1999 Chevrolet S10 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 207 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 17.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 25; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 11; Air Bags: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 118 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 | 40 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 40; 2001: 26; 2002: 21; 2003: 31; 2004: 30; 2005: 17; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 5; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10016291 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
WHEN TRAVELING OVER SLIGHT BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK FEELS AS IF IT HAS NO BRAKES. I AM NOT TALKING HUGE POTHOLES OR EXTREME DROPOFFS, BUT BUMPS AS LOW AS APPROXIMATELY. 2 TO 3 INCHES. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS MOST OFTEN NEAR MY HOME TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, USING THE BRAKES TO SLOW TO AROUND 28 MPH WHEN I HIT THE 2 TO 3 INCH BUMP. AT THIS POINT THE TRUCK STARTS COASTING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STIFF, APPROXIMATELY. 10 FEET PAST CLEARING THE BUMP THE BRAKING IS RESTORED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NORMAL FOR ABS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016704 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
BRAKE LINE TO REAR SYSTEM HAS A HOLE WORN INTO IT FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME NEAR THE FRONT DRIVERS WHEEL WELL. THIS IS ON A 1999 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. HIGHWAY DRIVEN, NOT ABUSED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001950 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELT GAS FUMES. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICE BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL LINE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE TRANSMISSION OR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE , THAT CAUSE A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE, WHICH RESULTED IN A FUEL LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003407 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016293 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
WHEN MOVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 0 MPH AND 10 MPH A WINING SOUND WILL SOMETIMES COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER CHECKED IT OUT & COULDN'T DUPLICATE. STILL OCCURS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188565 · 2007-04-23 (April 23, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT'S SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. HIS INJURIES CONSISTED OF A SPRAINED ANKLE AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED HIM, BUT CAUSED BRUISING IN THE CHEST AREA. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,861.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 87,861 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053533 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE GAS GAUGE AND FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. GAS GAUGE FAILED TO READ THE CORRECT FUEL LEVEL IN TANK. THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL STATE INSPECTION.*AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009606 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046375 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. CONSUMER WOULD COAST TO A SAFE AREA, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, VEHICLE WOULD START UP LIKE NOTHING EVER WAS WRONG. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074667 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)
EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT LENS, LOCATED OVER THE BACK WINDOW OF THE CAB, WAS NOTICED TO HAVE MELTED. LENS WAS MELTED INWARD TOWARD THE TWO LIGHT BULBS. ONE BULB WAS NOT WORKING, HAVING CRACKED, THE OTHER BULB WAS STILL WORKING. THE LENS WAS MELTED SO THAT TWO HOLES WERE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE THICK PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC HAD DRIPPED ONTO THE BULBS AND FIXTURE. THE LENS HAS BEEN REMOVED AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT A DEALER TO CHECK ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND PROPER VOLTAGE GENERATED AT THE LIGHT FIXTURE. THE LENS AND BULBS WILL NEED TO BE REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,244 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10953777 · 2017-02-09 (February 9, 2017)
MY TRUCK SLOWLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. FIRST, THE DINGING NOISE THAT YOUR CAR MAKES QHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR IF YOU LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON, MY TRUCK WOULD MAKE THIS SOUND WITH NO LIGHT ON OR KEY IN IGNITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THEN THE GAUGES STARTED ACTING CRAZY, COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AT TIMES. NOW MY TRUCK WILL NOT START, IT TURNS OVER BUT SOMETHING DOESN'T CATCH OR FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE SPARK PLUGS ARE NEW.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10953777 at NHTSA ↗