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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 →

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

What owners actually said

963 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2004
Structure

I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 2WD REGULAR CAB PICKUP. THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY TRUCK ARE EITHER FAILING OR HAVE FAILED. I DO NOT USE MY VEHICLE FOR ANY SPECIAL PURPOSES, JUST NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THROUGH THE REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF MY TAILGATE MY RIGHT-SIDE CABLE HAS SNAPPED, AND MY LEFT-SIDE CABLE IS FREYING AND I EXPE…

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I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 2WD REGULAR CAB PICKUP. THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY TRUCK ARE EITHER FAILING OR HAVE FAILED. I DO NOT USE MY VEHICLE FOR ANY SPECIAL PURPOSES, JUST NORMAL EVERYDAY USE. THROUGH THE REGULAR OPENING AND CLOSING OF MY TAILGATE MY RIGHT-SIDE CABLE HAS SNAPPED, AND MY LEFT-SIDE CABLE IS FREYING AND I EXPECT TO SNAP IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IF THE LEFT-SIDE CABLE SNAPS THERE WILL BE NOTHING KEEPING THE TAILGATE FROM FALLING OFF. I AM AFRAID THAT WHEN IT FAILS IT WILL BE UNDER LOAD AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104143

145,000 miles · Dec 3, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK WHERE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE CONNECTS TO THE GAS TANK. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT IN 1994. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT IDENTIFYING WITH THE RECALL NUMBER WHICH WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER. *AK NO RECALL FOUND FOR THIS VEHICLE. IN LOOKING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL THE …

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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK WHERE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE CONNECTS TO THE GAS TANK. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT IN 1994. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT IDENTIFYING WITH THE RECALL NUMBER WHICH WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER. *AK NO RECALL FOUND FOR THIS VEHICLE. IN LOOKING IN THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHERE A RUBBER SLEEVE/UNION WAS DAMP WITH FUEL. THE FUEL SMELL COULD BE NOTICED FROM A DISTANCE. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10094891

70,000 miles · Nov 3, 2004
Visibility

RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10099299

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

VEHICLE'S ABS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES.*MR THE ABS WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL BUT FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE UNIROYAL TIRES SEEMED TO BE OUT OF ROUND. *NM *JB

NHTSA ODI #10092597

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD RANDOMLY SLOW, STOP OR NOT WORK. LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD TURN OFF AFTER TURN IS COMPLETE(NOT SURE IF THEY'RE RELATED). HAD MOTOR AND MODULE REPLACED IN 2000 FOR $650 AND NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM. RECALL ISSUED FOR SOME '1994'S BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE, YET IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL COVERS ON SIM…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD RANDOMLY SLOW, STOP OR NOT WORK. LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD TURN OFF AFTER TURN IS COMPLETE(NOT SURE IF THEY'RE RELATED). HAD MOTOR AND MODULE REPLACED IN 2000 FOR $650 AND NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM. RECALL ISSUED FOR SOME '1994'S BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE, YET IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL COVERS ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. CHEVROLET NOT ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088488

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRIVING ALONG AT A SPEED OF 25-30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE STATED THAT HIS SON APPLIED HIS BRAKES PLENTY OF TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. ALSO, HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN, WHICH CAUSED …

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CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS SON WAS DRIVING ALONG AT A SPEED OF 25-30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE STATED THAT HIS SON APPLIED HIS BRAKES PLENTY OF TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. ALSO, HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO PLOW RIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE PERSON'S VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE OTHER VEHICLE'S AIR BAG TO DEPLOY, INJURING THE PASSENGER SOME. CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE BRAKES. HE STATES THAT HE HAS NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10083446

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2004
Visibility

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081919

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10073905

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2004
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF. THE WIRES AND CABLES THAT HELD IT TO THE VEHICLE BROKE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10067107

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2004
Tires

FIRESTONE REPLACED A TIRE BECAUSE THE OTHER TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE VIBRATED. A TECHNICIAN WHO NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD BUBBLES AND POSSIBLE TREAD SEPARATION SERVICED THE TIRES. FIRESTONE, P20575R15. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073477

Official recalls

5

99V193000 · 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.

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

5

EA99018 · 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