IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 65 MPH BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FITTING AND LINE. *AK.ET.
1996 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 34 of 665 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 209 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
110 crash reports11 fire reports50 injury reports
Power Train complaints
66 reportsFUEL INJECTION FAILED.
DEALER SAID NO RECALL,BUT ONE SHOWES UP ON YOUR RECALL LIST. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH HEARD A NOISE AND HAD NO REVERSE WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP INTO GARAGE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. EALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. NO RECALLS WERE ESTABLISHED . PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. *AK
ON HIGHWAY, BILLOWS OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH TRUCK; ENGINE STALLED. WHEN STARTED UP AGAIN, WOULD NOT GO OVER 35MPH. MIKE AT GERRY LANE CHEVY IN BATON ROUGE, LA (REPAIRING DEALER) STATED 'MAJOR INTERNAL FAILURE' THAT AT HIS BEST GUESS WAS FROM A LOOSE PART FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH FINALLY FREED ITSELF AND CAUSED FAILUR…
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ON HIGHWAY, BILLOWS OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH TRUCK; ENGINE STALLED. WHEN STARTED UP AGAIN, WOULD NOT GO OVER 35MPH. MIKE AT GERRY LANE CHEVY IN BATON ROUGE, LA (REPAIRING DEALER) STATED 'MAJOR INTERNAL FAILURE' THAT AT HIS BEST GUESS WAS FROM A LOOSE PART FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH FINALLY FREED ITSELF AND CAUSED FAILURE. HE DESCRIBED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK AS 'BLACK' FROM THE INCIDENT. I PAID 1890.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION...MIKE SD FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVING HABITS OR ANY NEGLECT.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
A PIN RETAINING THE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE SLAVE TO MASTER CYLINDER WORKED ITS WAY OUT, ALLOWING THE HOSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF CLUTCH MOVEMENT. THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPROCUSSIONS IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I.E. LURCHING FORWA…
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A PIN RETAINING THE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE SLAVE TO MASTER CYLINDER WORKED ITS WAY OUT, ALLOWING THE HOSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF CLUTCH MOVEMENT. THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPROCUSSIONS IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I.E. LURCHING FORWARD/DIFFICULTY STOPPING. *AK
THE SES LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF OVERNIGHT OR FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN AFTER CONTINUED DRIVING, COMES BACK ON AGAIN. WHILE ON, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD, JOLTING PASSENGE…
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THE SES LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF OVERNIGHT OR FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN AFTER CONTINUED DRIVING, COMES BACK ON AGAIN. WHILE ON, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD, JOLTING PASSENGERS. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE BUT LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SERVICE ADVISED COULD NOT GET SES CODE WITH LIGHT OFF. WHEN SES PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, TOOK TO DEALER. SERVICE ADVISED THAT SES PROBLEM CODED TO THE TRANSMISSION. MANAGER ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM WAS ELECTICAL. TRANSMISSION MAN MAY BE ABLE TO FIX BY PLACING A WIRE TO BYPASS SOLENOID PROBLEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MAN TRIED TO DO SO, HE FOUND THAT A WIRE WAS ALREADY IN PLACE. SERVICE ADVISED THAT MY BLAZER WAS A LATER MODEL THAT ALREADY HAD THE WIRE. HE ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILED TO SHIFT COMPLETELY. A SOLENOID WHICH CONTROLLED THE SHIFTING WAS STICKING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY, AND THE COMPUTER/ SOLENOID WOULD RESET AND I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. OTHERWISE THE ASSEMBLY BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY PROBLEM IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM CHEVROLET DETERMINED EARLY ON AND TRIED TO FIX WITH THE WIRE BYPASSING THE SOLENOID. I'M EXPECTED TO WAIT UNTIL IT GOES OUT COMPLETELY, DRIVE MY CAR IN 2D GEAR FROM WHEREVER IT IS TO THE DEALER, AND PAY TO HAVE THE ASSEMBLY BODY REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE ? I WOULD EXPECT A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SES LIGHT/ SOLENOID TO HAVE BEEN REMEDIED PRIOR TO SALE OF A NEW VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY GUIDANCE OR ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE SOLUTION SEEMS TOTALLY ILLOGICAL AS WELL AS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NO SUMMARY. *AK
DEFECTIVE REAR RING AND PINION GEAR CAUSED THE REAR END TO BREAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
703V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
99V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 19, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Jul 1, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
97V146001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 11, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: 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.
97V096001 · Seat Belts
Jun 12, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
97V008001 · Visibility:windshield
Jan 27, 1997
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT STAY IN PLACE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 212.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.
96V035000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Feb 22, 1996
SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA99018 · Spare Tire Separation From Vehicle
Opened Jun 30, 1999 · Closed Oct 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
No summary supplied.
PE99004 · Separation Of Spare Tire From Vehicle
Opened Jan 15, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
ALLEGED THAT WIRE CABLE/WINCH ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY UDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE TIRE TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION
EA97004 · Seat Belt Webbing Separation
Opened Feb 28, 1997 · Closed Aug 5, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.