Total Complaints
43 filings
CHEVROLET S10 · model year
1988 CHEVROLET S10
43 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETS10 carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 6 fires, 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 1988 S10 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 3 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (3) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2). 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 1988 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.
43
Complaints
3
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030625TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE SIDEWALL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE IS SPLITTING IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS ON 6/24/2003. THE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 5,000 MILES ON THEM. FIRESTONE, RADIAL ATX.*AK
20010828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. *AK
20001013TIRES
THE FIRESTONE SUPREME WAS THE TIRE THE 1988 S10 BLAZER ORIGINALLY CAME WITH. THIS ONE WE USED AS THE SPARE, REPLACING ONLY THE FOUR REGULAR TIRES WHEN NEEDED. WE PUT THE SPARE ON THE CAR BECAUSE THE CURRENT SET ARE CLOSE TO REPLACEMENT AND THE TREAD ON ONE WAS LOW. THIS FIRESTONE SUPREME HAD ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON IT THOUGH 12 YEARS OLD. IT FAILED BY TREAD SEPARATION, VERY MUCH LIKE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR THE RECALLED FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY (20MPH) AND LITTLE DAMAGE RESULTED. I SUSPECT OTHERS MAY HAVE KEPT THEIR FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE AND SHOULD BE WARNED OF THE FAILURE, POSSIBLE DUE TO AGING. (DOT NUMBER: W2UL BER TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)
20000911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP 2 DAYS LATER CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICE, PULLED OVER, EXITED VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID POURING ONTO THE GROUND, POSSIBBLE ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
20000911FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP 2 DAYS LATER CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICE, PULLED OVER, EXITED VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID POURING ONTO THE GROUND, POSSIBBLE ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
20000911FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL PUMP 2 DAYS LATER CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICE, PULLED OVER, EXITED VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED RADIATOR FLUID POURING ONTO THE GROUND, POSSIBBLE ENGINE FAILURE. NLM
20000911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
19991214LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
NY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER TRUCK ON THE FREEWAY AND THE HOOD FLEW UP ON HER, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT INJURED BUT SHE IS IN NEED OF VEHICLE REPAIRS. SHE ONLY CARRIES LIABILITY INSURANCE ON HER VEHICLE. SHE IS ONLY 19 YEAR OLD . IT SEEMS THERE MAY HAVE OR THERE WAS A FAULTY LATCH/SAFETLY LATCH WHICH CAUSED THIS EVENT TO HAPPEN TO HER. *AK
19991122STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
HINGES ARE VERY LIGHT WEIGHT AND METAL THAT THEY ARE WELDED ON IS VERY LIGHT WEIGHT ALSO. DOOR REFUSES TO CLOSE, IT HAS NOW FALLEN OFF. DEALER SAID IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM, AND TO BRING CAR IN A BUY A KIT FOR 115.00 PER DOOR. *AK
19990907VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY
19990723VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN AND REPORTED PROBLEM ON CHEVY TRUCKS AND S10 MODELS FOR OTHER YEARS BACK TO 1993 BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WANT THE RECALL EXTENDED BACK TO COVER MY VEHICLE
19981130POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE MANUFACUTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
19971117CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GOT STUCK IN SNOW IN DRIVEWAY. GOING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE CAUSED EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF FRONT A FRAMES. UPON PULLING INTO GARAGE SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ONTO FLOOR DUE TO A BROKEN BRAKE HOSE. *AK
19971024VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WHEN INITIALLY SET WILL ACCELERATE RAPIDLY UNTIL DISENGAGED BY BRAKE OR OFF SWITCH ON CRUISE CONTROL, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
19970711EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE IN TWO DIFFERENT PIECES; ALSO SERPENTINE BELT AND A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. *AK
19970711STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE IN TWO DIFFERENT PIECES; ALSO SERPENTINE BELT AND A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. *AK
19970711ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE IN TWO DIFFERENT PIECES; ALSO SERPENTINE BELT AND A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. *AK
19970711SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS GET CAUGHT IN THE BACK SEA TLATCH, ANSD IT IS TEARING THEM TO SHREDS ON SPOT.
19970304POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEELS: DRIVING HOME FROM APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THREE WEEKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT AXLE AND SPINDLE HAD WORN OUT, CAUSING CONNECTOR CLIP TO FAIL. *AK
19970304STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHEELS: DRIVING HOME FROM APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN THREE WEEKS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT AXLE AND SPINDLE HAD WORN OUT, CAUSING CONNECTOR CLIP TO FAIL. *AK
Compare 1988CHEVROLETS10 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 1988 CHEVROLET S10 have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET S10 has 43 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 6 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET S10?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET S10 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 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.