IllustrationMileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #734599
1999 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
90–25K
2225–50K
2850–75K
1475–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
89 reports with mileage · 142 unknown
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 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports2 fire reports20 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
34 reportsNO SUMMARY
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A TERRIBLE SHAKE IN STEERING WHEEL UPON BRAKING, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS DUE TO RUST ON THE ROTORS. *SLC
AC DELCO BATTERY CAME ORIGINAL WITH THE VEHICLE, LEAKED ACID ONTO BRAKE LINE WHICH CAUSE NO BRAKING ABILITY, ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP TO ZERO & THEN GO BACK TO 50. ALSO, BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON/TRANSMISSION STUCK IN ONE GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD PROBLEMS REPAIRED. ALL PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT AND NOT READILY DUPLICATED. SINCE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEMS HAVE RETURNED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABS LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY.ALSO, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IN THE COMPUTER AREA. CONTACTED DEALER, HE COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP. ABS SYSTEM REACTS TOO QUICKLY. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. WOULD HAPPEN ON SLIPPERY ROADS. IT WOULD BE WORSE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN 4-WD AND NOT IN 2-WD. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. *AK
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. AT 3,500 MILES BOTH, CALIPERS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 6,000 MILES, FOUND BOTH FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY WORN OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CURRENTLY, AT 10,200 MILES BOTH ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED. AT 6000 MILES THE HOSES IN THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. AT 3,500 MILES BOTH, CALIPERS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 6,000 MILES, FOUND BOTH FRONT PADS HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY WORN OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. CURRENTLY, AT 10,200 MILES BOTH ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED. AT 6000 MILES THE HOSES IN THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
3EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables
Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.
RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break
Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.
PE99009 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity
Opened Feb 1, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
ALLEGED THAT THE FUEL TANK MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PUNCTURE IN CERTAIN CRASH MODES