Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Chevrolet S-10 problems

Owners filed 238 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet S-10 with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Feb 2017. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (37).

Complaints
238
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic37
  2. Seats32
  3. Power train28
  4. Structure26
  5. Air bags26
  6. Engine and engine cooling23
  7. Electrical system17
  8. Tires12
  9. Equipment12
  10. Suspension9
  11. Vehicle speed control7
  12. Fuel system, gasoline6
  13. Seat belts6
  14. Steering6

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199924
200040
200127
200221
200331
200433
200520
20067
20077
20085
20093
20105
20117
20122
20131
20144
20150
20160
20171

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

37 reports5 crashes
“A BRAKE LINE FAILED IN A PARKING LOT AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALER SAID THE LINE WAS CORRODED AND SPLICED IN A COMPRESSION FITTING AT A COST OF $222.50. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN 2 OTHER FAILURES OF BRAKE LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE SECOND FAILURE, I REPLACED ABOUT 10 FT OF BRAKE LINE MYSELF. THE 3RD BRAKE LINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS FIXING A BROKEN UPPER CONTROL ARM THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO (WOW) CORROSION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2011Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10440282

Seats

32 reports
“NO EVENTS LEADING TO IT. JUST HAPPENS OUT OF THE BLUE WHEN USING IT. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. SEAT RECLINER LEVERS DEFECTIVE AND BREAK VERY EASY, THE PARTS THAT HOLD IT TOGETHER ARE CHEAP DIE CAST METAL. HAVEN'T BOTHERED REPLACING AS I CANNOT AFFORD, DEALER WONT REPLACE, JUNK YARDS DON'T HAVE THEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2011SeatsODI 10382977

Power train

28 reports1 crash1 fire
“YES MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT SAID SERVICE ENGINE SOON. SO I TOOK IT TO A MICHANIC AND HAD IT CHECKED AND IT CAME UP THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES IS THERE ANYTHING OR HELP I CAN GET TO REPLACE IT? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2013Power trainODI 10535021

Structure

26 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE HAD FRACTURED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,620.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2014Structure, TiresODI 10565676

Air bags

26 reports21 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT'S SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. HIS INJURIES CONSISTED OF A SPRAINED ANKLE AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED HIM, BUT CAUSED BRUISING IN THE CHEST AREA. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,861.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2007Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10188565

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports1 fire
“IT'S A 99 S-10 V6 / 4.3LITER RARELY DRIVEN, 62,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NO REAL EVENT LEADING TO THE PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW IT IS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. I CANNOT SEE WHERE THE LEAK IS DIRECTLY AS IT PICKS AND CHOOSES DAYS TO LEAK AND NOT LEAK. IT HASN'T OVERHEATED OR ANYTHING YET. IT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR FLUID IN IT FROM WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I KEEP TELLING MY MECHANIC WE NEED TO FLUSH OR JUST CHANGE THE FLUID. FOR OVER 6 MONTHS HE KEEPS SAYING ITS FINE. IT DRIPS ONTO THE SKID PLATE UNDER THE ENGINE AND DRIPS FROM THERE. NEVER A HUGE PUDDLE JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE A 2 FOOT DIAMETER WET SPOT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. MECHANIC SAYS TO PUT KARS RADIATOR STOP LEAK IN IT. I HAVE A LONG ROAD TRIP COMING UP IN 2 WEEKS AND AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT OF TOWN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10277231
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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