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: 34 of 665 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 209 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
110 crash reports11 fire reports50 injury reports
What owners actually said
665 reports
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2000
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I HAD IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW IT IS LEAKING FLUID AGAIN. I AM IN THE MILITARY IN GERMANY, AND THE GERAMAN OPEL DEALARSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD A ONE YEAR WARRANTY, SO NOW I HAVE PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THE TRUCK HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR 4 YEARS, AND IT'S ALREADY HAD T…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I HAD IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW IT IS LEAKING FLUID AGAIN. I AM IN THE MILITARY IN GERMANY, AND THE GERAMAN OPEL DEALARSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD A ONE YEAR WARRANTY, SO NOW I HAVE PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THE TRUCK HAS VERY LOW MILES FOR 4 YEARS, AND IT'S ALREADY HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS GO ON IT. I'M NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THIS HAS ALL TURNED OUT, BECAUSE I REALLY DO LIKE THE TRUCK, BUT NOW I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN, AND I HAVE WARNED ALL MY FRIENDS NOT TO AS WELL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722485
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2000
Power Train
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS GONE OUT ON ME TWICE. NOW.I WAS WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH S-10 PICKUPS? *AK
NHTSA ODI #722344
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2000
Suspension
BALL JOINTS BROKE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS 2 YEARS AGO. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861488
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2000
EquipmentExterior Lighting
THE LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT, THE AIR COMPRESSOR AN EXPENSIVE DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722232
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. TRUCK TOTALLED. *AK.ET.
NHTSA ODI #860943
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2000
Steering
BOLT WHICH HOLDS THE STEERING SHAFT TO ANOTHER SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PROBLEM REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #860427
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2000
Steering
THE BOLT ON THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM ONE OF THE MEMBERS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859983
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
THERE WAS A BATTERY LEAK. FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE WIRING HARNESS COVER AND ATE THROUGH TO SEVERAL WIRES. ALSO, DEFECTIVE BRAKES CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO WEAR OUT AND ROTORS TO CORRODE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859158
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO ENGINE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO CYLINDERS. ENGINE HAD TO BE RE-BORED. *AK
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND THE BRAKE LINE. IF THE CLEARANCE IS 6MM OR LESS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE CLIP AND IF THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND BRAKE LINE, THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
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.
THE TOP COAT PAINT SEVERELY PEELS DUE TO OVERBAKING OF THE POWDER PRIMER PRIOR TO THE TOP COAT APPLICATION. SINCE THE WINDSHIELD PRIMER AND ADHESIVE ADHERE TO THE TOP COAT PAINT ONTHE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGE, THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT STAY IN PLACE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 212.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.
SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE TRANSMISSIONS COULD SEIZE AND LOCK THE REAR DRIVE WHEELS WHILE THE TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION MAIN SHAFT OUTPUT TORQUE USING A SPECIAL TOOL. IF THE OUTPUT TORQUE DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED.
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
4
EA99018 · 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
EA97004 · Seat Belt Webbing Separation
Opened Feb 28, 1997 · Closed Aug 5, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
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.
1996 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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