IllustrationTRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR UPON DEPRESSING PEDAL. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, THEY GAVE TRUCK BACK, STATING IT WAS FINE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH DRIVER LOSING CONTROL, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
209 reportsON A DRY WELL TRAVELED ROAD WITH AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION FROM THE RIGHT, I APPLIED MY BRAKE (NON PANIC) AND AT FIRST BRAKING WAS AS EXPECTED. THEN PEDAL WENT DOWN AND BRAKING ACTION WAS LOST. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE OVER THE YEARS. MY DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA HAS ON TWO OCCA…
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ON A DRY WELL TRAVELED ROAD WITH AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION FROM THE RIGHT, I APPLIED MY BRAKE (NON PANIC) AND AT FIRST BRAKING WAS AS EXPECTED. THEN PEDAL WENT DOWN AND BRAKING ACTION WAS LOST. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEFORE OVER THE YEARS. MY DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA HAS ON TWO OCCASIONS ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT AT A PROBLEM RATE OF ONCE A YEAR THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS OCCURRENCE IN A 20 MINUTE PERIOD IS POOR. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND ANY ABS MALFUNCTION. THE ABS WAS REPROGRAMMED 2 YEARS AGO PER A SERVICE BULLETIN WITHOUT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. GM HAS REFUSED TO TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. GM POINTS OUT THAT MANY CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE THE ABS MODE TO BE ACTIVATED. MY ARGUEMENT IS THAT MY S10 SHOULD NOT REQUIRE 3 TO 4 TIMES THE NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE TO STOP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH, AND BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, WATER PUMP WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKES POWER WAS LOST WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, THERE WAS A NOISE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON A SIDE STREET WAS BLIND BY SUN. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ABS MOTOR COMES ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND NORMAL BRAKING RESULTING IN PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD (CANNOT BE PRESSED DOWN) OR SOFT (GOES TO THE FLOOR). *AK
ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT BRAKING SYSTEM IS WIRED WRONGLY, AND AND THAT IS WHY THE LIGHT IS COMING ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN. BRAKES WOULD TOTALLY NON-EXIST. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL REGARDING ABS SYSTEM, CONSUMER DROPPED VEHICLE OFF AT DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VCM WAS REPROGRAMMED, AFTER PROCEEDING TO TAKE THE VEHCILE HOME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE VCM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL REGARDING ABS SYSTEM, CONSUMER DROPPED VEHICLE OFF AT DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VCM WAS REPROGRAMMED, AFTER PROCEEDING TO TAKE THE VEHCILE HOME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE VCM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBILE FOR THE CAHRGES, AFTER SOME DELIBERATION ON BOTH SIDES GM CUSTOMER SERVICE DECIDED TO APPLY GOODWILL TO CONSUMER'S CLAIM AND COVER THE REPAIRS, CONSUMER WAS ASSURED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VCM WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE ABS LIGHT CAME BACK ON, CONSUMER TOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BEING THE EBCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS ADVISED THEY NEEDED TO GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED AGAIN THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBILE FOR REPAIRS AND AGAIN IT WAS BEING DISPUTED, FINALLY THE APPROVAL FOR REPAIRS WERE GIVEN AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER, HOWEVER THE ABS LIGHT DID CONTINUE TO COME ON AFTER THE REPAIRS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A SHORTED PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ABS UNIT WAS REPLACED AGAIN, AFTER ALL THE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND REMEDY PROBLEM THE ABS LIGHT STILL CONTINUES TO COME ON. *JB
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.