The 1996 Chevrolet S10 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,196,396 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 875 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY03V1590002003-04-281,755,876 affected
Defect
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
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…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC99V1930001999-07-191,125,749 affected
Defect
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…
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.
VISIBILITY98V1500011998-07-011,557,585 affected
Defect
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
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC97V1460011997-09-11146,167 affected
Defect
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
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.
SEAT BELTS97V0960011997-06-12586,058 affected
Defect
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
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.
VISIBILITY97V0080011997-01-2755 affected
Defect
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
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%.
POWER TRAIN96V0350001996-02-2224,906 affected
Defect
SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.
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.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
171
36crashes12injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
65
61crashes38injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
59
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
31
1crashes2fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
24
1crashes1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
20
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
19
1fires
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
16
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints875
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I was involved in a traffic collision in which my brakes failed to stop my vehicle. When I pressed the brakes during a sudden stop, the brakes started to slow down my truck but then the pedal went all the way down to the floor with a rubbing noise and my truck kept traveling until I hit the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet s10. While driving 35 mph, the abs malfunctioned. The contact stated that the abs engaged independently, and pulled the vehicle to the left. Furthermore, the vehicle lost brake functionality completely. Gilcrest chevrolet buick gmc in tacoma, washington was…”
“Drivers side seatbelt wouldn't latch. Driving and smelled smoke. Saw smoke coming from under drivers side dash. Stopped and saw melted wires. Seatbelt indicator light went out.”
“The accident was almost head on mainly on the passenger side. The impact was hard the air bags went off in the other car but neither one of ours went off. For about a year prior to the accident the truck would stall at random times. *tr”
“The accident was almost head on mainly on the passenger side. The impact was hard the air bags went off in the other car but neither one of ours went off. For about a year prior to the accident the truck would stall at random times. *tr”
“The lady turned in front of me and I tboned her. *tr”
“1996 chevy s10 attempted to slow but had equipment failure with the braking system. Consumer then swerved to the right to avoid hitting the car ahead, drove onto the cement curb, and struck a pole. *nj updated 05/12/10 *bf the brake lines on the left front side and rear were leaking. The fluid…”
“Started having problems with the hazard/brake light fuse blowing occasionally about 2.5 yr ago... Recently the fuse blows almost as soon as you turn the vehicle on. Bulbs are good and lights work until the fuse blows. I've replaced the electrical system in the steering column twice in that same…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94038 Opened 1994-10-31 · closed 2000-02-28
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
InvestigationEA94038 Opened 1994-10-31 · closed 2000-02-28
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
InvestigationEA97004 Opened 1997-02-28 · closed 1997-08-05
SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION
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.
InvestigationEA97004 Opened 1997-02-28 · closed 1997-08-05
SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION
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.
InvestigationEA99018 Opened 1999-06-30 · closed 2000-10-20
SPARE TIRE SEPARATION FROM VEHICLE
InvestigationPE99004 Opened 1999-01-15 · closed 1999-06-30
SEPARATION OF SPARE TIRE FROM VEHICLE
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
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Chevrolet S10 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.