Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED IT, KNOCKING THE FIRST VEHCLE INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THEN IT BOUNCED OFF OF THE POLE, HIT THE CORNER OF A BRICK WALL AND KNOCKED INTO THE CURB. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER TALKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT AIRBAG. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE AIRBAG DIDN'T HAVE TO DEPLOY. *AK
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 4-3-99 AND BRAKE FLUID LEVEL OK; SUDDEN FAILURE, NOT PREVIOUS PROBLEM; REPAIR COST OF $690 INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
NO SUMMARY
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH HEARD A NOISE AND HAD NO REVERSE WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP INTO GARAGE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. EALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. NO RECALLS WERE ESTABLISHED . PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS CONTINUALLY, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #. MJS
HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED SINCE. *AK *ML
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DLR NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ON HIGHWAY, BILLOWS OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH TRUCK; ENGINE STALLED. WHEN STARTED UP AGAIN, WOULD NOT GO OVER 35MPH. MIKE AT GERRY LANE CHEVY IN BATON ROUGE, LA (REPAIRING DEALER) STATED 'MAJOR INTERNAL FAILURE' THAT AT HIS BEST GUESS WAS FROM A LOOSE PART FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH FINALLY FREED ITSELF AND CAUSED FAILURE. HE DESCRIBED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK AS 'BLACK' FROM THE INCIDENT. I PAID 1890.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION...MIKE SD FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO DRIVING HABITS OR ANY NEGLECT.
CONSUMER STATES FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS INSTALLED WITH A TWIST IN BRAKE HOSE AND HAD BEEN PINCHED AGAINST SUSPENSION COMPONENT, REMOVED CALIPER AND REINSTALLED AND DROVE 2-YRS. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATES FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACED. OWNER REPLACED AND NOTICED DEFECT, REPAIRWORK COMPLETED BY OWNER. PROVIDE FURTHER INFOMATION...
IN AN EMERGENCY STOP OR IN BAD WEATHER THE ABS BRAKES WILL FADE OUT, CAUSING BRAKES TO BE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
UPON ACCELERATION IDLE SPEED INCREASES TO 1200-2400 RPM, IDLES BACK DOWN WHEN STOPPING, SERVICED 8 TIMES, ACCELERATOR CABLE/AIR CONTROL VALVE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES.
VEHICLE EXPRIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATER. *AK
SPARE TIRE APPARENTLY FELL OFF.
WHILE DRIVING ALONG TRUCK WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ONCE WHEN THIS HAPPENED LUCKY NO ACCIDENT. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL START BACK UP AFTER YA LET IT SET BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED TO SHOP. THEY ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND THE SAME DEALER HAS ANOTHER S-10 SAME YEAR SAME MOTOR DOING THE SAME THING.
BRAKES PULL WHEN APPLYING, SEVERE ON OCCASIONS WITH INTERMITTENT FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
TRAILER HARNESS SHORTED CAUSING DASH LIGHT FUSE TO BLOW (NO DASH LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT). ADDITIONAL FAILURE WAS VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHORT WAS CAUSED BY HARNESS RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR BUMPER.
SPARE TIRE FELL FROM VEHICLE WHEN MOUNT FAILED
SPARE TIRE CARRIER CABLE SNAPPED AND TIRE FELL TO GROUND AT SPEED.TIRE CABLE LOCK KEPT TIRE FROM BEING LEFT ON STREET. WITHOUT CABLE LOCK (NOT STD MFG EQUIPMENT) THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE STREET FOR THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING TO HIT. NO WARNING WAS NOTICED THAT SPARE TIRE CARRIER WAS FAILING. FIRST DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR STATING THEY WERE FOLLOWING DEALER'S ADVICE. WENT TO SECOND DEALER (CONTINENTAL CHEVROLET IN COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS) AND SPARE TIRE CARRIER WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAPERWORK CONCERNING REPAIR OF THIS CARRIER. I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE COST TO REPAIR. I DID NOT PRESS THE ISSUE OF PAPERWORK AS IT DID GET REPAIRED. THE DAMAGE INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TAILGATE AS I DRAGGED THE SPARE TIRE BEHIND THE TRUCK FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, IT WAS BANGING AGAINST THE TAILGATE. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE GRABBING. LUCKILY I ONLY HAD TO TRAVEL A SHORT DISTANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CABLE LOCK, MUCH LIKE A BICYCLE CHAIN AND LOCK, IS THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT A BAD ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WOULD HAVE HIT THE TIRE AT SPEED. EXAMINATION OF THE CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE REVEALED THAT IT HAD WORN OUT AND SNAPPED. CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE A RECORD OF MY CALL TO THEM CONCERNING THE WARRANTY REPAIR DENIAL BY ARROW CHEVROLET. I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REPAIR. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE ASSEMBLY WITH
SPEEDOMETER STICKS, ALMOST EVERY TRIP AFTER A SHORT DURATION (5-10 MIN). ALSO, TACHOMETER OCCASIONALLY STICKS DURING EXTENDED DRIVES 3HRS OR MORE. IN ADDITION, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER FIRST FAILURE. SPEEDOMETER UP TO 15 MPH OFF. FORCEFULL TAPPING ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL CAUSE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER NEEDLES TO INDICATE CURRENT SPEED/RPM. PROBLEM IS INDEPENDENT OF CLIMATE CONTROL TEMPERATURE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
HEADLIGHTS BRIEFLY WENT OUT FOR NO REASON - COMPLETE DARKNESS - VERY DANGEROUS COULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH - CHEVROLET SAID IT WOULD COST 85 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.....
SYMPTOM: LOSS OF BRAKES, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY/SLUSHY WEATHER, SNOW/SLUSH BUILDS UP AROUND THE EMERGENCY PARKING CABLE. WHEN IT MELTS FROM THE CABLE, IT CAUSES THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO ACTIVATE WHICH CAUSES SMOKE TO COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
IGNITION COIL WIRE BURNED/MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED COIL WIRE. *AK
A PIN RETAINING THE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE SLAVE TO MASTER CYLINDER WORKED ITS WAY OUT, ALLOWING THE HOSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF CLUTCH MOVEMENT. THE TRUCK WAS STOPPED AT THE TIME. THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPROCUSSIONS IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. I.E. LURCHING FORWARD/DIFFICULTY STOPPING. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED & REPLACED OIL. NOTICED HOOD WAS BLACK. WAS INFORMED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS IS TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS CAUSED THE HOOD TO BURN. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT REPAIRED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 55 MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE WIRES WERE INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD. HAD THE WIRES REPLACED, BUT BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WIRES EVERY SINCE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDITIONS AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP IMMEDIATELY. THE FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AND MAKE A LOUD SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONATACTED. *AK
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR. HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE SES LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF OVERNIGHT OR FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN AFTER CONTINUED DRIVING, COMES BACK ON AGAIN. WHILE ON, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD, JOLTING PASSENGERS. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR SERVICE BUT LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SERVICE ADVISED COULD NOT GET SES CODE WITH LIGHT OFF. WHEN SES PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, TOOK TO DEALER. SERVICE ADVISED THAT SES PROBLEM CODED TO THE TRANSMISSION. MANAGER ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM WAS ELECTICAL. TRANSMISSION MAN MAY BE ABLE TO FIX BY PLACING A WIRE TO BYPASS SOLENOID PROBLEM. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MAN TRIED TO DO SO, HE FOUND THAT A WIRE WAS ALREADY IN PLACE. SERVICE ADVISED THAT MY BLAZER WAS A LATER MODEL THAT ALREADY HAD THE WIRE. HE ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT FAILED TO SHIFT COMPLETELY. A SOLENOID WHICH CONTROLLED THE SHIFTING WAS STICKING AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I COULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY, AND THE COMPUTER/ SOLENOID WOULD RESET AND I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. OTHERWISE THE ASSEMBLY BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY PROBLEM IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM CHEVROLET DETERMINED EARLY ON AND TRIED TO FIX WITH THE WIRE BYPASSING THE SOLENOID. I'M EXPECTED TO WAIT UNTIL IT GOES OUT COMPLETELY, DRIVE MY CAR IN 2D GEAR FROM WHE
WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS, VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER LOST POWER, VEHICLE KEPT SLOWING DOWN. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY. *AK
ABS BRAKES FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, ALMOST CAUSING CRASH
WHEN DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR HAS A GRINDING FEELING, VIBRATION UNDER DRIVER'S FEET. ALSO, ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAN FEEL THE SAME THING ON THE FLOORBOARD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROVIIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE SPARE TIRE ON OUR TRUCK IS LOADED AND UNLOADED BY THE USE OF A WRENCH WHICH WHEN INSERTED IN A SLOT BY THE REAR LICENSE PLATE AND TURNED LOWERS AND RAISES THE SPARE TIRE. WHEN FULLY RAISED, THE TIRE RESTS AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED HELD THERE BY THE PRESSURE OF THE CABLE WHICH IS USED WHEN LOWERING AND RAISING THE TIRE. THE TIRE ON OUR TRUCK FELL OUT ONTO THE STREET BOUNCING OFF OF THE BOTTOM OF OUR TRUCK AND BENDING THE REAR LICENSE PLATE FRAME AND BREAKING THE SPARE TIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE CABLE HAD WORN THROUGH AND BROKE FROM FRICTION AND EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS NOT PRESSED UP AGAINST THE TRUCK BED FIRMLY ENOUGH. I MYSELF, A 50 YEAR OLD MALE WHO HAS WORKED AROUND AUTOMOBILES MOST OF MY LIFE HAD RAISED THAT TIRE INTO THE SPARE WELL MYSELF ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. AFTER INSPECTING THE DAMAGE I DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARE TIRE ITSELF WAS DOWN TO ONLY 10 LBS OF PRESSURE WHICH I ASSUME CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WHEN FULLY INFLATED AND RAISED FIRMLY INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL AS IT WAS POSES NO PROBLEMS THAT I CAN SEE. IN FACT I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL WAY TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE. THE PROBLEM ARISES WHEN THE SPARE TIRE LOSES IT'S AIR. IN OUR CASE IT WAS DOWN TO 10LBS THAT THE TIRE LOSES IT'S EXTERIOR DIAMETER OR ORIGINAL THICKNESS THERE BY LOOSENING IT'S FRICTION HOLD ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED. THIS I BELIEVE IS WHAT CAUSED THE CABLE TO BREAK AND DROP THE TIRE ONTO THE STREET.EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE
DEFECTIVE REAR RING AND PINION GEAR CAUSED THE REAR END TO BREAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS, AND TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO GET STARTED AGAIN. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE COMPUTER 3 TIMES. *AK
ABS/BRAKES HAVE FAILED MANY TIMES. REAR BRAKES LOCK UP SEVERELY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR FAILURES AT YOUR WEB SITE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL NUMBER 98V150000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE TO UNDERSIDE OF BODY BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. WHEEL HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAY CAUSING $1140.00 DAMAGE, PLUS REPLACEMENT COSTS OF SPARE TIRE HOIST TO MY VEHICLE.
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
COUNTLESS CALLS TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURE DOES NOT PRODUCE RESULTS.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHEN NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND.
REAR WINDOW LEAKS.
WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE AT 30MPH. I HIT A RAIN STORM TURNED ON MY WIPERS,THEY FAILED TO COME ON. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT OUT THE STORM. TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE WIPERS WORKED FINE.... SINCE THIS HAPPENED I HAVE SPOKE WITH 8 OTHERS 10 OWNERS 5 HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE FUEL PUMP NO LONGER WORKED WITH THE GAS PEDAL. GAS PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FOUND OUTER BRAKE PADS WORN DOWN TO METAL DURING ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION, AT 21500 HIGHWAY MILES, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. DEALER SAYS I WAS LUCKY AS HE HAS RECEIVED MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AT MUCH LOWER MILEAGE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS DUE TO REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS FROM PAD MATERIAL AND GM UNDERSIZING THE ROTORS. IN ADDITION, THE WEAR INDICATORS ARE LOCATED ON THE INNER PADS WHICH WEAR AT A MUCH SLOWER RATE, AS IN MY CASE. THE UNDERDESIGN OF THIS BRAKE SYSTEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GM'S RESPONSIBILITY. GM NEEDS TO BE MADE TO CONDUCT A RECALL TO REPLACE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS WITH A SAFE DESIGN BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!
VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT 55MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. CONTACTED GM, BUT THEY WERE UNCONCERNED. *AK *ML
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chevrolet S10 → · Every S10 year → · How the figures are calculated →