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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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
48 reportsBRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
SEAT BELTS FAILED.
WIRING HARNESS: WAS DRIVING HOME AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE SIGNAL SWITCH. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT A FIRE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP IN THE MORNING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT WHEN THE WIRES AND SWITCH WERE PUT TOGETHER AT THE MANUFACTURER, THEY PUT GREASE ON THEM WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO …
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WIRING HARNESS: WAS DRIVING HOME AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE SIGNAL SWITCH. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT A FIRE. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP IN THE MORNING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT WHEN THE WIRES AND SWITCH WERE PUT TOGETHER AT THE MANUFACTURER, THEY PUT GREASE ON THEM WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO MELT. *AK
THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN LEANING FORWARD IN THE SEAT. *AK
FUEL INJECTION SOLENOID WIRING FAILED.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE BACKREST HINGE AND A HOLE IS NOW WORN INTO THE BELT FABRIC. HEADLIGHT SWITCH BROKE OFF. GAS PEDAL STUCK WHEN BLOWING SNOW MELTED ONTO THE WARM CABLE AND FLOWED BETWEEN THE OUTER SHIELD AND THE CABLE. IT THEN FROZE WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURE REACHED BELOW FREEZING. WHEN VEH…
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DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE BACKREST HINGE AND A HOLE IS NOW WORN INTO THE BELT FABRIC. HEADLIGHT SWITCH BROKE OFF. GAS PEDAL STUCK WHEN BLOWING SNOW MELTED ONTO THE WARM CABLE AND FLOWED BETWEEN THE OUTER SHIELD AND THE CABLE. IT THEN FROZE WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURE REACHED BELOW FREEZING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SHIFTED INTO GEAR, AND THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED THE VEHICLE SPED OFF AT ABOUT 40 MPH. ENGINE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF TO SLOW DOWN. A HEAT GUN WAS USED TO HEAT CABLE AND DRY IT OUT. OIL AND GREASE WAS APPLIED TO EXPOSED END OF CABLE TO PREVENT FUTURE FREEZING.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS CAUGHT UNDER THE BACKREST HINGE AND A HOLE IS NOW WORN INTO THE BELT FABRIC.
VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, ON DAILY BASIS, FAILS WITH SPONGY PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCURS WITH STEADY PRESSURE APPLIED ON PEDAL. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. *AK
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.
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
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