MYRModel Year Report

1997 Chevrolet S10

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1997 Chevrolet S10
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
469
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Visibility

24% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 469 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1987 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1991 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1995 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 469 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 1999 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2003 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1987 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1991 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1995 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 469 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 1999 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2003 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints

1997: 469 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19822
19837
19848
198511
198622
198727
198838
198949
199029
1991174
1992180
1993233
1994963
1995910
1996665
1997469
1998613
1999231
2000471
2001308
2002214
2003178
200421
20050
20061
20070
20161
20171
20183

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Visibility

24% · 114 reports

Most commonly citing motor and windshield wiper/washer.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The windshield wipers failed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-02-13

Service brakes

24% · 113 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

11% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and clutch assembly.

CRASH

Air bags

10% · 48 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Vehical pulled out in front of me I hit him running 55 MPH my safety bags did not deploy resulting in severe seatbelt and sterring wheel damage to my body and terible neck pain and back pain resulting from lack of air…

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-03-11

The vehicle was rear ended and then hit another vehicle, and the air bags failed to deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-02-10

Driver's side airbag did not deploy during frontal impact.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-03-19

Engine and engine cooling

9% · 40 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIREINJURY

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    1994-10-31Engineering analysisClosed 2000-02-28 ABS braking system
  2. I
    1996-10-25Preliminary evaluationClosed 1997-02-28 Seat belt webbing separation
  3. ▮
    1997Complaint volume 469 complaints filed for this model year.
  4. I
    1997-02-28Engineering analysisClosed 1997-08-05 Seat belt webbing separation
  5. R
    1997-09-22Seat belts97V096001 Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats.…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    1997-10-20Service brakes, hydraulic97V146001 Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3L engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the clearance between the oil pan and the brake line. If the clearance is 6MM or less, dealers will install an additional brake line clip and if there was contact between the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    1998-08-31Visibility98V177000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with electric drive. Rapid fogging of the interior glass can occur within two minutes after the heat is turned on if (1) the outside…

    Remedy: Owners are being provided with a caution label and supplemental insert for their owner's manual advising them to follow a "Stop and wait" Procedure to help avoid window fogging while driving.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2000-03-23Electrical system00V069200 Vehicle description: generation 1 electric light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles were built with a charge port assembly that could fail during a charging event.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the charge port assembly with a redesigned charge port assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2000-07-28Service brakes, hydraulic00V159000 Vehicle description: electric pickup trucks. A condition in which the fuel-fired heater fill pipe ground strap contacts the rear passenger side brake pipe.

    Remedy: Dealers will relocate the ground strap attachment, inspect the brake pipe for wear, and replace the brake pipe if necessary.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2003-06-19Visibility03V159000 On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. I
    2004-02-18Recall queryClosed 2004-05-27 Driver's seat belt buckle assembly
  12. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Chevrolet S10 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Visibility: 114 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 113 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 53 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V096001 · Seat belts
  • Recall 97V146001 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 98V177000 · Visibility
  • Recall 00V069200 · Electrical system
  • Recall 00V159000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 03V159000 · Visibility
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1997 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Chevrolet S10 is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet S10?
The most-reported component is visibility, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have?
8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.