FaultScore

Chevrolet S10 headlight problems

118 of the 7,335 complaints filed about the Chevrolet S10 are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.

118

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1986 S10 2 1.7%
1987 S10 2 1.7%
1989 S10 1 0.8%
1990 S10 1 0.8%
1991 S10 3 2.5%

Median failure at 132,000 miles

1994 S10 12 10.2%
1995 S10 13 11.0%

Median failure at 170,000 miles

1996 S10 26 22.0%

Median failure at 92,500 miles

1997 S10 7 5.9%

Median failure at 124,585 miles

1998 S10 8 6.8%

Median failure at 89,500 miles

1999 S10 9 7.6%

Median failure at 26,244 miles

2000 S10 17 14.4%

Median failure at 62,945 miles

2001 S10 8 6.8%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

2002 S10 4 3.4%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2003 S10 4 3.4%

Median failure at 300 miles

2004 S10 1 0.8%

Median failure at 15,777 miles

What owners said

2001 Chevrolet S10 at 330,000 miles Bailey, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AND INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 2001 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80014, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 330,000.

NHTSA complaint #11308532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Chevrolet S10 at 170,000 miles Shreveport, LA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TAKATA INFLATORS--AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON EVEN AFTER I HAD ALREADY HAD IT RESET,THE DOME LIGHT BLOWS FUSES MORE THAN IT SHOULD SOMETIMES 3-4 TIMES A MONTH,THE BLINKERS ACT FUNNY SOMETIMES AND THE SEAT BELTS HANG UP AND U HAVE TO PULL ON THEM A FEW TIMES TO GET THEM TO RELEASE SO YOU CAN BUCKLE THEM,THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO REVERSE,THE CLUTCH FAN CAME APART AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AND MOST OF THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS SITTING STILL I HAVE THE RECALL#'S(N970033--N980043/NHTSA#98V150

NHTSA complaint #11210231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet S10 at 10,500 miles Wilmington, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CENTER-VEHICLE MOUNTED REAR BRAKE LIGHT MELTED ITS PLASTIC HOUSING WHICH MELTED THE WIRING AND MOUNTS USED TO POWER THE TWO LIGHTBULBS IN THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT, RESULTING IN NO FUNCTIONING CENTER BRAKE LIGHT. THIS ALSO MADE THE INTERIOR LIGHT FALL OUT OF THE ROOF AS IT IS ATTACHED TO THE SAME PLASTIC HOUSING. ONLY APPARENT FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE OLD MELTED CENTER BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING WITH A NEW ONE. OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE WITH MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED LIGHT BULBS IN USE.

NHTSA complaint #10957191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet S10 at 119,340 miles EL Paso, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS RETURNING TO EL PASO FROM KERRVILLE AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLAMPS DIMMED AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER MOST TRAFFIC WAS GOING 80 -85. IT WAS SCARY.

NHTSA complaint #10701463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet S10 at 54,000 miles Denver, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA complaint #10694650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet S10 at 110,850 miles Pensacola, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT CONCERN MY VEHICLE. IT IS THE INTENSITY OF NEWER HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS ON LATE MODEL VEHICLES. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WITH EXTREMELY BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. INSTEAD OF LIGHTING AREA THE NEWER LIGHTS SEEM TO BE A FOCUSED BEAM THAT IS BLINDING.

NHTSA complaint #10692888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet S10 Lithonia, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY (ABS) AND MY TAILGATE.

NHTSA complaint #10447227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet S10 Minneapolis, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY VEHICLE, A 2003 CHEVY S10 TRUCK, LIKE MANY VEHICLES, HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT AUTOMATICALLY GO ON WHEN THE TRUCK IS RUNNING; THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN OUTDOOR LIGHT FADES. AS A RESULT I NEVER TOUCH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. RECENTLY MY FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME IN HER CAR ON A HIGHWAY TRIP WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED SURPRISINGLY DENSE DAYLIGHT FOG; SENSIBLE SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY DROPPED TO 25 OR 30 MPH. HAPPILY EVERY CAR I SAW HAD ITS LIGHTS ON (NOT TO SEE BUT TO BE SEEN). AT ONE POINT MY FRIEND FLASHED HER LIGHTS AT ME REPEATEDLY AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. "YOUR TAILLIGHTS AREN'T ON," SHE SAID. "I KNOW YOU'RE THERE, BUT IF I'M AS FAR BACK AS FEELS SAFE, I REALLY CAN'T SEE YOU!" IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS EVER A TIME WHEN SAFETY REQUIRED ME TO ACTUALLY TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS. IT SEEMS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO ME THAT THE NON-AUTOMATIC LIGHTING OF TAILLIGHTS ON VEHICLES WITH THIS LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO PILEUPS IN DAYTIME FOG OR BLOWING SNOW. I'M GOING TO RIG MY LIGHTS SO THE TAILLIGHTS COME ON IN DAYTIME RUNNING TOO. THIS SITUATION MIGHT NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A RECALL, BUT I WONDER WHETHER STANDARDS FOR FUTURE VEHICLES SHOULD REQUIRE THAT DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INCLUDE TAILLIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10378267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet S10 at 82,000 miles Mexico, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THERE ARE 8 SAFETY RECALLS ON THE CHEVY S10.1997.THE COMPANYS STATE MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST OF THESE RECALLS.BUT MY VEHICLES HAS ALL OF THESE DEFECTS.AND IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THESE ISSUES.IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY.BUT PEOPLES LUCK ALWAYS RUNS OUT.I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ITS BREAKING ME FINANCIALLY BY FIXING THIS ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10323395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet S10 Winchester, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ON THE 1997 CHEVY S-10 THE HEADLIGHT WIRING IS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO CARRY ENOUGH CURRENT TO THE HEADLIGHTS MAKING THEM DIM AND VERY POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE RECALL AND FIX TO MAKE BETTER VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10277488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet S10 at 112,000 miles Champaign, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE, IF THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN IS HELD JUST RIGHT THE BRAKE WILL FUNCTION PERIODICALLY. INDICATING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE WIPER, CRUISE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL. DEALER SAY IT IS A 400.00 REPAIR. GM SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS. LIKE THE BLAZERS, MALIBU'S AND OLDS.

NHTSA complaint #10249799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet S10 at 15,777 miles Leesburg, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

VEHICLE PURCHASED 2/23/04 NEW 2004 S-10 CLUB CAB - IN FEB 05 WAS RETURNED DUE TO COOLANT LEAK - BOTH ENG. OIL COOLER HOSES REPLACED. ALSO FUEL GAUGE WAS ERRATIC THEY REPLACED FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IN TANK REPLACED MILEAGE 15777. AT THAT TIME THE 4WD WAS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO NO REPAIR WAS MADE. MARCH 9, 2005 MOTOR HAD A TICKING NOISE - A LIFTER COLLAPSED AND REPLACED ALONG WITH THE INTAKE GASKET. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK - THEY FOUND THE REAR EXTENSION HOUSING LEAKING -THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND SEAL REPLACED. OCT 10, 2005 TRANSMISSION LEAK AND ENGINE NOISE UNDER ACCELERATION - REAR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SEAL REPLACED AND ENGINE PRESSURE CHECK. MARCH 30, 2006 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND EXHAUST SYSTEM RATTLING - THERMOSTAT REPLACED AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MILEAGE 34,997 JUNE 2007 TAIL LIGHT ON RIGHT NOT WORKING - WIRING ISSUES REPAIRED TWICE. NOVEMBER 2007 GRINDING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO 4WD BUT ONCE PUT BACK INTO 2WD OKAY. MARCH 2008 - 4WD MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN ENGAGED AND ALSO MAKING CONTINUING NOISE WHEN IN 2WD - FOUND TO BE TRANSAXLE GOING OUT. WIPER MOTOR GUIT - REPLACED. MILEAGE NOW 74,540 THIS IS WHERE I AM NOW DRIVING WITH THE TRANSAXLE GOING OUT. LOVE TRUCK SIZE AND COMFORT BUT TO MANY PROBLEMS. WILL PROBABLY GO WITH DIFFERENT BRAND NEXT PURCHASE BUT ONLY AFTER MUCH RESEARCH. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON TRANSAXLE ISSUE AND FEEL MANUFACTURER. SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10223227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Chevrolet S10 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.

1996 Chevrolet S10 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.

1997 Chevrolet S10 at 167,171 miles Laytonsville, MD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HIGHBEAMS TURN ON, LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING FROM HIGHBEAM TO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TO TEMPORARILY STOP THE PROBLEM WAS TO SWITCH FROM HIGHBEAM TO LOWBEAM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO FATAL ACCIDENTS!!!

NHTSA complaint #10163405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Chevrolet S10 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.

1998 Chevrolet S10 Macomb, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT. REPLACED AND NEW ONE BURNED OUT WITHIN 1 WEEK. REPLACED AND AGAIN IT BURNED OUT. WENT TO DEALER, AND WAS CHARGED >$30 TO REPLACE THE BULB. THEN IT BURNED OUT AND I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED A PART, AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR BECAUSE OF THE $30. BULB STILL BURNED OUT. DIDN'T REPLACE FOR OVER A YEAR AND THEN I REPLACED IT AND IT BURNED OUT. JUST RECENTLY REPLACED IT AGAIN AND IT HAS BEEN WORKING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10152560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet S10 Mauk, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

1. DOOR SPEAKERS STOPPED WORKING. STILL DO NOT WORK. 2. BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING (FUSE KEEPS BLOWING). UNKNOWN CAUSE, POSSIBLY LIVING ON A ROUGH DIRT ROAD. STILL DO NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10126088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Chevrolet S10 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.

2002 Chevrolet S10 at 18,000 miles Westboro, MA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN DOORS ARE AJAR; TRUCK IS A CREW CAB. HAS CHILD SAFETY LOCKS.

NHTSA complaint #10119461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet S10 problems