Total Complaints
44 filings
CHEVROLET S10 · model year
1987 CHEVROLET S10
44 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987CHEVROLETS10 carries 44 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 1987 S10 is seat belts:front:retractor with 4 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3). 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 1987 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.
44
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050807TIRES
ON 8-06-2005 WHILE DRIVING 45 TO 50 M.P.H. ON COUNTY ROAD JB IN RACINE COUNTY THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENDER,INNER FENDER,RIPPED THE BOLT OUT,RIPPED OUT THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHT, AND DAMAGE DRIVERS ROCKER PANEL. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE AND PASSENGER FRONT TIRES ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SEPARATION. THESE ARE FIRESTONE P205/75R15 TIRES, DOTW201838. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME ON THE DAMAGED TIRE. SINCE THIS JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP I HAVE TAKEN IN REPORTING THIS INCIDENT. *NM
Mileage: 83,395
20010221CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BACKING OUT AND WAS TURNING THE WHEEL. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, AND ENGINE STARTED TO ROAR. RPM'S WERE UP. TOOK OFF. WAS OUT OF CONTROL, AND WAS SPINNING SEVERAL TIMES. THEN, HIT A SNOW MOBILE TRAILER WHICH STOPPED VEHICLE FROM SPINNING. PEDAL WAS IN NORMAL POSITION. FOOT WAS NOT ON BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHCLE OUT OF COMMISSION. *AK
20010124STRUCTURE
MOUNTING BRACKET TO ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE 3 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, AND IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER . THIS SEEMED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. DEALER DIDN'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. *AK
20000825TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE-00-020; P215/75R15, WIDE WHITEWALL TIRES; 1 OUT OF 4 TIRES WAS REPLACED, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN DRIVING THAT VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING IN THE FRONT END, NOTICE BUMPS ON THE TIRES CONTACTED A TIRE COMPANY, INSPECTOR NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING. *AK A TOTAL OF 5 TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. DOT #'S VDHEF7U192 & EJR103M066. *SLC
20000616SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP ON WET PAVEMENT, FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE REAR BRAKES CONTINUED WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20000607EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE CONSUMER'S SON WAS WASHING THE FRONT OF VEHICLE ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS SHATTERED, CAUSING SEVERE CUTS TO SON'S HAND AND FACE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19990526ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
ECM, MANIFOLD, AXLE, WINDSHIELD, BOOT LEAK, BRAKE VALVE, DOOR HANDLE, MIRROR
19990526VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ECM, MANIFOLD, AXLE, WINDSHIELD, BOOT LEAK, BRAKE VALVE, DOOR HANDLE, MIRROR
19990526SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
ECM, MANIFOLD, AXLE, WINDSHIELD, BOOT LEAK, BRAKE VALVE, DOOR HANDLE, MIRROR
19990526STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ECM, MANIFOLD, AXLE, WINDSHIELD, BOOT LEAK, BRAKE VALVE, DOOR HANDLE, MIRROR
19990526ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ECM, MANIFOLD, AXLE, WINDSHIELD, BOOT LEAK, BRAKE VALVE, DOOR HANDLE, MIRROR
19990226SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
HOW LONG SHOULD SEAT BELTS LAST?
19990226SEATS
HOW LONG SHOULD SEAT BELTS LAST?
19980923EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923POWER TRAIN
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
19980923SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ENGAGE/ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM DEAD STOP/SPEEDOMETER NOT LUBRICATED/WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY/WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITH ONE SWIPE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROL SWITCH, AND DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RECOIL.
Compare 1987CHEVROLETS10 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 1987 CHEVROLET S10 have?▼
The 1987 CHEVROLET S10 has 44 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 CHEVROLET S10?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 CHEVROLET S10 is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 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.