1996 Chevrolet S10

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1996 Chevrolet S10
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet S10 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1981: 1 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1988: 37 complaints 1989: 48 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1996: 665 complaints 1996 1997: 469 complaints 1997 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 307 complaints 2001 2002: 213 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2016: 1 complaints 2017: 1 complaints 2017 2018: 3 complaints 2018
1996: 665 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19822
19837
19848
198511
198622
198727
198837
198948
199029
1991174
1992180
1993233
1994963
1995910
1996665
1997469
1998613
1999231
2000471
2001307
2002213
2003178
200421
20050
20061
20070
20161
20171
20183

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 25%

25% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 168 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
AIR BAGS 9%

9% of complaints: air bags — 63 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20031003

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI report, 20021011

WHILE DRIVING, ON SNOW/ICE ROADS, VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AT APPROX. 30MPH, HIT TREE 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19960131

VISIBILITY 9%

9% of complaints: visibility — 59 distinct reports on file.

VISIBILITY 5%

5% of complaints: visibility — 31 distinct reports on file.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4%

4% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19941031 — EA (closed 20000228)

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM

1996 — complaint volume: 665
R 19960216 — power train

SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.

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.

Campaign 96V035000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970130 — visibility

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 OPEN

Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.

Campaign 97V008001 — check if this car was fixed

I 19970228 — EA (closed 19970805)

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

R 19970922 — 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. T

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Campaign 97V096001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19971020 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 PO

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

Campaign 97V146001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19981215 — visibility

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 INTERMI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

Campaign 98V150001 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990115 — PE (closed 19990630)

SEPARATION OF SPARE TIRE FROM VEHICLE

I 19990630 — EA (closed 20001020)

SPARE TIRE SEPARATION FROM VEHICLE

R 19991210 — service brakes, hydraulic

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE COMPUTER PROGRAM WHICH OPERATES THE ABS UNIT ON SOME VEHICLES, OR REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ABS ON THESE SURFACES.

Campaign 99I006000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000531 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 D

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

Campaign 99V193000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030619 — visibility

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.

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 D

Campaign 03V159000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNI

Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Chevrolet S10 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (168 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (63 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for visibility issues (59 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V035000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V008001 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V096001 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V146001 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V150001 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99I006000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V193000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V159000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1988 ▲ 1989 ▲ 1991

WORST YEARS

■ 1994 ■ 1995 ■ 1998

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Chevrolet S10 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Chevrolet S10 is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet S10?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 25% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet S10 have?

10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.