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1990 Chevrolet S10

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet S10 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.

About this comparison →
29Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
198737
198848
198929
1990174
1991180
1992233
1993
Compare all S10 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Structure
3Equipment
2
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Tires
2Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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: 1 of 29 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
98,858 miles · Mar 16, 2014
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureCrash

A JEEP WITH A BIKE MOUNTED ON A BIKE RACK STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT QUICKLY LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO SWERVE, BUT HIT THE REAR OF THE JEEP, DAMAGING THE BIKE AND BIKE RACK. SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY GRILLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER AND HEADLIGHT, AND RA…

Read full complaint

A JEEP WITH A BIKE MOUNTED ON A BIKE RACK STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT QUICKLY LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO SWERVE, BUT HIT THE REAR OF THE JEEP, DAMAGING THE BIKE AND BIKE RACK. SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY GRILLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER AND HEADLIGHT, AND RADIATOR MOUNT. AFTER EXCHANGING INSURANCE INFORMATION, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND, BY THE FUEL TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE. LIMPED HOME (ABOUT 2 BLOCKS). NO BRAKES OTHER THAN EMERGENCY BRAKE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED FAILED BRAKE LINE AND SEVERE RUST ON MOST BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572700

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT WHEELS LOCK, AND REAR WHEELS KEEP TURNING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878310

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

BRAKES FAILED TWICE; BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED WITHIN TWO YEARS, RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

NHTSA ODI #780775

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #540888

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

ABS BRAKES FAILED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #534196

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1997
Seat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE, RESULTIN IN ROLLOVER. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO FLY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT AND ONTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820053

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING APPROX 30 MPH, NEEDING TO MAKE A QUICK STOP, APPLIED BRAKES, NO REACTION, DID NOT STOP. MECHANIC CHANGED PADS/DRUMS, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED AFTER 1 YEAR. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #818505

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND PEDAL OCCASIONALLY FLUCTUATES TO THE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805201

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES ON THE RIGHT SIDE WEAR OUT, BUT THE OUTSIDE PADS WEAR OUT FIRST . THE CENSOR THAT SHOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PADS ARE WORN OUT IS ON THE INSIDE, SO THE CONSUMER HAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE BRAKES ARE GONE UNLESS VISUAL INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801353

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1995
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN EXPERIENCE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND COMPLETE FAILURE IMPACT 10:00 POSITION SPEED 35 MPH. TT

NHTSA ODI #958332

Official recalls

2

96V195000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector

Oct 8, 1996

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LOOSENS AT THE STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR COUPLING. WITH THIS LOOSENESS, THE YOKE PINCH BOLT CAN WEAR ON THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE IS NO LONGER AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPLINES AND THE BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODY TO CHASSIS MOVEMENT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

93V008000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Jan 14, 1993

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN ASSEMBLY.

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

4

EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

EA92015 · High Idle Flare

Opened May 22, 1992 · Closed May 28, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92001 · High Idle Flare

Opened Jan 7, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE91057 · Headlight Switch Failure

Opened Mar 6, 1991 · Closed Jul 12, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available