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

Unknown Or Other complaints

6 reports

Clear category filter

35,542 miles · Dec 28, 2006

Unknown Or Other

SPARE TIRE RETENTION FAILED CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PICK UP WHILE DRIVING. SPARE TIRE WAS NOT RECOVERED. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SAY "SORRY I'M AFRAID YOUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED". UPON FURTHER REVIEW IT APPEARS THE STEEL CABLE RETAINING THE TIRE FATIGUED AND BR…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10177260

140,000 miles · Jul 8, 2005

Unknown Or Other

PASSENGER SIDE TAILGATE CABLE SNAPPED AS A RESULT OF PREMATURE WEAR ON THE METAL INNER CABLE. NO WEIGHT WAS ON THE CABLE AT THE TIME OF BREAKING. NO INJURIES RESULTED, BUT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA ODI #10127893

35,000 miles · Mar 31, 2005

Unknown Or Other

I HAD A BODY SHOP TELL ME THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT FROM MANUFACTOR, THE HOOD HAS ALOT OF CHIPS THAT IS NOT FROM ANYTHING OR MOTHER NATURE. ITS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTOR. ALSO THE INSIDE DOOR HINGE PINS ARE RUSTED ON BOTH DOORS DUE TO WORKMANSHIP FROM FACTORY.

NHTSA ODI #10116151

15,478 miles · Jun 4, 2004

Unknown Or OtherVisibility

THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AT 15,478 MILES, 18,611 MILES AND 32,000 MILES AT THEIR EXPENSE. *AK AT 4300 MILES THE WATER PUMP GASKET AND REAR PINION GASKET LEAKED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10071969

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001

Power TrainSeatsUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #741978

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 1999

Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ODI #712838

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.