IllustrationTHE LIGHTS IN THE DASH EITHER STAY ON AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BULBS OUT FOR THEM TO NOT LIGHT. ALSO ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH FLICKER WHENEVER YOU STOP OR EXCILLERATE. YOU PUSH IN THE LIGHTER YOU LOSE THE RADIO AND EVERYTHING ON THAT FUSE. HAS BEEN FIXED ONCE BEFORE BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK.*AK
1986 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1986 Chevrolet S10 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
22 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SAHKE AND VIBRATES.*AK
THE TREAD OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CASING AND CAME THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE (DEFIANCE CENTENNIAL). NLM
STEERING LINKAGE HAS VERY BAD SQUEAKING PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1986 S10 BLAZERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY TRUTH TO IT. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ABOUT 10/21/99. I…
Read full complaint
STEERING LINKAGE HAS VERY BAD SQUEAKING PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN INFORMED BY AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1986 S10 BLAZERS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY TRUTH TO IT. IT HAS BEEN SQUEAKING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ABOUT 10/21/99. IF YOU HAVE NO INFO, CAN YOU DIRECT ME WHERE I COULD CONTACT SOMEONE WHO MAY? THANK YOU.
THE TREAD ON THREE OF THESE TIRES HAVE SHREDDED IN THE LAST 6 YRS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/75R15 )
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AT 55 MPHIN WHICH DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SNAPPED INTO TWO. NO INJURIES WAS REPORTED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTRACTED. *AK
THE ADL LINK SAYS EVERYTHING IS OKAY, BUT WHEN I AM DRIVING THIS THING THE MIL BLINKS ON AND OFF SHUTTING ALL POWER OFF TO THE IGNITION, HEADLIGHTS, TURN& TAIL LGHTS, FUEL PUMP. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS STILL WORKING BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DECEASED.
I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT. MY SEATBELTS JUST WON'T RETRACT. I DON'T FEEL AT ALL SAFE!!
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL DUE TO CORROSION.CONSUMER BELEIVED THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 74,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
UPON COMING TP STOP SIGN APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO 20 MPH BUT LOAD IN BOX OF TRUCK STARTED TO SHIFT. LET UP ON BRAKES. WHEN BRAKES WERE REAPPLIED, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WENT INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER TWICE. RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE BROKE.
Official recalls
186V140000 · Equipment:other:labels
Oct 21, 1986
TIRE AND WHEEL INFORMATION ON CERTIFICATION LABEL MAY BE INCORRECT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 120.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL CERTIFIED LABEL WITH CORRECT INFORMATION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE90039 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure
Opened Feb 5, 1990 · Closed Jun 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA89003 · Rear Axle Shaft
Opened Nov 7, 1988 · Closed Aug 24, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE88047 · Rear Axle Failure
Opened Apr 19, 1988 · Closed Nov 7, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available