IllustrationBOTH TAILGATE CABLES HAVE BROKEN. THE FIRST HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR A YEARS, THE SECOND SNAPPED AS I WAS UNLOADING A HEAVY GARBAGE CAN. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT AS THE CAN FELL TO THE GROUND. *JB ALSO THE GLUE HAS FAILED ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND REAR WINDOW LOCK.
1994 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 40 of 963 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 520 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 239 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
121 crash reports7 fire reports30 injury reports
Structure complaints
20 reportsI OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 2WD REGULAR CAB PICKUP. THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY TRUCK ARE EITHER FAILING OR HAVE FAILED. I DO NOT USE MY VEHICLE FOR ANY SPECIAL PURPOSES, JUST NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THROUGH THE REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF MY TAILGATE MY RIGHT-SIDE CABLE HAS SNAPPED, AND MY LEFT-SIDE CABLE IS FREYING AND I EXPE…
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I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 2WD REGULAR CAB PICKUP. THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY TRUCK ARE EITHER FAILING OR HAVE FAILED. I DO NOT USE MY VEHICLE FOR ANY SPECIAL PURPOSES, JUST NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THROUGH THE REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF MY TAILGATE MY RIGHT-SIDE CABLE HAS SNAPPED, AND MY LEFT-SIDE CABLE IS FREYING AND I EXPECT TO SNAP IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF THE LEFT-SIDE CABLE SNAPS THERE WILL BE NOTHING KEEPING THE TAILGATE FROM FALLING OFF. I AM AFRAID THAT WHEN IT FAILS IT WILL BE UNDER LOAD AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED.*AK
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, 4X4 COMPONENTS, DOOR HINGE, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF AT 70 MPH., AT THIS TIME WE HAVE TO STOP AND WATER DOWN THE FRONT BRAKE AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER 20 MILES AT A TIME PLEASE C…
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WE HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, 4X4 COMPONENTS, DOOR HINGE, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL FELL OFF AT 70 MPH., AT THIS TIME WE HAVE TO STOP AND WATER DOWN THE FRONT BRAKE AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER 20 MILES AT A TIME PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH INFO ON THIS VEHICLE???
FRONT BRAKES GRAB AFTER TRUCK SITS IN RAIN OR OTHER WET WEATHER CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROL. *MJS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM (VIBRATION, BANGING IN THE FRONT END, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS), OWNER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND DRIVE TRAIN HOWEVER NOT RECTIFIED, FINAL DIAGNOSIS REVEALED FRAME WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES WHICH CAUSED EXCES…
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM (VIBRATION, BANGING IN THE FRONT END, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS), OWNER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND DRIVE TRAIN HOWEVER NOT RECTIFIED, FINAL DIAGNOSIS REVEALED FRAME WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS. MJS
WHILE HOOKING THE BOAT TRAILER TO THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER APPLIED HIS FOOT TO THE RUBBER BUMPER AND IT SNAPPED RIGHT OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THERE ARE LEAVES ACCUMULATED UNDER THE COWLING AND BEING SUCKED INTO THE FAN MOTOR. WHILE DRIVING THEY COME OUT OF THE VENTS INSIDE THE CAR ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, GM CONTACTED AND STATED THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL, DEALER CONTACTED AND VEHICLE HAS NO WARRANTY. *AK
SHIELD FOR GAS TANK HOLDS WATER DUE TO DESIGN RESULTING IN LEAKAGE DUE TO RUST.
CAB FLOOR CRACKED AT FRONT SEAT, LEFT ANCHOR. NUMEROUS CRACKES EMANATING FROM MOUNTING POINT IN CAB FLOOR. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF METAL.
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS CONTINUE TO FAIL.
Official recalls
599V193000 · 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.
97V096001 · Seat Belts
Jun 12, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
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.
94V228000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 21, 1994
A VACUUM HOSE CAN DETACH FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AS A RESULT OF ENGINE BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN INCREASED ENGINE IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AFTER DEPLETION OF THE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CLAMP ON THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSIST.
94V014000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jan 26, 1994
THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPES WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND THE VENT TUBE DURING A TEST. THE LOSS OF FUEL WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, IT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPES AND THE VENT TUBE TO CRACK. IF THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED, FUEL LEAKAGE WOULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE ON THESE VEHICLES.
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
PE96048 · Loss Of Steering Control
Opened Jul 19, 1996 · Closed Nov 13, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
lower clamp of the steering linkage intershaft may separate fro steering gear shaft due to disengagement of clamp bolt and/or improper fit of the lower clamp with the steering shaft.
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.
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