Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet S10, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility200
- Service brakes, hydraulic67
- Engine and engine cooling51
- Electrical system50
- Seats48
- Power train40
- Structure39
- Air bags37
- Suspension24
- Latches/locks/linkages22
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 40 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 10.9–16.6 L/100 km (about 14–22 mpg US), CO₂ 251–382 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S10 · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 8.9 | 10.9 |
| S10 · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 10.1 | 12.2 |
| S10 · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 16.2 | 11.4 | 14.0 |
| S10 Blazer · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.3 | 11.5 | 14.1 |
| S10 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.5 | 12.3 | 14.6 |
| S10 · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 16.4 | 12.6 | 14.7 |
| S10 Blazer · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.7 | 12.9 | 15.0 |
| S10 Blazer 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.6 | 15.1 |
| S10 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.0 | 13.5 | 16.0 |
| S10 Blazer 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 19.0 | 13.6 | 16.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet S10.
| 2001263 1 Nov 2001 | Electrical Certain vehicles: Light duty trucks. passenger vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of C.M.V.S.S. NO. 118,… |
| 1997217 28 Nov 1997 | Brakes Certain vehicles may exhibit a fatigue fracture of the rear axle, right-hand brake pipe. Should the pipe crack a slow brake fluid leak would result causing a so… |
| 1997201 18 Nov 1997 | Engine On certain vehicles, the engine wiring harness clip could melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold. The clip material on the exhaust manifold could ignite and su… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS CONTAINING A NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE (NIMH) BATTERY PACK. THESE VEHICLES CONTAIN SOFTWARE WITHIN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE INTENDED TO DISABLE THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN IF THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WITH THE BATTERY PACK EXCEEDS A PRESCRIBED VALUE. AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL ILLUMINATE THE "SERVICE NOW" AND "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" TELLTALES AND CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN A REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODEL INSTEAD OF BEING DISABLED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS. A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FUEL-FIRED HEATER FILL PIPE GROUND STRAP CONTACTS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PIPE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC DRIVE. RAPID FOGGING OF THE INTERIOR GLASS CAN OCCUR WITHIN TWO MINUTES AFTER THE HEAT IS TURNED ON IF (1) THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 35 AND 76 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND (2) WATER HAS COLLECTED ON THE HEAT EXCHANGER DURING PREVIOUS OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1998 Chevrolet S10: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636523 | INFORMATION ON OVER TORQUING OR A REVERSE BEDRAIL INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634796 | CERTAIN ELECTRIC TRUCKS WITH PANASONIC (TP-6) LEAD ACID BATTERY PACKS MAY HAVE A REDUCTION IN DRIVE RANGE, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHARGING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS WITHOUT DRIVING. *TT |
| 634729 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON AN EXHAUST BOOM / GROAN NOISE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 634506 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 634218 | SUBJECT REGARDING RUST IN COOLING SYSTEM, HEATER INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATS (FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM). NLM |
| 631292 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE THIRD DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AND/OR THE DOOR HANDLE MAY BE BROKEN FOR 1996-2002 CHEVROLET AND GMC S/T EXTENDED CAB PICKUP MODELS.. *SLC |
| 629824 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CORRODED TRAILER PRE-WIRE HARNESS AT THE REAR BUMPER. *TT |
| 629723 | CONCERNS WITH EXCESSIVE EFFORT OR BREAKING OF THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE ON EXTENDED CAB PICK UPS. *TT |
| 626507 | SUBJECT REGARDING NECESSARY RESURFACING OF THE PARK BRAKE DRUM. *JG |
| 625380 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND HAVING TO ADD OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. *JG |
| 625141 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE IS STRIPPED. *JG |
| 623792 | INFORMATION REGARDING IMPROVED BUS SEAT DECLINER ASSEMBLIES, THE HANDLE ON THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED WITH A NUMBER 20 TORQUE WITH A SHANK LENGTH OF 20 MILLIMETERS. *SLC |
| 623086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 623034 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *TT |
| 622680 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGING AND A CHECK VEHICLE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE CHARGER. *NLM |
| 619742 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT |
| 619741 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IS ON; THE TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR; AND / OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 619740 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; THE SECURITY LAMP MAY BE ON OR OFF; THE SECURITY LAMP IS ILLUMINATED; THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *TT |
| 619027 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE NEW RECLINCER ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 615103 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING VEHICLES EXHIBITING INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 615094 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEATER COOLANT RESERVOIR LEAKING. *TT |
| 615093 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REDUCED VEHICLE RANGE WITH NO CHANGE IN DRIVING HABITS OR THE STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) GAUGE SWEEPS / SWINGS. *TT |
| 615092 | SOME OWNERS MAY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CHARGE, AND CHECK VEHICLE DISPLAYED ON CHARGER ON VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO AND INCLUDING VIN BREAKPOINT W8138319. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE(S) BREAK
POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation