RecallMyCar

1996 Chevrolet S10 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 1996 Chevrolet S10, and owners have filed 665 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
665
owner complaints to NHTSA
111 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–23
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet S10

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 03V159000 Reported 1,755,876 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

  2. Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V193000 Reported 1,125,749 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.

  3. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 98V150001 Reported 1,557,585 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.

  4. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 97V146001 Reported 146,167 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

  5. Seat belts

    NHTSA 97V096001 Reported 586,058 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.

  6. Windshield (visibility)

    NHTSA 97V008001 Reported 55 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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."

    Remedy: All vehicles have been repurchased. This campaign is 100%.

  7. Manual transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 96V035000 Reported 24,906 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

665 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Chevrolet S10 have filed 665 complaints with NHTSA; 111 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 55 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 92,844 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 127 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 13, 2018 · Service brakes

“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 vehi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 3, 2017 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Chevrolet S10 Pickup (S10 Pickup 2WD, S10 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–23 mpg
City / Highway15–20 / 20–27
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Pickup Trucks, Standard Pickup Trucks
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.2/4.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Chevrolet S10 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet S10 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1981 Chevrolet S1001
1982 Chevrolet S1022
1983 Chevrolet S1017
1984 Chevrolet S1018
1985 Chevrolet S10011
1986 Chevrolet S10122
1987 Chevrolet S10227
1988 Chevrolet S10137
1989 Chevrolet S10248
1990 Chevrolet S10229
1991 Chevrolet S106174
1992 Chevrolet S103180
1993 Chevrolet S103233
1994 Chevrolet S105963
1995 Chevrolet S105910
1996 Chevrolet S107665
1997 Chevrolet S106469
1998 Chevrolet S106613
1999 Chevrolet S100231
2000 Chevrolet S104471
2001 Chevrolet S101308
2002 Chevrolet S100214
2003 Chevrolet S101178
2004 Chevrolet S10121
2006 Chevrolet S1001
2016 Chevrolet S1001
2017 Chevrolet S1001
2018 Chevrolet S1003

Checking a specific 1996 Chevrolet S10

How do I know if my 1996 Chevrolet S10 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1996 Chevrolet S10; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V159000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.