1997 Chevrolet S10

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1997 Chevrolet S10
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet S10 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1997 highlighted. 1981: 1 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1988: 37 complaints 1989: 48 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 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 307 complaints 2001 2002: 213 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2016: 1 complaints 2017: 1 complaints 2017 2018: 3 complaints 2018
1997: 469 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19822
19837
19848
198511
198622
198727
198837
198948
199029
1991174
1992180
1993233
1994963
1995910
1996665
1997469
1998613
1999231
2000471
2001307
2002213
2003178
200421
20050
20061
20070
20161
20171
20183

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13%

13% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 63 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

OWNER TRIED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP AND THE TRUCK HAS ABS, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. HE WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970618

VISIBILITY 13%

13% of complaints: visibility — 62 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
VISIBILITY 8%

8% of complaints: visibility — 38 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.*JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20030213

AIR BAGS 7%

7% of complaints: air bags — 33 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20030210

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970319

DRIVER HIT PARKED CAR AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970221

POWER TRAIN 6%

6% of complaints: power train — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

I 19941031 — EA (closed 20000228)

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM

I 19961025 — PE (closed 19970228)

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

1997 — complaint volume: 469
I 19970228 — EA (closed 19970805)

SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION

R 19970922 — seat belts

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. T

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Campaign 97V096001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19971020 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 PO

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 OIL

Campaign 97V146001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980831 — visibility

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 TEMPERATUR

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.

Campaign 98V177000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000323 — electrical system

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.

Campaign 00V069200 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000728 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Campaign 00V159000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030619 — visibility

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 D

Campaign 03V159000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040218 — RQ (closed 20040527)

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

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 UNI

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.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1997 Chevrolet S10 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (63 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for visibility issues (62 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for visibility issues (38 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 97V096001 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V146001 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V177000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V069200 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 00V159000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V159000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1988 ▲ 1989 ▲ 1991

WORST YEARS

■ 1994 ■ 1995 ■ 1996

See all years ranked →

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 service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 13% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.