Problems · by component
1996 Chevrolet S-10 service brakes, hydraulic problems
203 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet S-10 cite service brakes, hydraulic, 30% of all 686 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
203
30% of all complaints
Crashes
37
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED FIVE TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,574 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
“1996 CHEVY S10 ATTEMPTED TO SLOW BUT HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. CONSUMER THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD, DROVE ONTO THE CEMENT CURB, AND STRUCK A POLE. *NJ UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE AND REAR WERE LEAKING. THE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS VERY LOW AND IN FACT WAS EMPTY ON THE HALF DESIGNATED FOR THE REAR BRAKE. THE DRIVER ADMITTED USING THE WRONG TYPE OF BRAKE LINE FITTING WHEN HE DID THE BRAKE SERVICING. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0433-91 THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON AND AROUND THE REAR AXLE. UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB”
“I READ WITH GREAT INTEREST TODAY THAT GM IS RECALLING SEVERAL PICKUPS AND SUVS FOR THE INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF ABS IN LOW SPEED STOPS. I WAS SURPRISED, HOWEVER, THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT NAMED. I DRIVE A 1996 CHEVY S-10 PICKUP, AND, ON THREE OCCASIONS, HAVE HAD THE ABS 'KICK IN' WHEN DOING A VERY GRADUAL STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT. TWICE I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ONCE THERE WAS NO ONE AND I MERELY DRIFTED INTO THE INTERSECTION BY A FEW FEET. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU INCREASE THE SCOPE OF YOUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE MY YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT HAVE DRIVEN YOUR CURRENT RECALL. V/R, KEN ZEMACH. *NM”
“AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING IN THE LOT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A LAMP POST AT A SPEED OF 5 MPH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC”
“WHEN TRAVELING ON WET PAVEMENT AND UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOTICED A LOUD NOISE, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, VEHICLE GOT INTO A SKID, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. NOTE-EVERY TIME IT IS WET.*AK”
“WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THERE IS A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS AS IF IT IS DRAGGING ON GRAVEL. NO STOPPING OCCURS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN CHECK AND ARE IN GOOD CONDITION.”
Showing 6 of 203 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.