1996 Chevrolet S10 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 3%of 668 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1996 Chevrolet S10, 3% of the 668 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10121812, filed 2005-05, 1,000 miles“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, filed 2003-12, 60,000 miles“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, filed 2007-11, 125,000 miles“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, filed 2006-04“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). …”
NHTSA complaint #717842, filed 2000-01Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 5% |
| 2003 | 4 | 2% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2001 | 7 | 2% |
| 2000 | 16 | 3% |
| 1999 | 7 | 3% |
| 1998 | 8 | 1% |
| 1997 | 7 | 1% |
| 1996 | 21 | 3% |
| 1995 | 12 | 1% |
| 1994 | 10 | 1% |
| 1991 | 3 | 2% |
| 1989 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 2 | 7% |
Other parts of the 1996 Chevrolet S10
222 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
100 complaintsAir bags
74 complaintsEngine cooling
71 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
68 complaintsElectrical system
41 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsEquipment
36 complaintsSuspension
22 complaintsFuel system
19 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Chevrolet S10
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology