IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND GOING DOWN A HILL, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP AND SKIPPED, AND VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING. *AK
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
What owners actually said
963 reportsTHE WIPER MOTOR WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IF A BUMP IS HIT WIPERS WILL CUT OUT. RECALL ISSUED ON 1995 AND 1996 MODELS BUT NOT 1994. WE OWN TWO 1994 S10 AND BOTH ARE HAVING THE PROBLEMS WITH WIPER MOTOR. WIPER MOTOR HAS CUT OUT TRAVELLING IN RAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD.
THERE IS A SWITCH THAT ENGAGES THE BRAKES UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWICH FAILED AND KEPT THE BRAKES ON FOR THE LAST 300 MILES OF A TRIP. THIS WORE THE BRAKES OUT AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AT ABOUT 6000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH AND REDID THE BRAKES TO MAKE THEM WORK. WHAT THIS INCLUDED I FOUND OUT AT 23,000…
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THERE IS A SWITCH THAT ENGAGES THE BRAKES UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWICH FAILED AND KEPT THE BRAKES ON FOR THE LAST 300 MILES OF A TRIP. THIS WORE THE BRAKES OUT AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AT ABOUT 6000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH AND REDID THE BRAKES TO MAKE THEM WORK. WHAT THIS INCLUDED I FOUND OUT AT 23,000 MILES WHEN MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REDONE AGAIN. THE REAR DRUMS ARE BLUE FROM THE HEAT. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED TO WITHIN 0.001 OF SCRAP. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT 23,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR THE SECOND TIME WITHOUT CHARGING $50.00 AND BASICALLY SAID THAT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND TOUGH COOKIES. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE FINALLY BEEN CAUGHT ON THIS. PS THEY ALSO REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE CONVERTER PUMP UP PROBLEM.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN BARKES ARE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED, BRAKES MAKE A CRUNCHING NOISE, & PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY SMALL OR LARGE BUMPS. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PUMPED TO STOP, MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE NUMBER OF FAILURES & SPECIFIC DATES WERE NOT PROVIDED, TOO NUMEROUS TO PUT IN THAT SECTION OF THE QUESTIONAIRE. FOUR DE…
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WHEN BARKES ARE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED, BRAKES MAKE A CRUNCHING NOISE, & PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY SMALL OR LARGE BUMPS. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PUMPED TO STOP, MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE NUMBER OF FAILURES & SPECIFIC DATES WERE NOT PROVIDED, TOO NUMEROUS TO PUT IN THAT SECTION OF THE QUESTIONAIRE. FOUR DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS NORMAL. BRAKE FAILURE IS NOT NORMAL, THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CURRENT RECALL LIST. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
SHOULDER AND LAP BELT BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT IS COMPLETELY EXTENDED FROM THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING IT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY DURING LARGE RAIN STORMS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS SAME DEFECT. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHILE ITS RAINING CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, CLUTCH IS OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
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