Visibility. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

61 crash reports9 fire reports36 injury reports

What owners actually said

613 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2006

Seats

THE LEVERS THAT RECLINE THE SEATS BROKE OFF AT THE WELDS. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS A RESULT OF A POOR WELDING PROCESS. THE BREAK WAS AT THE HEAT AFFECTED ZONE AND THE METAL WAS NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153690

112,000 miles · Mar 22, 2006

Structure

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I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY S-10 AND THE LEFT TAILGATE CABLE BROKE. IT BROKE WHEN I OPENED THE TAILGATE AND SAT DOWN ON IT. I DID NOT GET HURT BUT I THINK A CABLE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD SOME WEIGHT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE CABLES RETAIN MOISTURE WHICH CAUSES THEM TO RUST OUT AND MINE WAS RUSTED. I LEFT THE CABLE ON AND IT DAMAGED THE TAILGATE BY PUTTING A DENT IN IT AND CRACKING THE PAINT. I CUT THE CABLE SO IT WOULD NOT DAMAGE THE TAILGATE ANY MORE. MY BROTHER TOLD ME I COULD USE HIS CABLE FROM HIS TAILGATE AND I AM. I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. I HEARD THEY MIGHT RECALL THIS SO I DECIDED TO PUT MY INPUT BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. I ALSO BOUGHT REPLACEMENT CABLES, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO PUT THEM ON BECAUSE GM USES A BIG RIVET. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE'S CABLES ON THEIR 95-2003 S-10'S. THANKS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10153408

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2006

Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. NOTHING I DO HELPS BRING THEM BACK ON. SOMETIMES THROUGH THE DRIVE IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE TURNING BACK ON, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T AT ALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10153280

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2006

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS USED TO WORK AT VARYING SPEEDS, REGARDLESS IF THEY WERE ON OR NOT. NOW, THEY RARELY EVER WORK. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE IT WAS POURING, DURING RUSH HOUR, ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. I LOST ALL VISIBILITY AND THERE WASN'T A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ON. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WIPERS…

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NHTSA ODI #10152562

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2006

Exterior Lighting

REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT. REPLACED AND NEW ONE BURNED OUT WITHIN 1 WEEK. REPLACED AND AGAIN IT BURNED OUT. WENT TO DEALER, AND WAS CHARGED >$30 TO REPLACE THE BULB. THEN IT BURNED OUT AND I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED A PART, AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE LABOR BECAUSE OF THE $30. BULB STILL BURNED OUT. DIDN'T REPLACE FOR O…

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NHTSA ODI #10152560

85,000 miles · Mar 10, 2006

Structure

ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET S-10, THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I REPLACED THAT CABLE AT SIGNIFICANT COST. NOW THE SECOND TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE IS BULGING DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION AND I EXPECT IT WILL SOON BREAK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152434

146,000 miles · Jan 24, 2006

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATING UNNECESSARILY . GM HAS A RECALL FOR 1999-2002 VEHICLES FOR SAME PROBLEM CAUSED BY CORROSION IN WHEEL SENSOR. SAW THE RECALL IN NEWSPAPER. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT AUCTION. ORIGINALLY WAS USED BY VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, APPARENTLY IT HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE 1999-2002 VEHIC…

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NHTSA ODI #10148457

90,000 miles · Jan 19, 2006

Structure

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET S-10. THE CABLES THAT HOLD UP THE TAILGATE BROKE ON ME WHILE I WAS LOADING CARGO INTO THE BED. THE BROKEN STRAPS HAS SINCE CAUSED MY TAILGATE TO FALL OFF WHILE GOING DOWN A ROUGH ROAD. THE TAILGATE IS NOW SCRATCHED AND DENTED FROM THE INITIAL BREAKING AND FROM FALLING OFF. I HAVE NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT T…

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NHTSA ODI #10148093

36,000 miles · Jan 16, 2006

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK SOMETIMES OR NOT AT ALL. OR THEY STAY ON UNTIL I TURN TRUCK OFF. IF I OPEN HOOD AND SHAKE CONNECTION THEY COME ON. EVENTUALLY THEY STOP WORKING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147838

40,000 miles · Jan 4, 2006

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. VERY DANGEROUS DURING FOG, RAIN AND SNOW. THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ALREADY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 MODELS OR I HAVE RECEIVED A OLDER MODEL MOTOR IN MY VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146922

Official recalls

00V374000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Nov 13, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS CONTAINING A NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE (NIMH) BATTERY PACK. THESE VEHICLES CONTAIN SOFTWARE WITHIN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE INTENDED TO DISABLE THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN IF THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WITH THE BATTERY PACK EXCEEDS A PRESCRIBED VALUE. AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL ILLUMINATE THE "SERVICE NOW" AND "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" TELLTALES AND CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN A REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODEL INSTEAD OF BEING DISABLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TELLTALES ARE IGNORED AND THE AFFECTED VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN, HEAT COULD BUILD UP AND A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REVISED SOFTWARE IN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE.

00V220000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.

00V159000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 16, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS. A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FUEL-FIRED HEATER FILL PIPE GROUND STRAP CONTACTS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PIPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD WEAR OFF THE CORROSION PROTECTION ON THE BRAKE PIPE, LEADING TO PREMATURE CORROSION AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY. WHEN BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY IS LOST, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE GROUND STRAP ATTACHMENT, INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE FOR WEAR, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE IF NECESSARY.

98V177000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

Aug 4, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC DRIVE. RAPID FOGGING OF THE INTERIOR GLASS CAN OCCUR WITHIN TWO MINUTES AFTER THE HEAT IS TURNED ON IF (1) THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 35 AND 76 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND (2) WATER HAS COLLECTED ON THE HEAT EXCHANGER DURING PREVIOUS OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF RAPID FOGGING WERE TO OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IT COULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VISION INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISING THEM TO FOLLOW A "STOP AND WAIT" PROCEDURE TO HELP AVOID WINDOW FOGGING WHILE DRIVING.

97V208001 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Nov 25, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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

EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables

Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.

RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break

Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.

EA99012 · Post Collision Fuel System Integrity

Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

ALLEGE THAT IN CERTAIN SIDE IMPACT CRASHES, THE SUBJECT FUEL TANKS MAY CONTACT THE PROP SHAFT REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT COMPONENTS WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO PUNCTURE THE TANK.