1987 Chevrolet S10: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
83,395 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 11 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 | 6 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 6; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10131827 · 2005-08-07 (August 7, 2005)
ON 8-06-2005 WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 M.P.H. ON COUNTY ROAD JB IN RACINE COUNTY THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENDER,INNER FENDER,RIPPED THE BOLT OUT,RIPPED OUT THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHT, AND DAMAGE DRIVERS ROCKER PANEL. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE AND PASSENGER FRONT TIRES ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION. THESE ARE FIRESTONE P205/75R15 TIRES, DOTW201838. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME ON THE DAMAGED TIRE. SINCE THIS JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP I HAVE TAKEN IN REPORTING THIS INCIDENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 83,395 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487612 · 1995-11-10 (November 10, 1995)
ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488004 · 1995-11-13 (November 13, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BUCKLE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863219 · 2000-06-07 (June 7, 2000)
WHILE CONSUMER'S SON WAS WASHING THE FRONT OF VEHICLE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS SHATTERED, CAUSING SEVERE CUTS TO SON'S HAND AND FACE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863684 · 2000-06-16 (June 16, 2000)
UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT, FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE REAR BRAKES CONTINUED WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 868718 · 2000-08-25 (August 25, 2000)
PE-00-020; P215/75R15, WIDE WHITEWALL TIRES; 1 OUT OF 4 TIRES WAS REPLACED, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THAT VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING IN THE FRONT END, NOTICE BUMPS ON THE TIRES CONTACTED A TIRE COMPANY, INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING. *AK A TOTAL OF 5 TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. DOT #'S VDHEF7U192 & EJR103M066. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868718 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 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V021000 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 1987-02-25 (February 25, 1987)
INNER TIE ROD TO RELAY ROD NUTS ON STEERING LINKAGE MAY BE IIMPROPERLY TORQUED AND NOT CRIMPED.
Consequence: LOSS OF ONE OR BOTH NUTS COULD LEAD TO INNER TIE RODDISENGAGEMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A TRUCKCRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V195000 · Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Sector
Reported: 1996-10-08 (October 8, 1996)
THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LOOSENS AT THE STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR COUPLING. WITH THIS LOOSENESS, THE YOKE PINCH BOLT CAN WEAR ON THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE IS NO LONGER AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPLINES AND THE BOLT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODY TO CHASSIS MOVEMENT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗