RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet S10

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
469
Latest Jan 22, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
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.
71
38 injuries, 3 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 469 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet S10, most frequently naming the visibility, brakes and airbags categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 63 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

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

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
DOPE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
07E021000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DELPHIView on NHTSA.gov
03V159000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Apr 28, 2003
1,755,876 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 03023View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ04002ClosedRecall Query

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Opened Feb 18, 2004
Closed May 27, 2004

ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V-117) TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THESE UTILITY VEHILCES BASED ON A HIGHER FATALITY RATE OF EJECTED BELTED DRIVERS IN ROLLOVER CRASHES.BOTH FATAL CRASHES ARE SEVERE ROLLOVER CRASHES (MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER) AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.ODI REVIEWED THE FIELD DATA PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM TO PEER VEHICLES USING NHTSA'S FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) DATABASE.THE FARS DATA DID NOT INDICATE A FIELD PERFORMANCE TREND FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT
EA97004ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

Opened Feb 28, 1997
Closed Aug 5, 1997

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBINGLed to recall 97V096001
PE96061ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

Opened Oct 25, 1996
Closed Feb 28, 1997

ON 9/9/96 NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) PERFORMED A 35 MPH BARRIER CRASH TEST WITH A 1997 CHEVROLET S10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
EA94038ClosedEngineering Analysis

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM

Opened Oct 31, 1994
Closed Feb 28, 2000

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 99I006000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 469
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE HOIST ASSEMBLY RETAINER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11171457
Incident
Jan 22, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET S10. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN RAINY WEATHER, WHICH CAUSED A REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V159000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID
10783200
Incident
Aug 4, 2015
Mileage
53,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 14, 2015

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE SPORADICALLY WHEN TURNED ON. SOME TIMES WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON, THEY WILL OPERATE NORMALLY AND OTHER TIMES THEY WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL. THE VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STOPPED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT. (REFERENCE GM RECALL 03023)

NHTSA ID
10782066
Incident
Oct 13, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 3, 2014

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER THE GARAGE, THE ENGINE ACCELERATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. LETTING OFF OF THE BRAKES AND REAPPLYING THEM AND PUSHING HARDER HAS EASED THE ISSUE SOMEWHAT. IT DOES THIS VERY FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652170
Incident
Jul 18, 2014
Mileage
145,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2014

OCCASIONALLY ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES AND COUNTING WHEN INITIALLY APPLYING THE BRAKE AT EITHER 45MPH OR 10 MPH MY 1997 CHEVY S10 VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND CRUISE CONTROL OFF AT WHAT APPEARED TO BE FULL SPEED/THROTTLE. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO BRAKE EVEN HARDER, BUT THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKED IN AND SEEMED TO REDUCE THE STOPPING FORCE BY NOT LETTING THE WHEELS LOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND ALSO STOPPED ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641808
Incident
Oct 4, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2014

SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINES, LINES BLEW. NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ACROSS MFRS. . WELL MAINTAINED CARS WITH SEVERELY CORRODED FUEL AND BRAKE LINES. I BET IT CAN BE TRACED TO A CHEAP SUPPLIER THAT SUPPLIED THE BIG 3 FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS. NO CORROSION RESISTANCE ON THE STEEL. CAN'T BLAME THIS ON NE WINTER SALT. MY OEM 1964 LOOKS BETTER THAN MY LATE MODEL VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629435
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
187,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 11, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICAL PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I HIT HIM RUNNING 55 MPH MY SAFETY BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN SEVERE SEATBELT AND STERRING WHEEL DAMAGE TO MY BODY AND TERIBLE NECK PAIN AND BACK PAIN RESULTING FROM LACK OF AIR BAGNEGLECT

NHTSA ID
10568331
Incident
Dec 23, 2013
Mileage
220,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 31, 2013

WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS START OR STOP WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON/OFF. INTERMITTENT SETTING DOES NOT WORK, WIPERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS IF TURNED ON AND NOT IN INTERMITTENT MODE. WIPER BLADE WILL STOP AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS ON WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532886
Incident
Jan 1, 2013

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIP4723F

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet S10 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018300—
2017100—
2016100—
2007010—
2006110—
2005010—
2004213046.8
20031784051.0
20022133259.6
20013085361.9
20004719364.5
19992315363.5
199861311363.9
1997Viewing4698465.2
199666810466.4
19959118668.8
19949678566.9
19932336569.3
19921806569.5
19911749768.1
1990295463.7
1989485564.0
1988374160.3
1987275461.5
1986224364.3
1985113369.7
1984843—
1983743—
1982251—
1981100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.