IllustrationPARKED ON SLIGHT DRIVEWAY, 5 SPD-TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN REVERSE ONCE ENGAGED. TRUCK HAD TO BE PULLED OUT FROM REAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
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.
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 →48Owner complaints
Model-year median: 42.5
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
5InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1989 Chevrolet S10
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 48 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 5 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: 10 reports
- Electrical System: 6 reports
- Tires: 6 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
- Fuel System, Gasoline: 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: 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
Power Train complaints
2 reportsMAN-TRAN: WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE, SOMETIMES CUTTING OFF COMPLETELY. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. TT
Recall campaigns
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.
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 ↗
Defect investigations
5EA94029 · 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.