RoadVitals

1988 Chevrolet S10 Pickup Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jan 31, 2017
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet S10 Pickup, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine250.0%
  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A FATAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN WHICH THE ADULT MALE VICTIM HAD THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CARBURETOR WAS TAKEN APART AND THERE WAS A CAN OF CARBURETOR CLEANER WAS ON THE GROUND. A SINGLE BLADE OF THE COOLING FAN APPARENTLY BROKE OFF/CAME OFF OF THE FAN. THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE PLASTIC 'PROTECTIVE' HOUSING. THE VICTIM WAS BELIEVED TO BE STANDING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OR NEAR THE BATTERY (PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT AREA). A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING HIGH REVVING OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE VICTIM WAS DOING SO MANUALLY. THE BLADE WAS FOUND RESTING ABOUT TEN FEET AWAY ON A STAIR APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE VICTIM WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY A DEEP CUT ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK WHERE HE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD. HIS WIFE FOUND HIM SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, MEDICS ARRIVED AND THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10475090 · filed Sep 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WHEN ONE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES FRACTURED AND DISLODGED INTO THE AIR. THE BLADE THEN STRUCK THE OWNER SHARPLY IN THE NECK, IMMEDIATELY KILLING HIM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,427. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONTACT IS NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS REPORTING THE INCIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE. UPDATED 10/31/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID 10474190 · filed Sep 7, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A FATAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN WHICH THE ADULT MALE VICTIM HAD THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CARBURETOR WAS TAKEN APART AND THERE WAS A CAN OF CARBURETOR CLEANER WAS ON THE GROUND. A SINGLE BLADE OF THE COOLING FAN APPARENTLY BROKE OFF/CAME OFF OF THE FAN. THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE PLASTIC 'PROTECTIVE' HOUSING. THE VICTIM WAS BELIEVED TO BE STANDING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OR NEAR THE BATTERY (PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT AREA). A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING HIGH REVVING OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE VICTIM WAS DOING SO MANUALLY. THE BLADE WAS FOUND RESTING ABOUT TEN FEET AWAY ON A STAIR APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE VICTIM WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY A DEEP CUT ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK WHERE HE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD. HIS WIFE FOUND HIM SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, MEDICS ARRIVED AND THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10475090 · filed Sep 11, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD START TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID 10948732 · filed Jan 31, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .