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1986 Chevrolet S10

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1986 Chevrolet S10 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1986 Chevrolet S10

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 22 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Seat Belts: 6 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
  • Interior Lighting: 2 reports
  • Seats: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
19838
198411
198522
198627
198737
198848
1989
Compare all S10 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Interior Lighting
2Seats
2
All reported categories
Tires
2Visibility
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Power Train
1Steering
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Steering

STEERING LINKAGE HAS VERY BAD SQUEAKING PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1986 S10 BLAZERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY TRUTH TO IT. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ABOUT 10/21/99. I…

Read full complaint

STEERING LINKAGE HAS VERY BAD SQUEAKING PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1986 S10 BLAZERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY TRUTH TO IT. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ABOUT 10/21/99. IF YOU HAVE NO INFO, CAN YOU DIRECT ME WHERE I COULD CONTACT SOMEONE WHO MAY? THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #729462

Recall campaigns

1

86V140000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 21, 1986

TIRE AND WHEEL INFORMATION ON CERTIFICATION LABEL MAY BE INCORRECT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 120.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: INSTALL CERTIFIED LABEL WITH CORRECT INFORMATION.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

3

PE90039 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure

Opened Feb 5, 1990 · Closed Jun 29, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

EA89003 · Rear Axle Shaft

Opened Nov 7, 1988 · Closed Aug 24, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

PE88047 · Rear Axle Failure

Opened Apr 19, 1988 · Closed Nov 7, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.