Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP · model year
1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETS10 PICKUP carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 S10 PICKUP is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch (1) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (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 S10 PICKUP, 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.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180709ENGINE
MY TRUCK IS NOT RUNNING AT ALL FOR THE MOMENT.
Mileage: 210,000
20100312SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED FIVE TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,574 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20070914VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
RECALL ON WIPER MOTOR ON 1996 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP WAS DONE IN THE EARLY 90'S. WHENEVER IT RAINS NOW, WIPERS DON'T TURN OFF RIGHT AWAY. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE I HAD RECALL DONE, AND WAS OK UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. *JB
Mileage: 12,000
20070708LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
TAILGATE CABLE LEFT SIDE BROKE. *AK
20070210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK NEW. I HAVE HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED ONCE, AND HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED. THIS TRUCK IS 11 YRS OLD BUT HAS LESS THEN 75000 MILES. *JB
Compare 1996CHEVROLETS10 PICKUP 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 S10 PICKUP have?▼
The 1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP 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.