CHEVROLET S10 · model year

1998 CHEVROLET S10

742 NHTSA complaints, 76 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998CHEVROLETS10 carries 742 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 76 crashes, 9 fires, 47 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 1998 S10 is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor with 85 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (70) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (48). 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 1998 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.

742
Complaints
76
Crashes
9
Fires
47
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

742 filings

Crashes Reported

76 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR85
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER70
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP48
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL29
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER26
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION24
SEATS22
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE18
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING17
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS16
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR10

Recent Complaints

20200924VISIBILITY/WIPER

WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. UNABLE TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. SEEMS TO BE EERILY SIMILAR TO A PREVIOUS RECALL (03V159000) OF EARLIER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES. RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED ASAP TO COVER 1998+ YEAR MODEL VEHICLES

20180404VISIBILITY/WIPER

I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. IT DOES THIS WHETHER IT IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, BRAKING, HOT OR COLD WEATHER, ETC. IT IS UNSAFE WHEN IT IS RAINING BECAUSE THE WIPERS DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, WATER FROM OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD PASSING OR AHEAD OF YOU OR SLEET. YOU CANNOT SEE CLEARLY WHERE YOU ARE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 1997 WIPER MOTOR ON HIS S10 TRUCK. THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TWO OWNERS BEFORE ME HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH IT. I AM NOT SURE WHO THE ORGINAL OWNER IS OR WAS.

Mileage: 155,322

20180201SERVICE BRAKES

MY PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK. MY SEATBELTS COME UNDONE WHEN I'M DRIVING WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SAFETY.

20180201SEAT BELTS

MY PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T WORK. MY SEATBELTS COME UNDONE WHEN I'M DRIVING WHICH IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SAFETY.

20171221CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND LOWER BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. *TT UPDATED 8/30/18*JB

Mileage: 136,000

20171003WHEELS

WHILE IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY, THE SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE UNDER THE TRUCK BED FAILED AND THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. AFTER IT FELL, A SECOND SAFETY CABLE USED TO PREVENT THEFT OF THE TIRE WAS CAUSING THE TIRE TO DRAG BEHIND THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF MILES. WHILE PULLING OVER, THE SAFETY CABLE ALSO FAILED DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE GROUND AND THE TIRE CAME FULLY LOOSE FROM THE TRUCK. ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND THE TRUCK RAN INTO THE TIRE BUT NO MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE LOOSE SPARE TIRE AND THE LOOSE SAFETY CABLE LOCK WERE RECOVERED, HOWEVER, THE BROKEN PIECE FOR THE TIRE HOIST WAS NOT RECOVERABLE. DAMAGED/FAILED HARDWARE: OEM SPARE TIRE CABLE HOIST (FAILED), THIRD PART SAFETY CABLE (DAMAGED)

Mileage: 110,500

20170402ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY PICKUP WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHEN IT WOULDN'T START. I RAISED THE HOOD AND A RAT WAS UNDER THE HOOD WITH DEBRIS WITH PIECES OF HOSES AND INSULATION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER REMOVING THE DEBRIS I COULD SEE THE WIREING COATINGS AND THE HOSES WERE ALL CHEWED AND MISSING WITH PART OF IT IN THE DEBRIS. I HAD DISCOVERED THE SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR THAT DAY BUT WITH A SQUIRREL UNDER THE HOOD! I'VE LIVED HERE MANY YEARS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES. AFRAID THIS COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT DOESN'T SHOW UP TILL ON THE ROAD. HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE & COST. WHY ARE THE RODENTS EATING THE WIRING COVER AND HOSES IN VEHICLES?

Mileage: 134,000

20160117SERVICE BRAKES

RUSTED BRAKE LINES. ALMOST TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING.

20151002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL POWER IS LOST. ALL LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL COME ON AS IF THE TRUCK WERE JUST STARTED. "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE TRUCK RESTARTS AND CONTINUES WORKING AND OTHER TIMES IT STALLS COMPLETELY AS IF THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND IN RANDOM SITUATIONS. WE MAY BE ACCELERATING AGGRESSIVELY (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC) OR DRIVING SMOOTHLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH ROAD CONDITIONS, TEMPERATURE OR WHETHER WE ARE DRIVING UP OR DOWNS A HILL, ON THE FLATS, GOING STRAIGHT OR AROUND CURVES. IT MAY HAPPEN TWICE WITHIN A MILE THEN NOT AGAIN THAT DAY. ONCE IT HAS STALED COMPLETELY, STARTING THE ENGINE CAN BE DIFFICULT, LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL OR ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE ENGINE. FUEL FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED WITH NO CHANGE IN SYMPTOMS. PROBLEM CODES THAT COME UP WHEN DIAGNOSED ARE AS FOLLOWS... P1632 P0341 P0335 THIS PROBLEM HAS JUST BEGUN TO SHOW ITSELF IN THE PAST

20141118ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 01/09/15*LJ UPDATED 06/2/2015 *JS

Mileage: 76,000

20141118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 01/09/15*LJ UPDATED 06/2/2015 *JS

Mileage: 76,000

20141029VISIBILITY/WIPER

SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS. WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. HAVE CHANGED THE MOTOR TWICE AND RECENTLY STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO BOTH CABLES IN THE LID CORRODED AND BROKE. USING SOME CHAINS TO HOLD UNTIL ABLE TO FIND AND BUY THE CABLES. WILL GET THE VIN NUMBER TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER PART OF A RECALL I WASN'T AWARE OF. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20141029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS. WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. HAVE CHANGED THE MOTOR TWICE AND RECENTLY STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO BOTH CABLES IN THE LID CORRODED AND BROKE. USING SOME CHAINS TO HOLD UNTIL ABLE TO FIND AND BUY THE CABLES. WILL GET THE VIN NUMBER TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER PART OF A RECALL I WASN'T AWARE OF. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

20141025EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

WATER LEAK IN COWL AREA ALLOWED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT UNDETECTED UNDER CARPET MOISTURE BARRIER CAUSING ACCESSORY HANDICAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO CORRODE. CORROSION OF THE PEDAL ARM PIVOT SHAFT EVENTUALLY CAUSED PEDAL TO FREEZE IN A PART THROTTLE POSITION IN TRAFFIC. EVASIVE MANEUVER REQUIRED TO AVOID COLLISION WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20141025STRUCTURE

WATER LEAK IN COWL AREA ALLOWED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT UNDETECTED UNDER CARPET MOISTURE BARRIER CAUSING ACCESSORY HANDICAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO CORRODE. CORROSION OF THE PEDAL ARM PIVOT SHAFT EVENTUALLY CAUSED PEDAL TO FREEZE IN A PART THROTTLE POSITION IN TRAFFIC. EVASIVE MANEUVER REQUIRED TO AVOID COLLISION WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20141025VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WATER LEAK IN COWL AREA ALLOWED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT UNDETECTED UNDER CARPET MOISTURE BARRIER CAUSING ACCESSORY HANDICAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO CORRODE. CORROSION OF THE PEDAL ARM PIVOT SHAFT EVENTUALLY CAUSED PEDAL TO FREEZE IN A PART THROTTLE POSITION IN TRAFFIC. EVASIVE MANEUVER REQUIRED TO AVOID COLLISION WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20141017SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON A BUMPY ROAD, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE OF THE REAR AXLE DAMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20140527TIRES

GOODYEAR ALLEGRA P205 75R15 SIDEWALL SEPARATION AND CRACKING LEAD TO BLOWOUT. INNER SIDEWALL SHOWED CRACKING AND RIPPLING AS THOUGH CHORDS WERE BROKEN. ONLY 25,000 MILES AS MY DAILY DRIVER, NO HEAVY LOADS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140327ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVY S10 PICK UP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE RELIEVING THE KEY RING OF ADDED WEIGHT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. UPDATED 06/04/2014 *JS

Mileage: 65,000

20130706POWER TRAIN

I WAS PULLING INTO A MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THROUGH LANE AND THE SILICONE ISOLATION MOUNT WHERE THE TOP PART OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER MEETS THE BOTTOM PART COMING UP FROM THE TRANSMISSION BROKE LOOSE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT WITH THE TOP LEVER NOW. IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIFT USING THE SHORT BOTTOM PIECE COMING UP FROM THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO DO SO. *TR

Mileage: 165,000

Compare 1998CHEVROLETS10 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 CHEVROLET S10 have?
The 1998 CHEVROLET S10 has 742 NHTSA complaints, 76 crashes, 9 fires, 47 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET S10?
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET S10 is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR with 85 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1998 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.