1990 Chevrolet S10 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Chevrolet S10, 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
- Brakes1032.3%
- Engine412.9%
- Fuel system412.9%
- Body & structure39.7%
- Other / unspecified26.5%
- Interior & seats26.5%
- Seat belts26.5%
- Tires & wheels26.5%
- Visibility13.2%
- Suspension13.2%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
A JEEP WITH A BIKE MOUNTED ON A BIKE RACK STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT QUICKLY LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO SWERVE, BUT HIT THE REAR OF THE JEEP, DAMAGING THE BIKE AND BIKE RACK. SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY GRILLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER AND HEADLIGHT, AND RADIATOR MOUNT. AFTER EXCHANGING INSURANCE INFORMATION, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND, BY THE FUEL TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE. LIMPED HOME (ABOUT 2 BLOCKS). NO BRAKES OTHER THAN EMERGENCY BRAKE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED FAILED BRAKE LINE AND SEVERE RUST ON MOST BRAKE LINES. *TR
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT WHEELS LOCK, AND REAR WHEELS KEEP TURNING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 6 1999 I DISCOVERED THE #2 CYLINDER WAS BADLY CARBON FOULED ,SINCE THAT TIME IT'S HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS ON 10 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE AT ALL,THE MECHANIC HAS BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT ,THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED TO OPERATE IN THIS MANNER AND BASICALLY LIVE WITH IT! I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK IN FULL SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AT ALL AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A LEMON VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE IS GIVING AN ERROR SIGNAL. OWNER INTERESTED IN COMPLAINTS ON 1990-1998 S10'S AND THE VORTEX V-6 ENGINES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUAL PUMP WIRE MELTED INSIDE OF FUAL TANK. *AK
GAS TANK RUSTED OUT.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
A JEEP WITH A BIKE MOUNTED ON A BIKE RACK STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT QUICKLY LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO SWERVE, BUT HIT THE REAR OF THE JEEP, DAMAGING THE BIKE AND BIKE RACK. SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY GRILLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER AND HEADLIGHT, AND RADIATOR MOUNT. AFTER EXCHANGING INSURANCE INFORMATION, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND, BY THE FUEL TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE. LIMPED HOME (ABOUT 2 BLOCKS). NO BRAKES OTHER THAN EMERGENCY BRAKE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED FAILED BRAKE LINE AND SEVERE RUST ON MOST BRAKE LINES. *TR
PAINT ON ROOF IS BEGINNING TO PEEL. EVERYTIME I WAS IN VEHICLE MORE PAINT FLAKES OFF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE ON BROKE. IF ANY VISUAL INSPECTION IS NEEDED FEEL FREE TO DO SO
WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE THE JACK COLLAPSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE JACK WILL NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
3RD DOOR LATCH FAILED CAUSING DOOR TO NOT OPEN/STICK. MJS
ELECTRONIC DASH BOARD GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS FAILED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY SEEING WHICH GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE, RESULTIN IN ROLLOVER. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO FLY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT AND ONTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NOT WORKING . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
LAST WEEK TWO TIRES HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRES WERE ON A 1990, CHEVROLET, S10. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 35,000. THERE WAS 5/32 TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. *AK BOTH OF THE BACK FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRES HAD BULGES ON THE TREAD. *SLC
SPARE TIRE MOUNT FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION THE WAY IT IS DESIGN WHEN HITTING A BUMP YOU CAN FILL IT. TT
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .