Problems · by component
1999 Chevrolet S-10 power train problems
28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet S-10 cite power train, 12% of all 238 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
28
12% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“THE REASON THERE IS SO MANY ACCIDENTS & DEATHS WITH CELL PHONE USE IS THE PHONE & AUTO MAKERS DON'T REALLY CARE. ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS HAVE THE CELL PHONE RECEIVE A SIGNAL FROM THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR TO INTERRUPT OR STOP THE INCOMING/OUTGOING CELL PHONE SIGNAL AS SOON AS THE WHEELS ON THE CAR MOVE. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AGAIN THE CELL PHONE SIGNAL RE-ACTIVATES. COME ON PEOPLE WITH THE ELECTRONIC WIZARDS WE HAVE TODAY THIS WOULD BE A SLAM DUNK.THE PHONE &CAR MAKERS MAY HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER DOLLAR OR 2,ON SAFETY BUT I THINK IT IS WORTH IT .THE "TEXTING AND TALKING VIOLATIONS WOULD DECREASE ALSO. I WILL BE SURPRISED IF THIS IS EVEN READ OR FORWARDED THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT TODAY IS $$$ . PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG". *TR”
“I HAD A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COME ON, HAD IT SCANNED, IT WAS TROUBLE CODE P1870. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS...MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HAD TO REBUILD MY 4L60E TRANSMISSION AND/ OR TORQUE CONVERTER. INSTEAD WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER REGULATOR VALVE WITH A SONNAX TCC REGULATOR VALVE KIT. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS FROM 1999 AND BACK. *JB”
“FOR THE SECOND TIME MY 1999 CHEVY S-10 PICKUP HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE I HAVE LOST SECOND GEAR AND REVERSE. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR, THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME $1,600.00 TO REPLACE A $44.00 PART BECAUSE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CHEVY IS MADE WITH INFERIOR PARTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE ALL THE GEARS REPLACED. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS AND A MOTOR. THE S1-S OF THIS ERA NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE PROTECTED!! *NM”
“A CHECK ENGINE SOON SERVICE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON. I HAD IT CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THE CODE WAS 1870, A TRANSMISSION CODE. I CALLED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY ALL STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY THE ALUMINUM VALVE BODY HAS WORN AND NEEDS TO HAVE A STEEL SLEEVE REPAIR KIT INSTALLED. IT COST ME $265. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. JUST CALL ANY OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND SEE HOW MANY OF THE VALVE BODIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE 1999 CHEVY S-10. MINE IS AN AUTOMATIC WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. *JB”
“I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 60,000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WON'T BE PAID OFF UNTIL 2007 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A MANIFOLD GASKET, BATTERY, WATER PUMP, I HAVE HAD TO PUT A USED TRANSMISSION IN. YOU CAN NOT CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIP STICK YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO HAVE THAT DONE. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMES ON OFF WHENEVER, WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN THE CAR YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS BEFORE IT WILL STAY RUNNING. I HAVE HAD BEARINGS REPLACED IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS, TIRES KEEP GOING BAD AS DO THE THE BRAKES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE CARS AND NOT ONE RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. I WILL NEVER NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN LET ALONE A MALIBU. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. I AM STILL TAKING THE CAR BACK FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THIS WILL BE THE 4TH TIME IN LESS THAN A WEEK. NOT ONLY IS IT STILL LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT NOW I CONVEINTLY HAVE A COOLANT LEAK THAT I DID NOT HAVE UNTIL THE 3RD TIME OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE CHEVY GARAGE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK FIXED. THIS CAR SUCKS.*AK”
Showing 6 of 28 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.