Your vehicle report

1996 Chevrolet S10

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
665
Received Nov 1995 to Mar 2018
Official recalls listed
7
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up90 complaints · 14% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail79 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Airbags fail to deploy in crashes65 complaints · 9.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #03V159000On 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.
  • Recall #99V193000Vehicle 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 111 crashes, 12 fires, 55 people injured, 1 death.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

4 more problems

Brakes

2 more problems

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1996 Chevrolet S10
127
Show as a table
YearComplaints
19951
199672
1997127
199883
1999126
2000100
200156
200239
200328
200416
20057
20063
20071
20081
20090
20100
20110
20120
20131
20141
20150
20161
20171
20181
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total665

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up9014%–NHTSA recall #99V193000
Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail7912%–NHTSA recall #03V159000, #98V150001
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes659.8%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines446.6%–NHTSA recall #97V146001
Tires blow out or tread separates182.7%–
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine172.6%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly162.4%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving162.4%–
Headlights dim or fail at night152.3%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking152.3%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract142.1%–NHTSA recall #97V096001
Transmission fails or loses power while driving142.1%–NHTSA recall #96V035000
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly121.8%–
Fuel pump fails and engine stalls111.7%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring91.4%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips91.4%–
Ball joints wear out and fail91.4%–
Air conditioner blows hot air or fails81.2%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early81.2%–
Brakes make grinding or squealing noise81.2%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #03V159000April 28, 20031,755,876 vehicles affected

    visibility: windshield wiper/washer

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #99V193000July 19, 19991,125,749 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #98V150001July 1, 19981,557,585 vehicles affected

    visibility: windshield wiper/washer

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #97V146001September 11, 1997146,167 vehicles affected

    service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #97V096001June 12, 1997586,058 vehicles affected

    seat belts

    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.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #97V008001January 27, 199755 vehicles affected

    visibility: windshield

    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."

    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%.

  • NHTSA recall #96V035000February 22, 199624,906 vehicles affected

    power train: manual transmission

    Some of these trucks were built with transmissions containing parts which were not machined to gm's specifications.

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Chevrolet S10.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN