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

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3Investigations

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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2003

Latches/locks/linkages

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE TWICE NOW ON MY 1999 CHEVY S-10. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINDER HANDLE TWICE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED MORE. DUE TO THESE RECURRANT PROBLEMS ARE A DEFALT. THE HANDLES SEEM TO BE "SNAPPING" OF WITH NO WARNING, AND I FEEL THAT T…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10051416

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003

Latches/locks/linkagesSeats

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO, DRIVER'S RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE SEAT NOT TO ADJUST. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042114

30,000 miles · Apr 22, 2003

Latches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

TWO FOLD COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PART. THIRD DOOR HANDLE ON EXT CAB CHEVROLET S-10 BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE WOULD DEPRESS BUT WOULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. IT PARTIALLY UNLATCHES, BUT WON'T OPEN UNTIL I BUMP THE DOOR TO SECURE THE LATCH, THEN REPEAT THE PROCESS A SECOND TIME. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE HANDLE WILL STILL ONLY OPEN THE DOOR ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME & FEELS AS THOUGH IT COULD BREAK OFF IN MY HAND EVERY TIME I USE IT. I WAS INFORMED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016289

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.