Chevrolet S10 Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 337 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet S10 across 10 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (84). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (7% of reports).
- 337engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 24 of 337 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Chevrolet S10 at $1,500, and half of them between $990 and $1,550.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2005), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 68 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 337 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet S10 engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Model years: 1995
Problem: Fan blade rivet breakage can occur causing the fan blade to separate from the spider.
Risk: If this occurred while the hood was open, a person working under the hood of the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle could be struck by the fan blade and injured.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace, if necessary, the fan with a newer fan having thicker-headed rivets.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2002 chevrolet s-10. Consumer writes in regards to oil leaking onto the manifold. *ld
2003 chevrolet s10 pick-up. Many recalls for replacement of defective head gasket which gm will not cover. *tr
At approximately 83,456 miles the heater core broke. I first noticed smell ethylene glycol, it caused (somewhat greasy) fogging of the windshield above the windshield heater vent. Glycol leak directly into the car, causing wet upholstery or carpeting. Coolant sprayed directly into the passenger…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. While driving home he noticed a bubble on the right side of the hood. He continued driving, and then the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. The fire fighters could not identify the cause of the failure. The current and…
Hi i originally purchased a 1998 chevrolet s10 used private party and noticed a check engine light on and my brother scanned the computer and found it was a transmission problem and was informed by my brother it had been rebuilt literally 2 months before purchased and was shown proof when driving…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet S10s have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 337 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet S10. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet S10 engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet S10?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,500 (half paid between $990 and $1,550), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet S10?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 24 of 337 complaints.
Other Chevrolet S10 problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (892)
- Visibility problems (660)
- Structure problems (394)
- Air Bags problems (370)
- Power Train problems (334)
- Electrical System problems (239)
- Seats problems (212)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (160)
See all Chevrolet S10 problems.