Total Complaints
4 filings
CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP · model year
1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETS10 PICKUP carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 3 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 PICKUP is engine with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (1) and structure (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 1988 S10 PICKUP, 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20170131STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD START TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Mileage: 115,000
20120911FatalENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A FATAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN WHICH THE ADULT MALE VICTIM HAD THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CARBURETOR WAS TAKEN APART AND THERE WAS A CAN OF CARBURETOR CLEANER WAS ON THE GROUND. A SINGLE BLADE OF THE COOLING FAN APPARENTLY BROKE OFF/CAME OFF OF THE FAN. THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE PLASTIC 'PROTECTIVE' HOUSING. THE VICTIM WAS BELIEVED TO BE STANDING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OR NEAR THE BATTERY (PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT AREA). A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING HIGH REVVING OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE VICTIM WAS DOING SO MANUALLY. THE BLADE WAS FOUND RESTING ABOUT TEN FEET AWAY ON A STAIR APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE VICTIM WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY A DEEP CUT ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK WHERE HE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD. HIS WIFE FOUND HIM SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, MEDICS ARRIVED AND THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE U
Mileage: 83,427
20120911FatalSTRUCTURE
I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A FATAL INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN WHICH THE ADULT MALE VICTIM HAD THE ENGINE RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CARBURETOR WAS TAKEN APART AND THERE WAS A CAN OF CARBURETOR CLEANER WAS ON THE GROUND. A SINGLE BLADE OF THE COOLING FAN APPARENTLY BROKE OFF/CAME OFF OF THE FAN. THE BLADE CUT THROUGH THE PLASTIC 'PROTECTIVE' HOUSING. THE VICTIM WAS BELIEVED TO BE STANDING NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OR NEAR THE BATTERY (PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT AREA). A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING HIGH REVVING OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE VICTIM WAS DOING SO MANUALLY. THE BLADE WAS FOUND RESTING ABOUT TEN FEET AWAY ON A STAIR APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE VICTIM WAS FATALLY WOUNDED BY A DEEP CUT ACROSS THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS NECK WHERE HE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BLOOD. HIS WIFE FOUND HIM SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT, MEDICS ARRIVED AND THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE U
Mileage: 83,427
20120907FatalENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WHEN ONE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES FRACTURED AND DISLODGED INTO THE AIR. THE BLADE THEN STRUCK THE OWNER SHARPLY IN THE NECK, IMMEDIATELY KILLING HIM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,427. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF THE CONTACT IS NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS REPORTING THE INCIDENT ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE. UPDATED 10/31/2012 *JS
Mileage: 83,427
Compare 1988CHEVROLETS10 PICKUP 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 PICKUP have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and STRUCTURE.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP 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.