1998 Chevrolet S10 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
469 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
71,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 219 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 469 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 54 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 84 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 69 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 30 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 21 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 19 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 16 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 84; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 69; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 30; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 21; Air Bags:Frontal: 19; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 63 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 56 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 63; 75,000 to 99,999: 56; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 11
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 250 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 70 |
| 2001 | 42 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 112 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 52 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 70; 2001: 42; 2002: 44; 2003: 112; 2004: 59; 2005: 52; 2006: 26; 2007: 14; 2008: 11; 2009: 9; 2010: 5; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005296 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
ON MY S-10, AS MANY OTHERS ACCORDING TO THE PARTS DEALERS AND SEERVICE BULLETIN #220801, THE SEAT RECLINER GEAR ARM THAT THE HANDLE ATTACHES TO BRAKES FREQUENTLY. THIS IS THE THIRD ONE FOR MY 1998 PICKUP. THE MATERIAL IS VERY WEAK AND COSTLY. GM KNOWS OF THIS, AS CAN BE VERIFIED BY PARTS DEALERS SHOWING I HIGH SALES VOLUME OF THIS PART. THE PART # IS 12479967. COST IS $69.02
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005419 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME REPAIRED. GARAGE CANNOT GET RATCHET FROM GM BECAUSE IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER.
Owner-reported narrative. 71,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009862 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE RELAYS AND FUSES KEEP BLOWING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A AIR CONDITIONING PLACE AND THEY ARE NOT SURE. WITH THE ABS, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN SNOW, I USED THE BRAKES AND THE ANTI LOCKS CAME ON AND ALL LIGHTS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR CUT OFF COMPLETELY. HAD TO STOP AND RESTART VEHICLE. WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL NY GAUGES JUMPED THEN WENT TO NORMAL. WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT HAS CONSTANTLY SLAMMED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THIRD GEAR. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER NUMERO…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042113 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND CONTAMINATED OTHER COMPONENTS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS MADE DRIVING AND GEAR CHANGING DIFFICULT. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE ALL CONTAMINATED COMPONENTS. *AK THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ILLUMINATED SO THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE RADIATOR FLUSHED AT 550 MILES AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE AND IT LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST KNOCKING HIM TO THE DRIVEWAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037123 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
WINDSHEILD WIPER WILL RUN AND THEN STOP WHEN IT IS RAINING AND WILL EVEN CONTINUE TO RUN WHEN I TURN THEM OFF AFTER THE RAIN HAS STOPED. I TRACED THE PROBLEM WIPER MOTOR. WHEN THE WIPERS STOP I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WIGGLE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON THE WIPER MOTOR AND ITS MAGIC THEY WORK FOR 5 MINS AND THEN YOU REPEAT THE PROCESS. WITH SPEED LIMITS OF 70 MPH I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS ON HIGHWAYS, PULL OVER AND WAIT TILL THE RAIN ENDS ( HOTEL MAY BE REQUIRED). WE NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, GM DOES NOT CARE, THEY WANT ME TO BUY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026267 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT END WHILE DRIVING. ONE DAY THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED, BUT NOISE RETURNED, AND CHAIN BROKE AGAIN IN 60 DAYS. HAS REPLACED TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR COMPONENTS 4 TIMES SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225959 · 2008-04-28 (April 28, 2008)
BEGAN EXPERIENCING LOUD EXHAUST NOISE AND LOSS OF POWER IN 1998 S-10 PICKUP IN JULY OF '07. HAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. AGAIN BEGAN EXPERIENCING LOUD EXHAUST AND LOSS OF POWER IN APRIL 2008. PICKUP TOTALLY STALLED OUT IN MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION ONCE, NEARLY STALLED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. WAS ADVISED BY ACQUAINTANCE THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY ISSUED BY GM (05021A) THAT COVERED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RESEARCHED THE SPECIAL POLICY AND FOUND OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A MAILING IN MAY 2005 NOTIFYING ME OF A POTENTIAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 114,627 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048207 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
VEHICLE HAVING SERIES OF PROBLEMS AFTER AN ACCIDENT WITH A DEER. *MR THE HOOD LATCH HASN'T WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE ACCIDENT, BOTH CHAIR LATCHES HAD BROKEN AFTER TWO TIMES OF USE, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE STEERING, THE CENTRAL CONSOLE SNAPPED IN HALF, AND THE REAR WIPERS HAD GONE OUT. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717405 · 2000-01-16 (January 16, 2000)
MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS MADE A NOISE WHEN I MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHIN WRONG WITH IT, AND NOW IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN, SO I DON'T SEE HOW THEY COULD'VE MISSED IT. ALSO, THE RECLINER LEVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE OFF AT THE METAL AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED SO I GUESS I'M OUT OF LUCK WITH THAT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114134 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ATTEMPTING SLOW ACCELERATION ON AN INTERSTATE INCLINE. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NOV 2001, SERVICE CENTER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AFTER ONE DAY DEPITE BEING TOLD ABOUT PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS AND REPAIRS. ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED DIAGNOSED AS FAILED FUEL INJECTOR AND LEAKING "SPIDER VALVE". UNFORTUNATELY ON THE 2ND TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE BEFORE BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE BURNED OUT BY RAW FUEL BEING DUMPED INTO THE EXHAUST,RESULTING IN A VERY LARGE REPAIR B…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884407 · 2001-03-28 (March 28, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR SERVICE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEING ON, MECHANIC FOUND FUEL BEING PUSHED THROUGH WIRING AND INTO COMPUTER. VEHICLE HAD A 4.3 VORTEX ENGINE. MECHANIC BELIEVED PRESSURE REGULATER TO BE AT FAULT. *AK WHEN THE COMPUTER WAS UNPLAGGED GASOLINE RAN OUT OF PCM DUE TO INJECTOR ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884407 at NHTSA ↗