Total Complaints
881 filings
Chevrolet S10 · model year
881 NHTSA complaints, 136 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The verdict
The 1996 Chevrolet S10 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
The 1996ChevroletS10 carries 881 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 136 crashes, 14 fires, 68 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 S10 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 171 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (65) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (59). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1996 S10, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
Total Complaints
881 filings
Crashes Reported
136 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 171 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 65 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 59 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 34 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 31 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 25 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 19 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 19 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 16 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 16 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 15 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 11 |
I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION IN WHICH MY BRAKES FAILED TO STOP MY VEHICLE. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES DURING A SUDDEN STOP, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SLOW DOWN MY TRUCK BUT THEN THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITH A RUBBING NOISE AND MY TRUCK KEPT TRAVELING UNTIL I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.
Mileage: 340,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY, AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY COMPLETELY. GILCREST CHEVROLET BUICK GMC IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V193000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,160.
Mileage: 64,160
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WOULDN'T LATCH. DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE. SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DASH. STOPPED AND SAW MELTED WIRES. SEATBELT INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OUT.
Mileage: 2,383,864
THE ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST HEAD ON MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF IN THE OTHER CAR BUT NEITHER ONE OF OURS WENT OFF. FOR ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE TRUCK WOULD STALL AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR
THE ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST HEAD ON MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF IN THE OTHER CAR BUT NEITHER ONE OF OURS WENT OFF. FOR ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE TRUCK WOULD STALL AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR
FOR YEARS MY CHEVY S-10 1996 2WD TRUCK WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF ON THE ROAD OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CHEVY LOOKED AT THE TRUCK MANY TIMES AND ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY TALKED ME INTO A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AT 36100 MILES. THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE SHUTOFF PROBLEM AND HAPPENED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY LIMIT. THAT COST ME NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS. THEY TRUCK CONTINUED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR YEARS. IT WASN'T TILL A MECHANIC NOT AFFILIATED WITH GM TOLD ME TO STOP USING MORE THAN ONE KEY ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS GM IGNITION RECALL GOES WAY BEYOND 2005 AND COBALTS. IT GOES BACK TO EARLY 90'S S-10 TRUCKS. NOW WE SHOULD KNOW WHY GM NEVER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRUCK AND DROPPED THE S-10 IN THE MID 2000'S. *TR
Mileage: 3,000
FOR YEARS MY CHEVY S-10 1996 2WD TRUCK WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF ON THE ROAD OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CHEVY LOOKED AT THE TRUCK MANY TIMES AND ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY TALKED ME INTO A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AT 36100 MILES. THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE SHUTOFF PROBLEM AND HAPPENED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY LIMIT. THAT COST ME NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS. THEY TRUCK CONTINUED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR YEARS. IT WASN'T TILL A MECHANIC NOT AFFILIATED WITH GM TOLD ME TO STOP USING MORE THAN ONE KEY ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS GM IGNITION RECALL GOES WAY BEYOND 2005 AND COBALTS. IT GOES BACK TO EARLY 90'S S-10 TRUCKS. NOW WE SHOULD KNOW WHY GM NEVER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRUCK AND DROPPED THE S-10 IN THE MID 2000'S. *TR
Mileage: 3,000
FOR YEARS MY CHEVY S-10 1996 2WD TRUCK WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF ON THE ROAD OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CHEVY LOOKED AT THE TRUCK MANY TIMES AND ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY TALKED ME INTO A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AT 36100 MILES. THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE SHUTOFF PROBLEM AND HAPPENED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY LIMIT. THAT COST ME NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS. THEY TRUCK CONTINUED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR YEARS. IT WASN'T TILL A MECHANIC NOT AFFILIATED WITH GM TOLD ME TO STOP USING MORE THAN ONE KEY ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS GM IGNITION RECALL GOES WAY BEYOND 2005 AND COBALTS. IT GOES BACK TO EARLY 90'S S-10 TRUCKS. NOW WE SHOULD KNOW WHY GM NEVER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRUCK AND DROPPED THE S-10 IN THE MID 2000'S. *TR
Mileage: 3,000
FOR YEARS MY CHEVY S-10 1996 2WD TRUCK WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF ON THE ROAD OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CHEVY LOOKED AT THE TRUCK MANY TIMES AND ALWAYS SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY TALKED ME INTO A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AT 36100 MILES. THEY DIDN'T HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE SHUTOFF PROBLEM AND HAPPENED BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY LIMIT. THAT COST ME NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS. THEY TRUCK CONTINUED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR YEARS. IT WASN'T TILL A MECHANIC NOT AFFILIATED WITH GM TOLD ME TO STOP USING MORE THAN ONE KEY ON MY KEYCHAIN. THIS GM IGNITION RECALL GOES WAY BEYOND 2005 AND COBALTS. IT GOES BACK TO EARLY 90'S S-10 TRUCKS. NOW WE SHOULD KNOW WHY GM NEVER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRUCK AND DROPPED THE S-10 IN THE MID 2000'S. *TR
Mileage: 3,000
THE LADY TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND I TBONED HER. *TR
Mileage: 169,970
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000.
Mileage: 99,000
1996 CHEVY S10 ATTEMPTED TO SLOW BUT HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. CONSUMER THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD, DROVE ONTO THE CEMENT CURB, AND STRUCK A POLE. *NJ UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE AND REAR WERE LEAKING. THE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS VERY LOW AND IN FACT WAS EMPTY ON THE HALF DESIGNATED FOR THE REAR BRAKE. THE DRIVER ADMITTED USING THE WRONG TYPE OF BRAKE LINE FITTING WHEN HE DID THE BRAKE SERVICING. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0433-91 THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON AND AROUND THE REAR AXLE. UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB
STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HAZARD/BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLOWING OCCASIONALLY ABOUT 2.5 YR AGO... RECENTLY THE FUSE BLOWS ALMOST AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON. BULBS ARE GOOD AND LIGHTS WORK UNTIL THE FUSE BLOWS. I'VE REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE IN THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOST RECENT TIME HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FUSES BLOWING. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HAZARD/BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLOWING OCCASIONALLY ABOUT 2.5 YR AGO... RECENTLY THE FUSE BLOWS ALMOST AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON. BULBS ARE GOOD AND LIGHTS WORK UNTIL THE FUSE BLOWS. I'VE REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE IN THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOST RECENT TIME HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FUSES BLOWING. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HAZARD/BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLOWING OCCASIONALLY ABOUT 2.5 YR AGO... RECENTLY THE FUSE BLOWS ALMOST AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON. BULBS ARE GOOD AND LIGHTS WORK UNTIL THE FUSE BLOWS. I'VE REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE IN THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOST RECENT TIME HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FUSES BLOWING. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RADIATOR OVERHEATED, AND THE TEMPERATE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE RED LINE. THERE WAS YELLOW FLUID THAT OVERFLOWED FROM THE RESERVOIR AND HAD RUSTED THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO FLUSH THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Mileage: 86,000
I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES NOW, THE 2ND TIME I WOULD DRIVE AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH HIGH AND LOW LIKE A POLICE CAR, NOW MY DAY TIME HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK? INCIDENT DATES ARE NOT CORRECT NOT SURE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE KNEELING ON THE TAILGATE BOTH CABLES BROKE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CABLES WERE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE CABLES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM
Mileage: 94,629
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE MIRRORS ON THE DOORS WERE LOOSE AT THE BASE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED BOTH MIRROR ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Mileage: 91,248
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED 1996 CHEVROLET S-10 WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES, INCLUDING WHIPLASH, A SWOLLEN HEAD, CUT AND SCRAPS, FACIAL ABRASIONS, AND INJURIES TO THE CHEST/LEGS/STOMACH AND A BLACK EYE. THE SEAT BELTS DID CONTAIN THE DRIVER TO THE SEAT. THE DRIVER HAD MARKS ON THE STOMACH LEFT FROM THE SEAT BELT. BUT, THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER SAVED HIM FROM FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HIS FACE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE BACK WINDOW WAS SHATTERED AND FRONT WINDOW BUSTED, AND THE DOOR CAME OPEN. . THE CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO AN URGENT CARE FACILITY. THE SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR CONSUMER'S COMPANY TOOK CARE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND DID NOT CALL THE POLICE. THE COMPANY PREPAIRED A REPORT AND HAD PICTURES. *AK
Mileage: 164,000
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 Chevrolet S10; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.