Problems · by component

1997 Chevrolet S-10 power train problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 cite power train, 10% of all 469 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
48
10% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“AROUND THE END OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, MY TRUCK STARTED SHIFTING INTO "SECOND" GEAR HARD AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOWARD THE END OF A 200 MILE TRIP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NO LONGER HAS A "SECOND" GEAR. THE TRUCK HAD 48,023 MILES ON IT. I CANNOT DETERMINE FOR SURE IF THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION IS WORKING, EITHER. WHILE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR PERSONAL INJURY, THE POTENTIAL WAS SIGNIFICANT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN USED FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION, NOT COMMERCIAL PURPOSES OR HAULING HEAVY LOADS. REPAIRS WILL BE COSTLY. MY RESEARCH INDICATES REPEAT FAILURES FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM MY MOTHER AFTER MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2005Power trainODI 10116174
“CONSUMER STATED THAT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO, SHE HAD A THROW BEARING PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, WAS HAVING THAT SAME PROBLEM. WHEN PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AS IF THERE WAS METAL TO METAL GRINDING. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2004Power trainODI 10081506
“WHILE DRIVING OIL LINE CAME APART AND DUMPED OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE OIL LINE WAS REPLACED. THEN, TRANSMISSION LINE CAME APART AND DUMPED TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE. TRANSMISSION LINE WAS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE BOTH LINES COMING APART WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2004Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 10075900
“SUNSHELL IN TRANSMISSION BROKEN TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS, REPAIR SHOP STATES HEAVY DUTY SUNSHELL HAS BEEN RELEASED TO REPLACE THE INFERIOR SUNSHELL THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR THE 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. REPAIR SHOP STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REPAIRS EACH TIME TOTALLING IN EXCESS OF $2,000.00. PURCHUSED VEHICLE FROM FATHER AT 13,000 MILES. HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AT 10,000 MILES. SERVICED BY LOVE CHEVOLET ON DEC. 1, 1998.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2004Power trainODI 10066060
“WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2004Power trainODI 10053672
“GOT THE TRUCK AT 48,400 MILES. AT 48,800 AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONTINUOULY FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, MY TRUCK SHIFTED VERY HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED LIKE CLOCKWORK. TALKED TO BOTH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND CHEVROLET AND NEITHER WOULD BUDGE ON ASSISTING ON THE REPAIR BILL WHICH CAME OUT TO BE $710. AFTER READING ABOUT MORE COMPLAINT OF THE SAME NATURE ON THIS AND MANY MORE SITES, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW CHEVROLET CAN GET AWAY WITH PASSING THIS COST ON TO THE CONSUMER. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2003Power trainODI 10050815

Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.