IllustrationCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40-30MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. ALSO, LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE ROTOR. DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE.*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
What owners actually said
231 reportsSEAT RECLINER HANDLE BREAKS OFF WITH USE. IF HANDLE COMES OFF WHEN SEAT IS RECLINED THE TRUCK CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE CHEVROLET DEALERS HAVE CONTACTED GM BUT THERE IS NO LONG TERM SOLUTION. IS THE OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY REPAIR AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED?*…
Read full complaint
SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BREAKS OFF WITH USE. IF HANDLE COMES OFF WHEN SEAT IS RECLINED THE TRUCK CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE CHEVROLET DEALERS HAVE CONTACTED GM BUT THERE IS NO LONG TERM SOLUTION. IS THE OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY REPAIR AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED?*AK
WHILE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, 1400 POUND COW WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROUND IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. THEN IT HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN IMPACT OF APPROX. 15-20 MPH, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30MPH, ENGINE WILL STAY AT MID-IDLE (2500RPM) AND NOT GO DOWN TO 900RPM UNTIL COMPLETELY STOPPED. HAS CAUSED A RUN-A-WAY ENGINE ONCE. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE- TOP HINGE WELD FAILURE!!!!! DOOR 1/2 FELL OFF THE TRUCK WHEN CLOSING. *AK
BOTH SEAT BELTS HANG ON SEAT REAR LATCHES ON DRIVER AND PASSAGNER SIDE WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED AND YOU BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELT. YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY BUCKLED UNTIL YOU OPEN A DOOR AND THE BELT SLIDES OVER THE LATCH TO THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE SEAT WHEN THE D…
Read full complaint
BOTH SEAT BELTS HANG ON SEAT REAR LATCHES ON DRIVER AND PASSAGNER SIDE WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED AND YOU BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELT. YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY BUCKLED UNTIL YOU OPEN A DOOR AND THE BELT SLIDES OVER THE LATCH TO THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE SEAT WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. THE BELT WILL HANG ON THE LATCH WHICH ALLOWS TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE BELT. IF THE DOOR IS OPEN IT WILL NOT HANG. THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY BECAUSE THE LAP SECTION OF THE BELT IS NOT TIGHT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABS LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY.ALSO, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IN THE COMPUTER AREA. CONTACTED DEALER, HE COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
THE ENGINE RACES AT 2000 AND 2500 RPM'S IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND PARKING LOTS, IT WILL NOT BEGIN TO REV DOWN UNLESS VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP (TRUCK RUNS AWAY). NLM
WHILE DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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