FaultScore

1996 Chevrolet S10 electrical problems

43 of the 875 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet S10 are about the electrical system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 120,000 miles.

C

43

Complaints

1

Crashes

5

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 9 20.9%
Module 7 16.3%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 6 14.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 5 11.6%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 5 11.6%
Front Underhood 4 9.3%
Interior/Under Dash 3 7.0%
Switch 2 4.7%
Wiring 1 2.3%
Relay 1 2.3%

Electrical System across every Chevrolet S10 year

1991 17 5.3%
1993 13 4.1%
1994 30 9.4%
1995 25 7.8%
1996 43 13.4%
1997 24 7.5%
1998 58 18.1%
1999 21 6.6%
2000 28 8.8%
2001 31 9.7%
2002 15 4.7%
2003 15 4.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 125,000 miles Moline, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

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 PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOST RECENT TIME HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FUSES BLOWING.

NHTSA complaint #10208722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 172,813 miles Huntsville, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

DT: ONE OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD SHORTED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. EVERYTIME STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND ONE CAN SMELL BURNING PLASTIC. SATURDAY GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10125329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Niagara Falls, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. CAUSES TRUCK TO SHUT DOWN WHEN MOVING. WILL NOT START. HAD REPAIRED ( RIGGED ) BECAUSE THE COST TO REPLACE THIS IS IN EXCESS OF 400 DOLLARS, NOW IS ACTING UP AGAIN. HAD TO REPLACE FAN CLUTCH AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10102553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Merrimac, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10058029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. THE A/C STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY EVAPORATOR. THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE WHICH CAUSED DRIFT/PULL. ENGINE COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE LEAKED. THE BALL JOINT FOR THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE GAVE OUT. THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE FIXED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. SPEEDOMETER SEEMED TO BE OFF BY 5 MPH. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A DOWN-POUR. THE DEVICE TO LOWER THE SPARE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10020819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wakefield, RI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE STALLED, LOSING POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. DRIVER TURNED IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CONTROL MODULE. *AK DEALER REPLACED VEHICLE COTNROL MODUDLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB66-65-06) TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE CONTROL MODULE.

NHTSA complaint #8004961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independence, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WHILE TRAVELING IN AN RAINSTOM HEADLIGHTS SHORT OUT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. CONSUMER TURNED HEADLIGHTS ON/OFF TO RETURN TO NORMAL TRAVEL . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #896108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moosup, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING JUST SHUT DOWN, THERE WAS A SHORT IN IGNITION .

NHTSA complaint #879851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hillsdale, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #878740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vebtura, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #734529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Texarkana, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING A PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN. CHANGED FUEL BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #871882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Festus, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THIS BATTERY HAS FAILED TWICE IN 2 YRS. THE BATTERY TERMINALS PULL OUT LEAKING ACID ON CABLES AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS AND HAS ALSO CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL. I SAW A NEWS BRIEF IN AN AUTO PUBLICATION THAT YOU HAD BEGAN LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM ON SUBURBANS AND TAHOES. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER GM CARS. I PERSONALLY SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON MANY GM CARS WITH AC-DELCO BATTERIES, I WAS AN EMPLOYEE IN A GM DEALER FOR 21 YEARS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ASSISTANCE AND THIS HAD HAPPENED OVER 2 MONTHS AGO

NHTSA complaint #732253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

FOUR BATTERIES AND THREE ALTERNATORS REPLACED IN 4 YEARS. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #554345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

FOUR BATTERIES AND THREE ALTERNATORS REPLACED IN 4 YEARS. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #554345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerville, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THERE WAS A BATTERY LEAK. FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS COVER AND ATE THROUGH TO SEVERAL WIRES. ALSO, DEFECTIVE BRAKES CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT AND ROTORS TO CORRODE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #859158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ragley, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #854442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sweeny, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

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.

NHTSA complaint #716257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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

NHTSA complaint #716277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Juan, PR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

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

NHTSA complaint #548953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denton, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WIRING HARNESS FOR IGNITION GOT BURNT. WAS TOO CLOSE TO MANIFOLD & INSULATION HAD FUSED TOGETHER. WAS REPAIRED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS SINCE REAPPEARED & VEHCLE HAD CUT OFF. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #847047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntsville, TX Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #707758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #706065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pavilion, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

NHTSA complaint #704062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macomb, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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.

NHTSA complaint #703777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

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.

NHTSA complaint #703339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Helen, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION COIL WIRE BURNED/MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED COIL WIRE.

NHTSA complaint #834592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Everett, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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.

NHTSA complaint #831987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Everett, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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.

NHTSA complaint #833898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Everett, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ELECTRICAL HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO LOCATION NEAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH BURNED PLASTIC PROTECTIVE COVER OF THE HARNESS.

NHTSA complaint #542777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chevrolet S10 problems

← Full 1996 Chevrolet S10 report