Total Complaints
15 filings
CHEVROLET S10 · model year
1985 CHEVROLET S10
15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985CHEVROLETS10 carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 S10 is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 3 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1985 S10, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
15
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120706TIRES
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, THE TIRE SEPARATED WHERE THE BELT MEETS THE SIDEWALL. APPROXIMATELY 1/5 OF THE BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING SMALL CHUNKS TO FLY FREE AND A FLAP OF BELT TO PEEL LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT REDUCED SPEED UNDER HAZARD WARNING, WHERE THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED BY THE SPARE. *TR
19990430FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
19981005FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
19980417SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH IN MALE PORTION SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
19970814FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED WATER INTO CRANKCASE, CAUSING ENGINE TO GO BAR AT 4000 MILES.
19970424POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE BROKE AND CAUSED TRUCK TO FLIP OVER.
19970424POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
19960815CrashPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DH
19960130CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
HAD AN ACCIDENT, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTAIN. TT
19951211PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. REAR WHEELS LOCK UP EASILY IN WET WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19951211WHEELS
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. REAR WHEELS LOCK UP EASILY IN WET WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950427POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING.
19950427ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING OIL LEAK. *SKD
19950427ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT FAILED.
19950427POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FAULTY CLUTCH.
Compare 1985CHEVROLETS10 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 CHEVROLET S10 have?▼
The 1985 CHEVROLET S10 has 15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CHEVROLET S10?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CHEVROLET S10 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1985 CHEVROLET S10 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.