IllustrationI HAVE HAD THE HEATER CORE FAIL TWICE 21, 000 MILES AND 44,000 MILES. ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE HAD IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD HEATER CORE FAIL. *AK
1993 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than 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: 9 of 233 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 135 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
36 crash reports11 fire reports19 injury reports
Visibility complaints
10 reportsINCORRECT BONDING MATERIAL USED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL. YH
THE AC / HEATER BLOWER REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS. *YC
INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELDWIPER SWITCH SHORT CIRCUITED; WINDSHIELD WASHER SWITCH BROKEN; PARKING BRAKE RELEASE CABLE SNAPPED! *AK
HEATER COIL IS CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO BLOW THROUGH DEFROSTER VENTS, AND CAUSING POOL OF ANTI-FREEZE FLUID ONTO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO MIST THROUGH DEFROST VENTS.
LEAKING HEATER CORE CAUSED ANTIFREESE SOLUTION TO BLOW THROUGH THE DEFROST VENTS AND SPRAY THE DRIVER AND PASENGER IN THE FACE.
HEATER CORE BLOWS ANTIFREEZE SOLUTION THROUGHT THE DEFROSTER VENTS, AND SPRAY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN THE FACE, EYES, AND POOL ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE.
#EA94-038 FRONT AND REAR BRAKE WAS REPLACE TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, #A94-029 THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. NOISE COMING FROM REAR. EHCU MODULE REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES, REPLACED FRONT PADS, AND TURNED ROTORS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON L…
Read full complaint
#EA94-038 FRONT AND REAR BRAKE WAS REPLACE TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, #A94-029 THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. NOISE COMING FROM REAR. EHCU MODULE REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES, REPLACED FRONT PADS, AND TURNED ROTORS. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY FAILED. TRANSMISSION JERKS. WIPER BLADES REPLACED, DID NOT CLEAN WELL. *SLC
UNIROYAL TIRE BLEW OUT. *SKD
Official recalls
399V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
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.
93V105000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Jun 21, 1993
THE OUTBOARD REAR SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY WILL NOT RELEASE THE WEBBING FROM THE RETRACTED POSITION. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE OUTBOARD REAR SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY WILL NOTRELEASE THE WEBBING FROM THE RETRACTED POSITION, SAFETY BELT USE FOR THE SEATOCCUPANT IS IMPOSSIBLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ANY BELT THAT DOES NOT FREELY EXTEND FROM THE RETRACTED POSITION.
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
5EA99018 · Spare Tire Separation From Vehicle
Opened Jun 30, 1999 · Closed Oct 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
No summary supplied.
PE99004 · Separation Of Spare Tire From Vehicle
Opened Jan 15, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
ALLEGED THAT WIRE CABLE/WINCH ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY UDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE TIRE TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
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.
PE94046 · Abs Braking System Fails
Opened Jun 17, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available