A RECALL ON A RECLINING SEAT AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
19970122VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE IDLES HIGH.
19961205CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS: BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL ON SNOW COVERED DIRT ROAD, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, THEN STARTED KICKING BACK, VEHICLE LEFT ROAD, WENT OFF MOUNTAIN, HIT LARGE BOULDERS; NO PRIOR WARNING.
19961113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES, HAS ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. *AK
19960624CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HIT VEHICLE BROAD SIDE AT 45-50 MPH AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Compare 1996CHEVROLETK10 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET K10 have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET K10 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET K10?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET K10 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET K10 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.