Problems · by component

1998 Chevrolet S-10 air bags problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet S-10 cite air bags, 6% of all 638 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
6% of all complaints
Crashes
38
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND LOWER BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. *TT UPDATED 8/30/18*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11055884
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO THE RIGHT ARM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 236,000. UPDATED 04/11/12. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2012Air bagsODI 10451470
“WE WERE REAR-ENDED BY A BUS AND SHOVED INTO THE POLE THAT PROTECTS THE GAS PUMP, SO THE ACTUAL GAS STATION DID NOT EXPLODE. MY HEAD HIT EITHER THE WINDSHIELD OR THE DASHBOARD; I DON'T REMEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I AM STILL GOING THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR INJURIES TO MY NECK; CHRONIC NECK AND BACK PAIN. I SUFFER FROM TMJ PAIN DAILY. I HAVE DAILY CLUSTER HEADACHES, INSOMNIA, AND NIGHTMARES. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 11, 2009Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10291870
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154000.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2007Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10185683
“WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2004Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10068604
“WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2004Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10063343

Showing 6 of 39 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.