1996 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S10 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 668 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet S10. That ranks 2nd out of 14 S10 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (209 complaints, 31%), typically at around 52,000 miles. Complaints mention 111 crashes, 12 fires, 55 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 668owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 111complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Chevrolet S10 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 209 | 31% | 52,000 | “abs brakes” (13%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 100 | 15% | 30,000 | “windshield wipers” (65%) | — |
| Air Bags problems | 74 | 11% | 166,985 | “driver side” (34%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 71 | 11% | 79,000 | “head gasket” (13%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 68 | 10% | 103,664 | “transmission fluid” (7%) | — |
| Electrical System | 41 | 6% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 | 6% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 36 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 22 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 21 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 3% | 118,862 | — | — |
| Steering | 18 | 3% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 16 | 2% | 112,315 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 2% | 73,675 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 14 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 12 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 11 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 10 | 1% | 71,092 | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0% | 202,080 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 0% | 3,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Chevrolet S10 recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: Vehicle description: certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with abs (antilock braking system) manufactured from september 1989 through august 1996. Under certain driving conditions the switch which signals the abs system whether the vehicle is in 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive can malfunction causing increased stopping distances during abs stops while in the two-wheel drive mode.
Risk: If this occurred at a time when minimum stopping distance was required, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition can result in inoperative wipers, reducing a driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3l engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the point of brake fluid loss during brake application.
Risk: Brake fluid loss can reduce braking effectiveness and increase stopping distances resulting in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the clearance between the oil pan and the brake line. If the clearance is 6mm or less, dealers will install an additional brake line clip and if there was contact between the oil pan and brake line, the front brake line will be replaced.
Seat belts
Problem: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Risk: If a separation occurred and there were secondary crash events or vehicle rollover, there would be no belt restraint of the occupant and increased injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: The top coat paint severely peels due to overbaking of the powder primer prior to the top coat application. Since the windshield primer and adhesive adhere to the top coat paint onthe windshield opening flange, the windshield does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the windshield may not stay in place as required by fmvss no. 212.
Fix: All vehicles have been repurchased. This campaign is 100%.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: Some of these trucks were built with transmissions containing parts which were not machined to gm's specifications.
Risk: These transmissions could seize and lock the rear drive wheels while the truck is being driven causing a loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission main shaft output torque using a special tool. If the output torque does not meet specifications, the transmission will be replaced.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spare tire separation from vehicle (EA99018) — opened Jun 30, 1999, closed Oct 20, 2000.
- Separation of spare tire from vehicle (PE99004) — opened Jan 15, 1999, closed Jun 30, 1999.
- Seat belt webbing separation (EA97004) — opened Feb 28, 1997, closed Aug 5, 1997, led to recall 97V096001.
- Abs braking system (EA94038) — opened Oct 31, 1994, closed Feb 28, 2000, led to recall 99I006000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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.
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…
Other Chevrolet S10 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 S10 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 S10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 S10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 S10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 S10 | 21 | 1 |
| 2003 S10 | 178 | 1 |
| 2002 S10 | 214 | 0 |
| 2001 S10 | 308 | 1 |
| 2000 S10 | 471 | 4 |
| 1999 S10 | 231 | 0 |
| 1998 S10 | 613 | 6 |
| 1997 S10 | 469 | 6 |
| 1996 | 668 | 7 |
| 1995 S10 | 911 | 5 |
See all Chevrolet S10 problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet S10?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, air bags problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 209 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Chevrolet S10?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Chevrolet S10 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S10 model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.