1996 Chevrolet S10 complaints

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A SIDE ROAD, TRAVELING 55 MPH. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 35MPH AND AS A RESULT OF A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL WITH PEDAL TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 50MPH, ANOTHER VECHICLE MADE A U TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE OF HIS VEHICLE, AN DHE VEERED OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON WET PAVEMENT TO SLOW DOWN. THEN, VEERED ONTO THE DRY PAVEMENT, AND THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DIDN'T KICK IN. ALSO THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

COOLENT LEAK WAS ON PASSENGER SIDE, REAR OF ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKET. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT LEAK COULD GO INTO AN OIL PORT AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

WHEN EVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED SUDDENLY, THE ABS BRAKES HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY. BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO HALFWAY TO FLOOR. THIS INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS ON DRY ROADS. CONTACTED GM & INFORMED NO RECALLS. VEHICLE IS NOT AT DEALERSHIP.

VEHICLE SOMETIMES STALLS WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, IT MAY NOT EVEN START. DEALER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE OUT, AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY HAVE RUN TESTED THE VEHICLE, BUT RESULT WAS NEGATIVE. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY HAVE TAKEN THE INFORMATION ON MY WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. BUT JUST SAY THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR MY CAR'S PROBLEM. SO THIS IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS SERIES ACCORDING TO THE CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FAIL CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. OCCASIONALLY, THE WIPER MOTOR WILL NOT OPERATE IF THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. *AK *YC

THE PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEAT SLIDING BACK & FORTH CAUSING SEAT TO NOT LOCK / STAY IN PLACE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY IF AN ACCIDENT WAS TO OCCUR. *YC

WHILE FOLLOWING ANOTHER PICKUP TRUCK ABOUT 4-CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, TRUCK IN FRONT SWERVED RIGHT, AND CONSUMER HIT BRAKES. BUT ABS BRAKES DID NOT COME ON. CONSUMER REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT ON DRIVERS SIDE. CONSUMER TOLD DEALER ABOUT A RECALL ON ABS BRAKES. DEALER HAD KNOWLEDGE OF IT. RECALL 99V193000. *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

THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR TRUCKS MADE FROM AUG 1994-MAY 1996.. MY TRUCK WAS MADE IN JULY 1996. IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS MY 1996 S-10 WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE ALL THE TIME OR WHEN THEY DO OPERATE THEY ARE SPORADIC. VERY ANNOYING ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. *AK

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE ANTI-BRAKE STYSTEM WILL GRAB / LOCK-UP CAUSING FAILURE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS COMING ON. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS ALRIGHT WITHOUT ABS. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE RUNS OVER A MANHOLE COVER IN A DOWN INCLINE IT CAUSES BRAKE FAILURE, VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE ON INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE STOPPING. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION IF NOT CORRECTED. *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 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

DIES INTERMITTENTLY ANY SPEED. CRANKS-NO START. STARTS AFTER 5 MIN/OK. *AK

ABS BRAKES REECEIVED LETTER FROM GMC ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.AFTER GOING TO THE DEALER THEY RAN MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS TRUCK EVEN THOU I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NEEDED THE WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR ARE INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL NUMBER 98V150001/MFR C98043 INVOLVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM, DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT EVEN TURN ON. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING WHILE RAINING WINDSHIEL WIPERS WILL JUST STOP. THIS MAKES VISIBILITY VERY HARD. *AK

ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I BROUGHT OUR 1996 CHEVROLET S10 PICK UP IN TO ROUNDTREE CHEVROLET FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A LOT OF 2.2 LITRE ENGINES (AS WELL AS SOME BIG BLOCKS)WERE DOING THE SAME THING BECAUSE THE FACTORY MADE THE PISTONS TAPERED WHICH WEARS OUT THE SKIRTING. THEIS PROBLEM SEEMS CLEAR CUT ENOUGH (A FACTORY DEFECT), BUT AS SOON AS ROUNDTREE SAW THAT WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THEY IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY. THEY WANT OUR SERVICE RECORDS BEFORE THEY AUTHORIZE ROUNDTREE TO CONTINUE. WAL-MART SUPPOSEDLY KEEPS YOUR OIL CHANGE RECORDS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO. WELL, WE TOOK THE TRUCK THERE EVERY 3000 MILES, BUT THEY CAN'T LOCATE ANY! THEY HAVE GIVEN ROUNDTREE A VERBAL CONFIRMATION, BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WE DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD MAKE PAYMENTS WHEN THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT, AND WE TOLD G.M.A.C. THAT THEY COULD JUST KEEP IT! NOW WHAT DO WE DO? *AK

FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS FAILED. MJS

THE FRAME WELDS ARE FAILING. A MILITARY CERTIFIED WELDING SHOP EXAMINED THE WELDS AND SAID THE WELDS WERE NOT DONE CORRECTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. HE SAID THE THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT SIDE WELDS IS BEGINNING ALSO. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO GM AND HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THEM TO EXAMINE. GM SAYS THEY WILL NOT FIX IT.

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, IT FELT MUSHY AND SOFT LIKE MUD. THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ROLLING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE (SCRATCHES). VEHICLE WAS STOPPED DUE TO THE CRASH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACED. *AK

THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *YC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SES INDICATOR ON MY DASH AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THAT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO COME ON DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING. WHEN EXITING THE INTERSTATE ONTO LOCAL ROADS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTEMELY HARD JOLTING THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING THIS WAY FOR A WHILE THE HARD SHIFT STOPS BUT THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. I CAN GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY GROUND FOR A SHORT TIME AND RECONNECTING. THIS RESETS THE CAR COMPUTER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DRAW A CODE FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. I WAS CHARGED FOR BOTH ATTEMPTS. I WAS TOLD TO JUST DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THEN BRING IT BACK IN. THIS IS LUDICROUS. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS. I ALSO TOOK MY CAR TO A VERY REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE A CODE 1870 WAS PULLED. THERE WERE FIVE OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS THERE WITH THE SAME CODE PROBLEM. MY TRANSMISSION MAN DOES SOME TRANSMISSION WORK FOR THE CHEVY DEALER ACROSS THE STREET AND WHEN HE MENTIONED THE CODE TO THEIR SERVICE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AS THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM, A PRODUCTION DEFECT, THAT THEY WISH WOULD GO AWAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN SO FAR THAT YOU CANNOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN OR IF THE TRANSMISSION WILL WORK WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. A REAL POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT EXISTS, YET MUMS THE WORD FROM CHEVROLET. THEY WOULD RATHER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND LET

UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL GOES PARTIALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD, RESULITNG IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE ANTI-LOCK INDICATOR COMES ON UPON START UP OF VEHICLE AND STAYS ON. PERIODICALLY THE ANIT-LOCK INDICATOR WILL GO OFF FOR ANYWHERE FROM 1-30 MINUTES AND COME BACK ON. IT CONTINUALLY SWITCHES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. DURING THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE TWO STATES THE (RED) BRAKE INDICATOR COMES ON MOMENTARILY, DURING WITCH NO BRAKING IS AVAILABLE.

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM THE BEGINNING. I WOULD BE DRIVING IN POURING-DOWN RAIN AND THE WIPERS WOULD GO OUT CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER. RIGHT NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAD TO WORK ON MY BRAKES THE FIRST YEAR AND A COUPLE OF TIMES THEREAFTER. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE MY AIR-CONDITIONER DONE. THE LATEST WAS MY WATER PUMP THAT I FIXED MYSELF. THE WORSE WAS MY MOTOR. I HAD BEEN STALLED A NUMBER OF TIMES TILL FINALLY IT WOULDN'T GO AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO MICHAEL HOLLEY CHEVROLET IN LAKELAND (THE TOWN I WORKED IN). THEY REFUSED TO HONOR MY SMARTCARE SAYING I HAD NOT CHANGED THE OIL. THAT WAS NOT TRUE SINCE I HAD CHANGED IT MYSELF AND HAD IT CHANGED ALSO. THEY WANTED OVER 3000 FOR A NEW MOTOR. I AM AND WAS STILL PAYING ON MY TRUCK AND DID NOT HAVE THAT MUCH CASH. I HAD TO TOW IT AT MY MOTHERS AND PARK IT. I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT THE CHEVROLET DEALERS HAD REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR BELT AND HAD LEFT IT LOOSE. THAT DID NOT GIVE ME ANY CONFIDENCE IN THEM. 4 MONTHS LATER MY MOTHER'S CAR WAS TOTALLED AND SHE PAID FOR ME TO GET A MOTOR FROM AN AMOCO DEALER. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1999 MY MOTHER WAS SURFING THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ALMOST FROM THE FIRST AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED AT ALL. I WROTE TO THE HOME OFFICE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. I STILL OWE 2 YEARS PAYMENTS. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY MOTOR WENT OUT ON ME SOMETHING BAD COULD HAVE VERY WELL HAPPENED. I

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK

REAR AXLE FELL OFF WHILE MOVING. LUCKILY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THERFORE TRUCK DID NOT TURN OVER. COULD HAVE CAUSED FATAL ACCIDENT. MECHANIC SAID INFERIOR PLASTIC PARTS USED. FURTHERMORE, ANTI- LOCK BREAKS MALFUNCTION WHEN THE GROUND IS WET/DAMP. THE FLY WHEEL IS GONE. THE AIRCONDITIONER IS BROKEN. THE CLUTCH IS GOING OUT. THE TAIL GATE IS BOKEN. NOT TO MENTION 7 RECALLS ALREADY.

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

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY CUT OFF AND STAY OFF FOF A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES. WHEN LIGHT SWITCH GETS WARM CONTACT IS OPEN AND LIGHTS FAIL UNTIL SWITCH COOLS SLIGHTY. *AK

I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON FOR THE LAST 40000 MILES, THE DEALER CLAIMS NOT TO BE ABLE TO LOCATE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

TRAVELING AT 40+ MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER EITHER BECAME UNCONSIUS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. I WENT OVER AN ENBANKMENT AND INTO A DITCH HEAD ON TOTALING THE CAR. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE COLLISION WAS A FRONT IMPACT INTO A HARD DITCH DUE TO THE DROUGHT STATUS AT THE TIME. THE FRONT END WAS WRECKED BEYOND REPAIR AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THAT IT MALFUNCTIIONED AND WANT IT REPORTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I HAVE REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE CO AND TO GM.

NO SUMMARY

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, IN WET CONDITIONS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AS IF BRAKES COLLAPSED. VEHICLE HAD SKIDDED FOR AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD OR SLIGHTLY GOING DOWN HILL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATES TOO EASILY. WHEN THIS PRBLEM OCCURS VEHICLE TAKES TWICE AS LONG TO STOP. *AK

THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE THE DESIGN WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE LINE TO RUB AGAINST THE OIL PAN, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

POWER BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. ALSO SPARE TIRE FELL OUT WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSE A CRASH/ PROBLEMS WITH GRILL FALLING OUT, AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT TIGHTENS WHILE IN USE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES PEDAL NEARLY GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO BREAK SUDDENLY(SOMEONE IN FRONT OR SOMEONE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME) WHEN ROAD IS WET FROM RAIN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND BRAKES SEEM TO PAUSE BEFORE BREAKING.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ABS BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER CONTACTED, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK *ML

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMENTENTLY.THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED THROUGH REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SPARE TIRE HIT THE GROUND AND BOUNCED OVER THE GUARDRAIL AND INTO THE SAVANNAH RIVER. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE NEVER BEEN USED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL TIRE VENDOR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLE HAD BROKEN. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED BRAKES. *AK

IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLET? THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER SIMILAR TRUCKS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS

WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH AND GOING THROUGH SOME WATER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE'S WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 TO 45 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER APPLYED THE BRAKES AND BRAKES WENT HALF WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETELY STOP. WHEN POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED, HE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK