IllustrationMASTER CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
1988 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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 →37Owner complaints
Model-year median: 42.5
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1988 Chevrolet S10
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 37 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 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)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 6 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 4 reports
- Seat Belts: 4 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
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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: 0 of 37 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
37 reportsCAR WAS ON THE ROAD AND UNIROYAL MIDDLE TIRE TREAD SPLIT. *AK
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER DUE TO BAD SEAL. RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES. TT
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK. TT
DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND HIS HEAD HIT REAR WINDSHIELD. TT
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 15MPH, MADE AN ATTEMPT TO TILT WHEEL, SUDDENLY STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM COLUMN, NO PRIOR WARNING, DUE TO BOLTS BACKING OUT. TT
Recall campaigns
196V195000 · 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.
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
1PE90039 · 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.