CHEVROLET S10 · model year

1999 CHEVROLET S10

298 NHTSA complaints, 38 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999CHEVROLETS10 carries 298 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 38 crashes, 4 fires, 24 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 1999 S10 is seats:front assembly:recliner with 26 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (23) and power train:automatic transmission (15). 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 1999 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.

298
Complaints
38
Crashes
4
Fires
24
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

298 filings

Crashes Reported

38 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER26
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP23
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION15
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL14
AIR BAGS12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE11
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS11
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER7
SEATS6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SUSPENSION5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL5

Recent Complaints

20170209ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY TRUCK SLOWLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. FIRST, THE DINGING NOISE THAT YOUR CAR MAKES QHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR IF YOU LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON, MY TRUCK WOULD MAKE THIS SOUND WITH NO LIGHT ON OR KEY IN IGNITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THEN THE GAUGES STARTED ACTING CRAZY, COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AT TIMES. NOW MY TRUCK WILL NOT START, IT TURNS OVER BUT SOMETHING DOESN'T CATCH OR FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE SPARK PLUGS ARE NEW.

Mileage: 150,000

20170209ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY TRUCK SLOWLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. FIRST, THE DINGING NOISE THAT YOUR CAR MAKES QHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR IF YOU LEAVE YOUR LIGHTS ON, MY TRUCK WOULD MAKE THIS SOUND WITH NO LIGHT ON OR KEY IN IGNITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THEN THE GAUGES STARTED ACTING CRAZY, COMPLETELY NOT WORKING AT TIMES. NOW MY TRUCK WILL NOT START, IT TURNS OVER BUT SOMETHING DOESN'T CATCH OR FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE SPARK PLUGS ARE NEW.

Mileage: 150,000

20140806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY IN LOCK HAVE TO MOVE IT BACK AND FRONT 7 TIMES TO GET IT IN START AND KEY COMES OUT IN START RUN ASS LOCK.. I SAW ON THE NEW THAT FROM 1997 TO 2015 BAD KEY SWITCHES. *TR

20140528ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20140310ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PROBLEM USUALLY APPEARS IN THE SUMMER, AND RARELY OCCURS DURING THE WINTER. IT STARTED BACK IN JUNE OF 2012, OCCURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. THEN STARTING IN JUNE OF 2013, IT BEGAN ACTING UP AN AVERAGE OF ONCE A WEEK UNTIL AUGUST. WHEN IT ACTS UP, I WILL BE DRIVING, AND THE TRUCK WILL BUCK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE NEEDLE ON THE TACH WILL JUMP UP AND DOWN, AND USUALLY SOME OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE DOORS TRY TO UNLOCK. IT BASICALLY ACTS LIKE THE IGNITION IS TRYING TO SHUT OFF BUT GETS FLICKED BACK INTO THE ON POSITION. IT WILL USUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF EPISODES WHERE IT WILL DO THIS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN RUN FINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WHEN IT DOES THIS, I USUALLY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SHUT IT OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHERE IT DIES IMMEDIATELY. WHEN IT DIES, I HAVE TO LEAVE IT IN NEUTRAL AND TRY TO COAST UNTIL I CAN PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. IF I TRY TO RE

Mileage: 120,000

20140224STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE HAD FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,620.

Mileage: 60,620

20140224TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE HAD FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,620.

Mileage: 60,620

20130812POWER TRAIN

YES MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID SERVICE ENGINE SOON. SO I TOOK IT TO A MICHANIC AND HAD IT CHECKED AND IT CAME UP THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES IS THERE ANYTHING OR HELP I CAN GET TO REPLACE IT? *TR

Mileage: 66,000

20120611CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I WAS MOVING MY TRUCK AROUND IN MY DRIVE WAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED AND I HIT THE GARAGE. AFTER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY OF A VEHICLE IS THIS POORLY MADE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 135,000

20120430ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH (HAZARD) HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING CAUSING A CASCADE FAILURE TO BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND IGNITION. *JS

Mileage: 160,000

20111217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

A BRAKE LINE FAILED IN A PARKING LOT AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER SAID THE LINE WAS CORRODED AND SPLICED IN A COMPRESSION FITTING AT A COST OF $222.50. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN 2 OTHER FAILURES OF BRAKE LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE SECOND FAILURE, I REPLACED ABOUT 10 FT OF BRAKE LINE MYSELF. THE 3RD BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS FIXING A BROKEN UPPER CONTROL ARM THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO (WOW) CORROSION. *TR

Mileage: 79,945

20111217SUSPENSION

THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ORIGINALLY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON THE TRUCK DUE TO LIABILITY ISSUES IF SOMETHING ELSE FAILED. WHEN I WENT IN TO PAY THE TOWING CHARGE, A DIFFERENT SERVICE COUNTER REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD INDEED WORK ON THE TRUCK BUT ONLY IF I AGREED TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES. TOTAL COST WAS ESTIMATED TO BE GREATER THAN $2500. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM FOR $473.77. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS BACKING THE TRUCK OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER THE REPAIR, A SECTION OF BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION (SEE SEPARATE COMPLAINT.) *TR

Mileage: 84,562

20110826SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10 4WD CR2. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE BRAKES EMITTED A LOUD NOISE WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE FRONT SPEED SENSOR LOW SIGNAL WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,276 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,326.

Mileage: 68,276

20110216WHEELS:RIM

THE RIMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE JUNK! MINE STARTED LEAKING AT 40,000 MILES 2ND SET OF TIRES. MINE AS WELL DID NOT SEE ANY SNOW FOR 4 YEARS. THE VERY 1ST YEAR IT SAW SNOW THE RIMS WERE DESTROYED. I HAVE TO PUT FIX A FLAT IN MY RIMS EVERY SO OFTEN WHICH IS MAKING THEM OUT OF BALANCE ALL THE TIME NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO IN THE SHOP TO BALANCE THEM. I TOO AM GETTING NICKELED AND DIMED TO DEATH WITH ALL SORTS OF FUNKY CHEAPLY MADE PARTS IN THIS TRUCK. THIS IS MY 4TH S-10, AND BY FAR THE WORST ONE I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

20110216CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ABS ON A SLIGHTLY BUMPY ROAD, CAUSED ACCIDENT. I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP BUT THE ABS KEPT KICKING IN FOR NO REASON MAKING ME SLIDE RIGHT INTO THE GUY. TRUCK IS STILL DAMAGED, 2200$ WORTH OF REPAIRS NEEDED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20110216SEATS

NO EVENTS LEADING TO IT. JUST HAPPENS OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN USING IT. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. SEAT RECLINER LEVERS DEFECTIVE AND BREAK VERY EASY, THE PARTS THAT HOLD IT TOGETHER ARE CHEAP DIE CAST METAL. HAVEN'T BOTHERED REPLACING AS I CANNOT AFFORD, DEALER WONT REPLACE, JUNK YARDS DON'T HAVE THEM. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

20110201STRUCTURE:BODY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR TAILGATE AND SUDDENLY THE CABLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TAILGATE CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 65,000

20101217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

1999 CHEVROLET S10. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACED AFTER THE ORIGINAL FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT PART FAILED AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SECOND FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SECOND DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.*JB

20100817STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

1999 TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES COVER TORN AND BROKEN WITH CORROSION ON BOTH SIDES OF GATE. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

20100722STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DEFECTIVE FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

Compare 1999CHEVROLETS10 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 CHEVROLET S10 have?
The 1999 CHEVROLET S10 has 298 NHTSA complaints, 38 crashes, 4 fires, 24 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 CHEVROLET S10?
The most-complained component for the 1999 CHEVROLET S10 is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 26 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1999 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.