Problems · by component

1996 Chevrolet S-10 air bags problems

74 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet S-10 cite air bags, 11% of all 686 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
74
11% of all complaints
Crashes
67
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
42
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST HEAD ON MAINLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT WAS HARD THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF IN THE OTHER CAR BUT NEITHER ONE OF OURS WENT OFF. FOR ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE TRUCK WOULD STALL AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2014Steering, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10632572
“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED 1996 CHEVROLET S-10 WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES, INCLUDING WHIPLASH, A SWOLLEN HEAD, CUT AND SCRAPS, FACIAL ABRASIONS, AND INJURIES TO THE CHEST/LEGS/STOMACH AND A BLACK EYE. THE SEAT BELTS DID CONTAIN THE DRIVER TO THE SEAT. THE DRIVER HAD MARKS ON THE STOMACH LEFT FROM THE SEAT BELT. BUT, THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER SAVED HIM FROM FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HIS FACE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE BACK WINDOW WAS SHATTERED AND FRONT WINDOW BUSTED, AND THE DOOR CAME OPEN. . THE CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO AN URGENT CARE FACILITY. THE SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR CONSUMER'S COMPANY TOOK CARE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND DID NOT CALL THE POLICE. THE COMPANY PREPAIRED A REPORT AND HAD PICTURES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2005Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10130562
“I WAS DRIVING A CHEVY S-10 WHEN A LADY PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF ABOUT 55-60 MPH. I ENDED UP HITTING HER CAR AND IN TURN MY TRUCK ROLLED OVER SEVERAL (6-10) TIMES. THE WHOLE TRUCK FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER AND SIDE TO SIDE AND TOP TO BOTTOM WAS DESTROYED. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. THE SEATBELT DID ITS JOB BUT NO AIRBAG CAME OUT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED FROM A LOCAL CAR DEALER HERE IN CONCORD 2 YEARS AGO. I AM VERY BRUISED AND CUT AND VERY UPSET THAT JUST MAYBE IF THAT AIRBAG HAD WORKED I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN ALL THAT GLASS ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FLYING MY WAY. I KNOW THAT AN AIRBAG WORKS WHEN IT IS HIT JUST RIGHT, BUT AS I STATED THERE IS NO PART ON THAT TRUCK THAT WAS NOT HIT INCLUDING THE FRONT BUMPER AS IT IS ALMOST OFF THE TRUCK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS TAKING CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AS WE SPEAK BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS PICTURES AND WITNESSES TO THIS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THAT I DID NOT PUT ALL MY SAFETY ASSURANCES INTO THIS AIRBAG. THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CHRISTINE FLORO”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2005Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10128805
“CONCERNS WITH AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING DURING AN ACCIDENT.*MR THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE HOOD. GM CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT AND CONCLUDED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED AND THEREFORE THEY WERE NOT RELIABLE FOR DAMAGES. CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE REASON FOR NONDEPLOYMENT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AFTER READING "WHAT MAKES AN AIR BAG INFLATE" IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *PH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2004Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10091787
“WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH DRIVER'S BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, HIT A GUARD RAIL, AND ROLLED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED BUT DRIVER REFUSED TO GO WITH THE ANBULANCE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2004Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10073543
“WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH, AND BRAKE BOOSTER MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, WATER PUMP WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2002Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Air bagsODI 8005892

Showing 6 of 74 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.