IllustrationCONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS JUST FLUSHED APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR BEFORE INCIDENT OCCURRED.*AK
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.
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
90–25K
2225–50K
2850–75K
1475–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
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
Power Train complaints
28 reportsTHE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT FELT AS IF THE GEAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT WATER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION BREATHER WHICH CAUSED THE FLUID TO TURN PINK, AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE ENGINE STALLED ON OCCASIONS. *AK *JB
AFTER A PREVIOUS DAY OF UNEVENTFUL USE,I NOTICED ON THE MORNING OF 10/1/02,THAT AFTER STARTING, THE TRUCK WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND REVERSE.WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE,THE VEHICLE FROZE.THE TRUCK WAS THEN TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP,AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED.THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT …
Read full complaint
AFTER A PREVIOUS DAY OF UNEVENTFUL USE,I NOTICED ON THE MORNING OF 10/1/02,THAT AFTER STARTING, THE TRUCK WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND REVERSE.WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE,THE VEHICLE FROZE.THE TRUCK WAS THEN TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP,AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED.THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AS WELL AS A TORQUE CONVERTER,WHICH WAS LITERALY TORN APART.THE TRANMISSION SPECIALIST ASKED ME HOW MANY MILES WERE ON MY TRUCK,AND WHEN I TOLD HIM, (ONLY 56,000) HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURED IN A VEHICLE WITH SUCH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE.IN FACT AFTER EXAMINING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS MORE CLOSELY,HE CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURED AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY WAY IN WHICH THESE PARTS WERE MACHINED.THE TOTAL COST FOR ALL OF THIS WAS AROUND $1,284.00.ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT GM,BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSABILITY.I UNDERSTOOD,AS I EXPLAINED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT.THAT MY 36,000 MILE WARRENTY WAS UP,HOWEVER SINCE THIS FAILURE WAS AS A RESULT OF A FLAW IN MANUFACTURING,AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR I WAS WITHIN MY RIGHTS TO ASK GM TO ACCEPT RESPONSABILITY AND REIMBURSE MY EXPENSES(AT LEAST PARTLY).THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S FORM LETTER RESPONSE WAS "I"M SORRY WE CAN"T HELP YOU".MY REASON FOR WRITING ALL OF THIS IS IN THE HOPES THAT MORE ANGRY CONSUMERS LIKE ME WILL COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND CREATE A VOICE LOUD ENOUGH THAT GM WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO IGNORE.B.W.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DESTRUCTION OF THE CLUTCH AND DANGEROUS LOSS OF DRIVE POWER DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF GRASS OR OTHER DEBRIS SUCKED INTO CLUTCH DURING ORDINARY AND CUSTOMARY USE. *TT THE CONSUMER HAS HE GRASS PACKED OLD CLUTCH IN HIS POSSESSION*NM
VEHICLE STOPPED ON INTERSTATE RT. 81 NEAREST EXIT ALTMAR, NY. TRANSMISSION CEASED.*AK
WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING (DISENGAGED AND LOST POWER). THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND FATALITIES. THIS HAPPENED ON A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 70,000 MILES THAT HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE ABOUT 3-5 INCHES FROM THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING TRUCK,IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED,THEN WHEN VEHICLE GOT TO 50010 LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY FIXED IT AGAIN. NOW IT COMES ON FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GOES BACK OFF.,THEN BACK ON AGAIN. SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE TRUCK WAS PAR…
Read full complaint
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING TRUCK,IT TOOK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED,THEN WHEN VEHICLE GOT TO 50010 LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY FIXED IT AGAIN. NOW IT COMES ON FOR A FEW DAYS THEN GOES BACK OFF.,THEN BACK ON AGAIN. SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED, AS WITH THE 3RD DOOR HANDLE ALSO. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARINGS WENT OUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SEEMS THAT EITHER OF THE COMPONENTS MENTIONED SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED WITH THE MILEAGE AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS CAUSED BY A POORLY BUILT VEHICLE BY GENERAL MOTORS.MOST OF THE PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WHICH IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
CONSUMER WAS GOING 5MPH AND REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREACHING HALT IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. DEALER FOUND A FACTORY FLAW HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN REAR END DIFFERENTIAL. INSIDE OF DIFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED, BUT WASN'T ABLE TO FIND STRESS POINT. THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT UP & DOWN THE LINE.*AK *SLC
LEFT OUTER DOOR SCRAPES FELL OFF. NLM
Official recalls
0No 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA05008 · 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