Chevrolet S10 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 4,090 owner complaints and 21 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet S10, across 14 model years (1995–2018). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (911). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes, hydraulic.
Chevrolet S10 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S10 year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 S10: 911 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1996 S10: 668 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1998 S10: 613 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet S10 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 892 | 10 | 163 |
| Visibility problems | 660 | 10 | 11 |
| Structure problems | 394 | 10 | 7 |
| Air Bags problems | 370 | 10 | 328 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 337 | 10 | 2 |
| Power Train problems | 334 | 10 | 12 |
| Electrical System problems | 239 | 10 | 11 |
| Seats problems | 212 | 9 | 18 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 160 | 9 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 149 | 9 | 20 |
| Suspension problems | 147 | 11 | 4 |
| Equipment problems | 124 | 9 | 3 |
| Steering problems | 107 | 11 | 8 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 104 | 10 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 89 | 9 | 31 |
| Tires | 88 | 10 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 86 | 10 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 53 | 8 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 51 | 13 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 40 | 7 | 6 |
| Wheels | 35 | 9 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 23 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine | 19 | 7 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet S10 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2002: structure (73)
- 2001: structure (75) · service brakes, hydraulic (50)
- 2000: structure (93) · service brakes, hydraulic (92) · seats (55)
- 1998: visibility (200) · service brakes, hydraulic (67) · engine and engine cooling (51) · electrical system (50)
- 1997: visibility (113) · service brakes, hydraulic (95)
- 1996: service brakes, hydraulic (209) · visibility (100) · air bags (74) · engine and engine cooling (71) · power train (68)
- 1995: service brakes, hydraulic (306) · visibility (207) · air bags (111) · engine and engine cooling (84) · power train (50)
All Chevrolet S10 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 S10 | 3 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2017 S10 | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2016 S10 | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2006 S10 | 1 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2004 S10 | 21 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 S10 | 178 | 1 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 S10 | 214 | 0 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 S10 | 308 | 1 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 S10 | 471 | 4 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 S10 | 231 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 S10 | 613 | 6 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 S10 | 469 | 6 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 S10 | 668 | 7 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 S10 | 911 | 5 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet S10 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (911), 1996 (668), 1997 (469), 1998 (613), 2000 (471) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S10 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet S10?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 892 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet S10 have?
21 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.