1999 Chevrolet S10

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S10 years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

231Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1999 Chevrolet S10

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 231 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 34 reports
Seats: 33 reports
Power Train: 28 reports
Structure: 28 reports
Air Bags: 27 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all S10 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

All reported categories

Engine And Engine Cooling

7 Vehicle Speed Control

7 Fuel System, Gasoline

5 Latches/locks/linkages

3 Electronic Stability Control (esc)

1 Interior Lighting

1 Service Brakes

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

89 reports with mileage · 142 unknown

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 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports2 fire reports20 injury reports

Fuel System, Other complaints

5 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2005

Fuel System, Other

NOTICED GAS GAUGE WAS DROPPING TO EMPTY WHEN I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS. KEPT AN EYE ON IT AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. NOW MY GAS GAUGE DOES NOT READ AT ALL. I CAN BE ON EMPTY AND IT READS THAT I HAVE MORE THAN A HALF TANK LEFT. SEVERLY TIMES I HAVE ALMOST RUN OUT OF GAS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW HAVE TO WATCH MY MILEAGE …

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10119765

81,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004

Fuel System, Other

THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TWICE WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10103441

50,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004

Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE GAS GAUGE AND FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. GAS GAUGE FAILED TO READ THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL IN TANK. THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL STATE INSPECTION.*AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10053533

50,000 miles · Jan 3, 2003

Fuel System, Other

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELT GAS FUMES. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LINE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE TRANSMISSION OR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE , THAT CAUSE A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001950

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001

Fuel System, Other

GAS GAUGE DID NOT SHOW PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK, EXAMPLE: JUST FILLED TANK AND GAUGE SHOWED 1/4 OR 1/2 TANK. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, AND COULD NOT EFFECTIVELY REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #896886

Recall campaigns

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect 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.

PE99009 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity

Opened Feb 1, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999

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

ALLEGED THAT THE FUEL TANK MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PUNCTURE IN CERTAIN CRASH MODES

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.