FaultScore

1996 Chevrolet S10 headlight problems

26 of the 875 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet S10 are about the lighting — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 92,500 miles.

A

26

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Headlights 11 42.3%
Switch 3 11.5%
Interior Lighting 2 7.7%
Turn Signal 2 7.7%
Brake Lights 2 7.7%
Exterior Lighting 1 3.8%
Switch 1 3.8%
Tail Lights 1 3.8%
High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch 1 3.8%
Back UP Lights 1 3.8%

Lights across every Chevrolet S10 year

1994 12 17.6%
1995 13 19.1%
1996 26 38.2%
2000 17 25.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 125,000 miles Moline, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

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 125,000 miles Moline, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

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.

Cottage Grove, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES NOW, THE 2ND TIME I WOULD DRIVE AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH HIGH AND LOW LIKE A POLICE CAR, NOW MY DAY TIME HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK? INCIDENT DATES ARE NOT CORRECT NOT SURE.

NHTSA complaint #10154910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Windsor, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

1) THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET S10 HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT. AT FIRST, WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGH BEAMS, THEY WOULD STAY ON FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE, THEN I WOULD LOSE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THIS SITUATION IS GETTING STEADILY WORSE. NOW THE LOW BEAMS ARE EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM. 2) THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, MEANING THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT OR WHEN IT RAINS. STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BE ON WHEN YOU USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. 3) I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED, BUT THE SERVICE PERSONNEL JUST TAKE THE MONEY AND NEVER SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10121812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dumfries, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS REMAIN OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON.

NHTSA complaint #10060201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Laurel, MS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

HEADLIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON ONLY THE PARKING LIGHTS AND THE DAYTIME SAFETY RUNNING LIGHTS COME ON. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE HAD TO DRIVE SEVERAL MILES BEFORE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO ME AND I'M CONCERNED FROM A SAFETY POINT OF YIEW. IT ONLY OCCURS SOMETIMES. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPEAT IT SO THAT I COULD SHOW IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALER. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO WORK OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10051138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Chicago, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

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.

Williamston, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

WIRE ON MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CAME LOOSE, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #880144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

BACK-UP LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER WHILE REVERSING, THEN ONLY COME ON WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE REVERSING AND FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #739082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklin, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY TURN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHILE HEADLIGHTS WERE OFF, RUNNING LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WERE STILL ON. DEALER REPLACED LIGHT SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEFECT ALLOWS POOR OR NO VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #872301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CRACKED OPEN FROM FAILING HOUSING, WHICH CAUSED SHORT IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS. *MJS

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

Bogart, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

THE LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, THE AIR COMPRESSOR AN EXPENSIVE DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #722232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Deer Park, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT EFFECTIVENESS IS EXTREMELY POOR ON BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS. CHECKED VOLTAGE TO LAMPS: SOLID 14.2V UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. CONTACTED DEALER AND REVIEWED PROBLEM W. SERVICE MANAGER. UNABLE TO RECOMMEND A SOLUTION AND THERE IS NO FACTORY RECALL ON RECORD. (HAVE CHECKED BACK SEVERAL TIME SINCE; STILL NOTHING FROM GM). REPLACED BOTH HEADLAMPS WITH NAPA AFTER-MARKET UNITS AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES; THIS CHANGE RESULTING IN MINOR IMPROVEMENT, DUE MOSTLY, I THINK, TO WIDER BEAM SPREAD, BUT OVER ALL PERFORMANCE IS STILL THE WORST I HAVE EVER HAD ON A VEHICLE (INCLUDING MY 6-VOLT 1934 PLYMOUTH WITH NO VOLTAGE REGULATOR), AND I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF OLD VEHICLES WITH MARGINAL LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #717842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hoboken, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

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

NHTSA complaint #855474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alpharetta, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #850391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alpharetta, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #713180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hopewell Jct., NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #709093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cascade, ID

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

NHTSA complaint #707886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gering, NE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

NHTSA complaint #836526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gering, NE

INTERIOR LIGHTING

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

NHTSA complaint #836526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albany, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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.....

NHTSA complaint #703206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LA Habra, CA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vicksburg, MS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LIGHTS FLICKER ON/OFF.

NHTSA complaint #514298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vicksburg, MS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TAILLIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #514298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms River, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

SHORT IN DIRECTIONAL LAMPS.

NHTSA complaint #505563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms River, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #505563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chevrolet S10 problems

← Full 1996 Chevrolet S10 report