Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Chevrolet S10 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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. …
According to owners manual airbags are supposed to be deployed at a threshold of 9-18 MPH. Thy did not. Contacted GM dealership and they do not want to do anything with this problem. I need your help. My hand is in a cast and according to my doctor May need an operation to mend the torn ligaments in my hand. I hit the steering wheel with my chest. Yet the GM manufacturer will not do anything other than explain to me how the air bags work. A vehicle cross my path not yielding to traffic and crossed my front about 15 feet away. I hit the the other vehicle in t-bone type accident going at 40 MPH, spunned the other vehicle about three times and my air bag in my Chevy s-10 truck did not deploy. GM has placed this file on the backburner and without action. They do not want to take responsibility for my safety.
Traveling at 40+ MPH on a major highway, the driver either became unconsius for unknown reasons and went off the road. I went over an enbankment and into a ditch head on totaling the car. The airbag did not deploy but the car was totaled. The collision was a front impact into a hard ditch due to the drought status at the time. The front end was wrecked beyond repair and the airbag did not deploy. I feel that it malfunctiioned and want it reported before someone gets killed. I have reported to the insurance co and to GM.
Concerns with air bags not deploying during an accident. 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.
Vehicle stopped at the light when another vehicle rearended it, knocking the first vehcle into a telephone pole. Then it bounced off of the pole, hit the corner of a brick wall and knocked into the curb. Upon impact, passenger's airbag didn't deploy. Car was totaled. Consumer talked with the dealer about airbag. The dealer told him that the airbag didn't have to deploy.
Consumer was driving on the highway going 50mph, another vechicle made a u turn in the middle of the street, consumer thought that vehicle was going to turn in the opposite of his vehicle, an dhe veered over to the shoulder on wet pavement to slow down. Then, veered onto the dry pavement, and the anti-lock system didn't kick in. Also the airbag didn't deploy.
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.
While driving at 40.MPH on a dirt road, consumer tried to go around a deer in the road, brakes failed and vehicle lost control and went up an enbankment, rolled down the enbakement. Vehicle went sliding sideways and didn't slow down. Upon impact, driver' side air bag didn't deploy.
Consumer was driving on the road at approximately35 MPH, going west, another vehicle was going north, ran traffic light, causing consumer to hit other vehcile in the side. Consumer's air bag did not deploy, and consumer received injuries to chest. Dealer/manufacturer notified.
Airbag complaints in other S10 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Chevrolet S10?
NHTSA has 74 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Chevrolet S10, 11% of the model year's 670 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (65 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Chevrolet S10, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 170,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 67 crashes, 0 fires and 42 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.