IllustrationPREMATURE FAILURE OR WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS/SLIDES.
1994 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than 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: 40 of 963 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 520 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 239 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
121 crash reports7 fire reports30 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
520 reportsLOCATION OF BRAKE PEDAL AND STEM TOO CLOSE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL. COULD RESULT IN BRAKE MISAPPLICATON. *SLC
VEHICLES ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED 2TIMES WITH SOFT PEDAL, EA94-038. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED. BRAKES FAIL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, CONSUMER STATES OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, BRAKES ARE VERY DIFFICULT. REAR MAIN SEAL DEVELOPED SLOW LEAK. *SLC
EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS,HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.POWER ASSIST, AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED ONCE EACH.*AK
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE, ABS INTERMITTENTLY FAILS, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, EA94-038. *AK
# EA94-038 DURING WET WEATHER ON TWO OCASSIONS APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TRUCK SLID AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, HAD ABS. DEALER FOUND DRUMS OUT OF ROUND. *SLC *JB
BRAKES FAIL TO STOP TRAILER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOAD TRAILER. *AW
THE ABS SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING POWER, VEHICLE REAERENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE . *AK
THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, BRAKES AND SWITCH DON'T SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS LEAVING FOR HOME AND ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUEDTO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT NO RESPONSE SPEED WAS …
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THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, BRAKES AND SWITCH DON'T SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS LEAVING FOR HOME AND ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON ON THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUEDTO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT NO RESPONSE SPEED WAS OVER 80 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN IT OFF PER ON-OFF SWITCH ON TURN SIGNAL LEVER BUT NO RESPONSE, CONSUMER TURNED OFF ENGINE AND COASTED UP A RAMP THROUGH A RED LIGHT, PUTTING PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL CONTINOUSLY PEDAL WAS VERY HARD, TURNED A HARD RIGHT INTO A SERVICE STATION, VEHICLE STOPPED, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES GOT BACK IN A BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL HARD, CONSUMER PUT GEAR IN NEUTRAL TURNED IGNITION KEY RPM NEEDLE WAS ALL THE WAY TOO THE RIGHT, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. ALSO FRONT ROTORS AND FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER THAT PADS FLAKED APART WHEN THEY WERE REOMVED.*JB
Official recalls
599V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
97V096001 · Seat Belts
Jun 12, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
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.
94V228000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 21, 1994
A VACUUM HOSE CAN DETACH FROM THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AS A RESULT OF ENGINE BACKFIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN INCREASED ENGINE IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AFTER DEPLETION OF THE BOOSTER VACUUM RESERVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CLAMP ON THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSIST.
94V014000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jan 26, 1994
THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPES WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND THE VENT TUBE DURING A TEST. THE LOSS OF FUEL WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, IT MAY CAUSE THE JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPES AND THE VENT TUBE TO CRACK. IF THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED, FUEL LEAKAGE WOULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE ON THESE VEHICLES.
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
5EA99018 · Spare Tire Separation From Vehicle
Opened Jun 30, 1999 · Closed Oct 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
No summary supplied.
PE99004 · Separation Of Spare Tire From Vehicle
Opened Jan 15, 1999 · Closed Jun 30, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
ALLEGED THAT WIRE CABLE/WINCH ASSEMBLY WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY UDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE TIRE TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION
PE96048 · Loss Of Steering Control
Opened Jul 19, 1996 · Closed Nov 13, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
lower clamp of the steering linkage intershaft may separate fro steering gear shaft due to disengagement of clamp bolt and/or improper fit of the lower clamp with the steering shaft.
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
PE94046 · Abs Braking System Fails
Opened Jun 17, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available