IllustrationUPON 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.
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
3 reportsPOOR PERFORMANCE ON THE BRAKE LINE. BRAKE LINE FAILURE. TT
BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAIL. *AW
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