1997 Chevrolet S10 problems
NHTSA has received 574 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet S10, and 21% of them involve wipers, windshield & visibility. After that come brakes (20%) and air bags (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 574 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 72 and 9
- Injuries and deaths
- 46 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 132 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 23 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 35 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 12 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 8 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 132 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 82,000 miles. For wipers, windshield & visibility specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (36 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 72 complaints mention a crash; 9 complaints mention a fire; 46 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the Chevrolet S10 with enough data (324 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I am an automotive forensic investigator. I have inspected this vehicle, which was involved in a rollover incident, and found the same "energy management loop" as was recalled in NHTSA recall #03v117000. The driver of this vehicle was a 29 year old gentleman, 6 foot tall and 200 pounds. He was fully ejected and fatally injured.
Driver's side seatbelt gave way, allowing the buckle end of the seatbelt to come out about another foot, which threw the driver from the vehicle. Vehicle was totaled in a crash.
Driving at 35MPH the spare tire/wheel fell from the underside of the vehicle. The tire/wheel rolled across the road. No traffic.
I have read of a saftey recall on this vehical with the exact description of what happened to me, I should have had plenty of distance to stop, it's only a small pick up, I know for certian I have a fully loaded work truck a ford 3/4 ton econoline van and I know I could have stopped that vehicle in time. I was standing on the brakes, they just wouldnt do anything , in an emergency they just don't cut the mustard. I had extensive front end damage, and my neek has been not feeling good ever since.
Bought truck in october and have recently been experiencing extremely hard shifting from first into second gear. This is also accompanied by the service engine soon light. I spoke with a transmission specialist about this and he said it is a very common problem with these GM transmissions, he suggested replacing the valve body which he said is clearly defective from the factory in my opinion GM should issue a recall on these transmissions. ****dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis****760962