CHEVROLET S10 · model year

1996 CHEVROLET S10

875 NHTSA complaints, 136 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996CHEVROLETS10 carries 875 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.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category 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). 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 S10, 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.

875
Complaints
136
Crashes
14
Fires
68
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

875 filings

Crashes Reported

136 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP171
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL65
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR59
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE31
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION24
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE19
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER15
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER11

Recent Complaints

20180313CrashSERVICE BRAKES

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

20171003SERVICE BRAKES

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

20160609FireSEAT BELTS

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

20140911CrashSTEERING

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

20140911CrashAIR BAGS

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

20130330CrashAIR BAGS

THE LADY TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND I TBONED HER. *TR

Mileage: 169,970

20080618CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

20071112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

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

20071112EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

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

20071112EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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

20060409EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

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

20060314STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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

20060110VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

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

20050729CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20050714CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

I WAS DRIVING A CHEVY S-10 WHEN A LADY PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF ABOUT 55-60 MPH. I ENDED UP HITTING HER CAR AND IN TURN MY TRUCK ROLLED OVER SEVERAL (6-10) TIMES. THE WHOLE TRUCK FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER AND SIDE TO SIDE AND TOP TO BOTTOM WAS DESTROYED. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. THE SEATBELT DID ITS JOB BUT NO AIRBAG CAME OUT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED FROM A LOCAL CAR DEALER HERE IN CONCORD 2 YEARS AGO. I AM VERY BRUISED AND CUT AND VERY UPSET THAT JUST MAYBE IF THAT AIRBAG HAD WORKED I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN ALL THAT GLASS ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FLYING MY WAY. I KNOW THAT AN AIRBAG WORKS WHEN IT IS HIT JUST RIGHT, BUT AS I STATED THERE IS NO PART ON THAT TRUCK THAT WAS NOT HIT INCLUDING THE FRONT BUMPER AS IT IS ALMOST OFF THE TRUCK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS TAKING CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AS WE SPEAK BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS PICTURES AND WITNESSES TO THIS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THAT I DID NOT PUT ALL MY SAFETY ASSURANCES INTO THI

20050615ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

DT: ONE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD SHORTED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. EVERYTIME STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND ONE CAN SMELL BURNING PLASTIC. SATURDAY GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS.*AK

Mileage: 172,813

20050615ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DT: ONE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD SHORTED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. EVERYTIME STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND ONE CAN SMELL BURNING PLASTIC. SATURDAY GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS.*AK

Mileage: 172,813

20050522EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

1) THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET S10 HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT. AT FIRST, WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGH BEAMS, THEY WOULD STAY ON FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE, THEN I WOULD LOSE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THIS SITUATION IS GETTING STEADILY WORSE. NOW THE LOW BEAMS ARE EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM. 2) THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, MEANING THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT RAINS. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BE ON WHEN YOU USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. 3) I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, BUT THE SERVICE PERSONNEL JUST TAKE THE MONEY AND NEVER SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 1,000

20050428UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BUNGY THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE GAVE WAY, RELEASING THE SPARE TIRE.*AK *SB *NM

Mileage: 65,000

20050330VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT SHORT IN THE WIPER CONTROL/ MOTOR SYSTEM THAT EACH TIME I REPORTED IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERS IN THIS AREA WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM . AND THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS KIND. AS I CAN SEE FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE THIS IS PATENTLY UNTRUE. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PAST WARRANTY DUE TO YOUR AGENTS STALLING TACTICS , IF THIS LETTER DOES NOT BRING REDRESS TO THIS ISSUE I WILL BE FORCED TO TURN THIS ISSUE OVER TO MY ATTORNEYS. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 30,000

Compare 1996CHEVROLETS10 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET S10 has 875 NHTSA complaints, 136 crashes, 14 fires, 68 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET S10?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 171 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 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.