IllustrationWAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING A PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN. CHANGED FUEL BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER.*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
Electrical System complaints
41 reportsTHIS BATTERY HAS FAILED TWICE IN 2 YRS. THE BATTERY TERMINALS PULL OUT LEAKING ACID ON CABLES AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS AND HAS ALSO CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL. I SAW A NEWS BRIEF IN AN AUTO PUBLICATION THAT YOU HAD BEGAN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM ON SUBURBANS AND TAHOES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PR…
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THIS BATTERY HAS FAILED TWICE IN 2 YRS. THE BATTERY TERMINALS PULL OUT LEAKING ACID ON CABLES AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS AND HAS ALSO CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL. I SAW A NEWS BRIEF IN AN AUTO PUBLICATION THAT YOU HAD BEGAN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM ON SUBURBANS AND TAHOES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER GM CARS. I PERSONALLY SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON MANY GM CARS WITH AC-DELCO BATTERIES, I WAS AN EMPLOYEE IN A GM DEALER FOR 21 YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE AND THIS HAD HAPPENED OVER 2 MONTHS AGO
FRONT WHEEL BEARING LEAKED FLUID CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS. *MJS
THERE WAS A BATTERY LEAK. FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS COVER AND ATE THROUGH TO SEVERAL WIRES. ALSO, DEFECTIVE BRAKES CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT AND ROTORS TO CORRODE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTING IN THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES, POWER BECAME INOPERATIVE AND VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REPLACED THE FUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DIES INTERMITTENTLY ANY SPEED. CRANKS-NO START. STARTS AFTER 5 MIN/OK. *AK
ENGINE SPEED WILL INCREASE FROM IDLE TO 2400 RPM WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. WHEN IN MOTION, THIS CONDITION CREATES A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY FOR THE DRIVER TO GET ENGINE CONTROL BACK FROM THE COMPUTER (?) IS TO SHUT …
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ENGINE SPEED WILL INCREASE FROM IDLE TO 2400 RPM WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. WHEN IN MOTION, THIS CONDITION CREATES A SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY FOR THE DRIVER TO GET ENGINE CONTROL BACK FROM THE COMPUTER (?) IS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM - FOR A YEAR NOW - AND OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT LIGHT HADN'T COME ON. I HAVE ALSO E-MAILED CHEVROLET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO REPLY OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ASIDE FROM BEING AN INCONVIENIANCE, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SPEED CONTROL IS CONTRIBUTING TO EXCESSIVE BRAKE AND CLUTCH WEAR, AND HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL WITH POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED LOSS OF LIFE. PLEASE HELP. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER 1996 S-10'S THAT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO A BAD COMPUTER PROGRAM IN THE PCM COMPUTER. CHEVY DON'T SEEM TOO INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT, SO YOU'RE MY LAST HOPE IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED. THANK-YOU. *AK
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED. MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STARTER ENGAGING ITSELF WITHOUT ANYONE IN VEHICLE OR KEY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT RESULTED IN CRASHING INTO GARAGE DOOR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STARTER RELAY WHICH WAS SHORTING OUT. MJS
WIRING HARNESS FOR IGNITION GOT BURNT. WAS TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD & INSULATION HAD FUSED TOGETHER. WAS REPAIRED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS SINCE REAPPEARED & VEHCLE HAD CUT OFF. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM*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.