Chevrolet S10 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3,742 owner complaints analyzed
33 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1981 to 2018 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,212 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 612 of 3,742 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 979 | 26.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 171 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 136 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 106 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 106 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 90 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 612 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 276 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 211 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 183 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 169 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 128 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 100 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 86 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 612; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 276; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 211; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 183; Air Bags:Frontal: 169; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 128; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 100; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 86
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 171 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 276 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 287 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 220 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 182 |
| 150,000 and above | 76 |
Under 25,000: 171; 25,000 to 49,999: 276; 50,000 to 74,999: 287; 75,000 to 99,999: 220; 100,000 to 149,999: 182; 150,000 and above: 76
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (287). 2,530 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 451 |
| 1996 | 275 |
| 2000 | 591 |
| 2001 | 378 |
| 2002 | 345 |
| 2003 | 420 |
| 2004 | 334 |
| 2005 | 309 |
| 2006 | 163 |
| 2007 | 81 |
| 2008 | 79 |
| 2009 | 48 |
| 2010 | 46 |
| 2011 | 29 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
1995: 451; 1996: 275; 2000: 591; 2001: 378; 2002: 345; 2003: 420; 2004: 334; 2005: 309; 2006: 163; 2007: 81; 2008: 79; 2009: 48; 2010: 46; 2011: 29; 2012: 29; 2013: 26; 2014: 43; 2015: 23; 2016: 12; 2017: 16; 2018: 11; 2019: 8; 2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 979 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 171 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 136 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 958569 · 1995-01-11 (January 11, 1995)
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS AND HAD ACCIDENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958569 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 976381 · 1995-12-11 (December 11, 1995)
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. REAR WHEELS LOCK UP EASILY IN WET WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881015 · 2001-02-21 (February 21, 2001)
BACKING OUT AND WAS TURNING THE WHEEL. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, AND ENGINE STARTED TO ROAR. RPM'S WERE UP. TOOK OFF. WAS OUT OF CONTROL, AND WAS SPINNING SEVERAL TIMES. THEN, HIT A SNOW MOBILE TRAILER WHICH STOPPED VEHICLE FROM SPINNING. PEDAL WAS IN NORMAL POSITION. FOOT WAS NOT ON BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHCLE OUT OF COMMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979011 · 1996-02-12 (February 12, 1996)
PARKED ON SLIGHT DRIVEWAY, 5 SPD-TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT WILL NOT STAY IN REVERSE ONCE ENGAGED. TRUCK HAD TO BE PULLED OUT FROM REAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481501 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
GAS TANK SPARKED DUE TO BEING CORRODED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 554225 · 2000-08-31 (August 31, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP 2 DAYS LATER CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICE, PULLED OVER, EXITED VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID POURING ONTO THE GROUND, POSSIBBLE ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 554225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968088 · 1995-06-30 (June 30, 1995)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, DOME LIGHT MELTED, WIRES WERE ALSO MELTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986294 · 1996-06-28 (June 28, 1996)
MALFUNCTIONING OF CIGARETTE LIGHTER. TRIED TO USE CAR PHONE BLEW OUT WIRING. APPEARS TO BE DEFAULT IN WIRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729462 · 2000-08-29 (August 29, 2000)
STEERING LINKAGE HAS VERY BAD SQUEAKING PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1986 S10 BLAZERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY TRUTH TO IT. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ABOUT 10/21/99. IF YOU HAVE NO INFO, CAN YOU DIRECT ME WHERE I COULD CONTACT SOMEONE WHO MAY? THANK YOU.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878924 · 2001-01-24 (January 24, 2001)
MOUNTING BRACKET TO ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, AND IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER . THIS SEEMED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. DEALER DIDN'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 977986 · 1996-01-22 (January 22, 1996)
VEHICLE STALLING OUT WITH NO WARNING AT 45MPH. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986341 · 1996-07-17 (July 17, 1996)
DUE TO A FROZEN PLUG, THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALSO LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986341 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
2002: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 0; 2018: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1982 | 1 | 2 | +2 |
| 1983 | 4 | 1 | -1 |
| 1984 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 | -1 |
| 1986 | 15 | 1 | +1 |
| 1987 | 12 | 2 | +1 |
| 1988 | 20 | 1 | -1 |
| 1989 | 32 | 2 | +1 |
| 1990 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 91 | 6 | +4 |
| 1992 | 88 | 3 | -3 |
| 1993 | 114 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 466 | 5 | +2 |
| 1995 | 400 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 293 | 7 | +2 |
| 1997 | 312 | 6 | -1 |
| 1998 | 469 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 207 | 0 | -6 |
| 2000 | 469 | 4 | +4 |
| 2001 | 308 | 1 | -3 |
| 2002 | 214 | 0 | -1 |
| 2003 | 178 | 1 | +1 |
| 2004 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 |