IllustrationPER DELARESHIP, REVERSE BAND IN TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND SPREAD FIBERS THROUGHOUT TRANSMISSION AND CONVERTER. TRNASMISSION MUST BE REBUILT AT COST OF $1,350. HIGH MILEAGE DUE TO DAILY COMMUTE OF 150 MILES. IT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT THAT REVERSE GEAR OF TRANSMISSION SHOULD WEAR OUT AT 58,000 MILES. *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 reportsCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND DRIVESHAFT BROKE, PUSHING VEHICLE UPWARD, ALMOST INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER'S FOR NINE MONTHS, DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO FIXED IT.*AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, AND CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT THE GEARS BY HAND WHEN IT SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC. WHEN IN TRAFFIC AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT PICKUP. *AK
DRIVESHAFT BROKE IN TWO WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 68 MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO & THEN GO BACK TO 50. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON/TRANSMISSION STUCK IN ONE GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD PROBLEMS REPAIRED. ALL PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT AND NOT READILY DUPLICATED. SINCE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEMS HAVE RETURNED.*AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO FRIST OR SECOND OR THIRD GEARS. ALSO VEHICLE GRINDS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML
1) ONE MORNING, I GOT TO WORK AND OPENED THE 3RD DOOR TO GET MY WORK RELATED ITEMS OUT. AFTER WORK WHEN I WAS GOING HOME, THE 3RD DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE HANDLE WOULD MOVE, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. HERTIAGE SAID THAT THE BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. ON 23 JULY, THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) WHEN …
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1) ONE MORNING, I GOT TO WORK AND OPENED THE 3RD DOOR TO GET MY WORK RELATED ITEMS OUT. AFTER WORK WHEN I WAS GOING HOME, THE 3RD DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE HANDLE WOULD MOVE, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. HERTIAGE SAID THAT THE BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. ON 23 JULY, THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. 2) WHEN I HAVE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE ENGINE IS BEING MAXED OUT. IT TAKES LONGER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO "KICK IN". TO ME, IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. THANK YOU!
2/25/99 TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO SERRA CHEV IN JACKSON FOR CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT, SMELL OF BURNING ODOR, DRIVERS DOOR HARD TO SHUT, DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKS UP ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. 3/1/99 ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH. TOWED TO SERRA CHEVROLET. WIRE WAS FOUND BURNT AT TRANS AND DIST. 3/6/99 TRUCK AGAIN QUIT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. …
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2/25/99 TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO SERRA CHEV IN JACKSON FOR CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT, SMELL OF BURNING ODOR, DRIVERS DOOR HARD TO SHUT, DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKS UP ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. 3/1/99 ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH. TOWED TO SERRA CHEVROLET. WIRE WAS FOUND BURNT AT TRANS AND DIST. 3/6/99 TRUCK AGAIN QUIT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH IN 2ND GEAR. TIRES LOCKED UP AND TRUCK COASTED TO STOP. THIS IS A 4 LANE,55MPH HIGHWAY. WAS NEARLY HIT BY VEHICLE BEHIND. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING. TRUCK IS AGAIN SITTING AT SERRA CHEVROLET HERE IN JACKSON. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS IMMEDIATE RECALL FOR SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING AND TWICE FOR SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
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