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1989 Chevrolet S10

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet S10 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.

About this comparison →
48Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

2Recall campaigns

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5Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
198627
198737
198848
198929
1990174
1991180
1992
Compare all S10 years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
10Electrical System
6Tires
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4
All reported categories
Structure
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3Power Train
2Seats
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Suspension
1Visibility
1Wheels
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: 4 of 48 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 6 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 reports2 injury reports

Equipment complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1999
Equipment

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY,TOWING A TRAILER WITH 2 WATERCRAFT,THE SPARE TIRE HOLD CABLE BROKE;SENDING THE TIRE UNDER THE SEA-DOO TRAILER TEARING OFF THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE TRAILER. I HAVE NO IDEA IF ANYONE ELSE HIT THE TIRE,IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.I PURCHASED A NEW HOLDDOWN UNIT,SPARE TIRE BUT HAVENT REPAIRED THE TRAILER OR CONTACT…

Read full complaint

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY,TOWING A TRAILER WITH 2 WATERCRAFT,THE SPARE TIRE HOLD CABLE BROKE;SENDING THE TIRE UNDER THE SEA-DOO TRAILER TEARING OFF THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE TRAILER. I HAVE NO IDEA IF ANYONE ELSE HIT THE TIRE,IT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.I PURCHASED A NEW HOLDDOWN UNIT,SPARE TIRE BUT HAVENT REPAIRED THE TRAILER OR CONTACTED GM.

NHTSA ODI #703859

Official recalls

2

96V195000 · 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.

93V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Jan 14, 1993

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN 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

5

EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

EA92015 · High Idle Flare

Opened May 22, 1992 · Closed May 28, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92001 · High Idle Flare

Opened Jan 7, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE91057 · Headlight Switch Failure

Opened Mar 6, 1991 · Closed Jul 12, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available

DP90006 · Lift Gate Falls Off

Opened Apr 13, 1990 · Closed Jul 24, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other

LIFT GATE FALLS OFF