1989 Chevrolet S10: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 32 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 2; Tires:Sidewall: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 28 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 | 9 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 9; 1996: 8; 2000: 7; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10009045 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
POSSIBLE DOOR LATCH/HANDLE AND SEAT BELT FAILURES. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026361 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH REAR PASSENGER FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE BLOW OUT. *AK *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038522 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 WITHOUT WARNING AND LOCKED UP. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN TURNED 180 DEGREES WITHOUT WARNING AND LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THE DEALER REINSTALLED THEM WITH THREAD LOCKERS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 209,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071102 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
PAINT PEELING ON HOOD AND TOP. CONTACTED GM 5 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE AS IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO WORK WITH ME!! CONTACTED AGAIN AFTER I READ ABOUT CLASS ACTION SUIT AND WAS TREATED WITH NO RESPECT!!! THE LADY I SPOKE WITH SAID GO AHEAD ANY SUE AND SEE WHERE IT GETS YOU. I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO PAINT PEELS FLYING OFF MY HOOD AND HITTING THE WINDSHIED. VERY DISTRACTING TO SAY THE LEAST. P.S. I HAVE 234,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102758 · 2004-12-12 (December 12, 2004)
I HAD A TIE FAILURE ON A GOODRICH P225/70-R14 M&S TIRE. THE SIDEWALL SPLIT ON THE TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO EXAMINED IT AND SAID THAT THE SIDEWALL FAILURE WAS DUE TO SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHEN THE OTHER TIRES WERE EXAMINED, ONE OF THEM WAS FOUND TO HAVE A SIDEWALL CRACK THAT HAD NOT YET GOTTEN ALL THE WAY THRU THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE THAT FAILED DID SO AT LOW SPEED SO THERE WAS NO WRECK, BUT A SIDEWALL FAILURE AT ROAD SPEED COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480284 · 1995-02-01 (February 1, 1995)
LEFT/RIGHT DOOR HANDLE SPRINGS CONTINUOUSLY BREAK. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480713 · 1995-01-26 (January 26, 1995)
GAS TANK LEAKING ABOVE MID-POINT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503309 · 1996-04-04 (April 4, 1996)
IGNITION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503309 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.
93V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
Reported: 1993-01-14 (January 14, 1993)
THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.
Consequence: IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN 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 ↗