IllustrationWHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S REAR RIGHT AXLE BROKE OFF.THERE WAS AN CLOSED INVESTIGATION FOR THE REAR AXLE SHAFT EA89-003. *AK
1987 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet S10 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 1 of 27 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsTHE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM BROKE, CAUSING BELT NOT TO RETRACT INTO MECHANISM, AFTER RELEASING SEAT BELT FROM BELT BUCKLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
THE DRIVER'S FLOOR DOES NOT SECURE THE FLOOR MAT, CAUSING THE FLOORMAT TO HOLD THE GAS PEDAL, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER REPAIRING THE BRAKES SEEMED BETTER FOR A SHORT TIME, NOW BRAKES ARE IN SAME CONDITION AS BEFORE REPAIR SERVICE.
BRAKES LOCK UP/FAIL. REPLACED POWER BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDER/ CALIPERS AND DRUMS. *AK
FUEL TANK RUSTED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH WAS REPLACED, AND AFTER FIVE YEARS HAS RUSTED AGAIN, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE BECAUSE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.*JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, HEARD A LOUD NOISE; VEHICE HAD STOPPED MOVING & WAS COASTING; STEERED TO SIDE OF RD. TURNED IT OFF, LOOKED BENEATH VEHICLE & NOTICED REAR AXLE WAS SPLIT/BROKE IN HALF; REAR WHEELS TURNED OUTWARD. NOT AT DEALER. *AK
ENGINE FAILED.
Official recalls
296V195000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector
Oct 8, 1996
THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LOOSENS AT THE STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR COUPLING. WITH THIS LOOSENESS, THE YOKE PINCH BOLT CAN WEAR ON THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE IS NO LONGER AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPLINES AND THE BOLT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODY TO CHASSIS MOVEMENT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
87V021000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Feb 25, 1987
INNER TIE ROD TO RELAY ROD NUTS ON STEERING LINKAGE MAY BE IIMPROPERLY TORQUED AND NOT CRIMPED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO INNER TIE RODDISENGAGEMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A TRUCKCRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4PE90039 · 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
PE88002 · Frctr Of P/s Pump Brckt
Opened Oct 9, 1987 · Closed Apr 22, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
GENERAL MOTORS HAS DETERMINED THAT SOME 1987 GMC S/T MODEL TRUCKS MAYEXPERIENCE FRACTURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP SUPPORT BRACE. THISCONDITION CAN IN TURN LEAD TO POSSIBLE FRACTURE OF THE POWER STEERINGPUMP MOUNTING BRACKET AND/OR LOSS OF THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY DRIVEBELT. LOSS OF THE DRIVE BELT WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF A/C, GENERATOR,POWER STEERING ASSIST AND WATER PUMP OPERATION.ANALYSIS: THERE ARE NO REPORTS IN THE ODI LETTER FILE REGARDING THISPROBLEM.ALTHOUGH G.M. HAS 153 COMPLAINTS, MOST OFWHICH ARE WARRANTY CLAIMS, ONLY TWO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED THATWERE ALLEGDLY CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE P/S SYSTEM. P/S ASSIST FAILURESHOULD NOT NEGATE STEERING CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN APPRECIABLEINCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT.======