Problems · by component

1997 Chevrolet S-10 service brakes, hydraulic problems

91 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 cite service brakes, hydraulic, 19% of all 469 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
91
19% of all complaints
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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. MY FATHER IN LAW GAVE THIS TRUCK TO MY WIFE HEN HE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE, AND IT WAS TOLD TO ME HE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE SHOP REPEATEDLY FOR THE SAME THING SINCE IT WAS NEW. SEEMS TO ME GM SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT AND THE BODY COLLISION, BEINGS THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT AND HAVENT DONE SQUAT, AND PAY FOR MY PAIN AND MEDICAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureCrash reportedODI 10499787
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE FLUID ABNORMALLY LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKES LINES WERE CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKES WERE BLED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V146001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 06/21/10 *BF UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10327728
“THERE ARE 8 SAFETY RECALLS ON THE CHEVY S10.1997.THE COMPANYS STATE MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST OF THESE RECALLS.BUT MY VEHICLES HAS ALL OF THESE DEFECTS.AND IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THESE ISSUES.IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY.BUT PEOPLES LUCK ALWAYS RUNS OUT.I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ITS BREAKING ME FINANCIALLY BY FIXING THIS ONE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, other, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Service brakes, electric, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10323395
“THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 1997 CHEVY S-10 BURST LEADING TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY ...LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT ... AN EMERGENCY REPAIR AT A NEARBY STATION COST ME $800 ... THEY REPLACED ONLY ONE SIDE OF BRAKING SYSTEM (THE SIDE THAT BURST) ... I TRIED TO CONTACT CHEVY TO GET THEM TO REPAIR THE OTHER SIDE (THAT WILL LIKELY BURST) AND THEY SAID "NO" - NOT COVERED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10311813
“BRAKES: THE FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AT SLOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IF THE VEHICLE HAS SET IDLE FOR A FEW DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE, WITH NO MEANS OF STOPPING. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2005Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10144424
“DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000 CONCERNING ANTI LOCKBRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VI AND THE YEAR, AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2005Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10143665

Showing 6 of 91 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.