RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet S10 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Nov 12, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 668 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet S10 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2007

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208722
Incident
Oct 5, 2007
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 2006

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. *NM

NHTSA ID
10154910
Incident
Oct 18, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed May 22, 2005

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 ID
10121812
Incident
May 21, 2005
Mileage
1,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10060201
Incident
Feb 29, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2003

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051138
Incident
Dec 22, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed May 31, 2003

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. *TT

NHTSA ID
10020819
Incident
May 12, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
880144
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 9, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
739082
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 4, 2000

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
872301
Incident
Aug 23, 2000
Heating & air conditioningExterior lighting
Filed May 3, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
722232
Incident
Oct 23, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2000

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
717842
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
855474
Incident
Sep 17, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 12, 1999

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
850391
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 12, 1999

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 ID
713180
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
709093
Incident
Jul 23, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 25, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
707886
Incident
May 1, 1999
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Apr 6, 1999

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 *ML

NHTSA ID
836526
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 1999

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 ID
703206
Incident
Dec 12, 1998
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jan 29, 1997

LIGHTS FLICKER ON/OFF.

NHTSA ID
514298
Incident
Nov 16, 1996
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Jun 16, 1996

SHORT IN DIRECTIONAL LAMPS. *AK

NHTSA ID
505563
Incident
Jun 1, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .