MYRModel Year Report

1998 Chevrolet S10

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1998 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
613
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Visibility

34% 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 1998: 613 complaints 1998 613 1999: 231 complaints 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 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 1998: 613 complaints 1998 613 1999: 231 complaints 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 1998: 613 complaints 1998 613 1999: 231 complaints 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

1998: 613 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

34% · 208 reports

Most commonly citing motor and windshield wiper/washer.

CRASH

Service brakes

13% · 79 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I backed out of my driveway. Began slowly traveling down the hill that I live on. The brakes completely failed. The brake warning light was not on prior to this occuring. The engine also stalled.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-02-11

Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system

My parking brake doesn't work. My seatbelts come undone when I'm driving which is a major issue for safety.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-02-01

Also filed under Seat belts

Electrical system

9% · 57 reports

Most commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery and interior/under dash.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 51 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIREINJURY

Seats

8% · 48 reports

Most commonly citing recliner.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    1997-11-14Electrical system97V208001 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.

    Remedy: Dealers are contacting owners by telephone to have their vehicles towed to the dealer and alternate transportation provided to them until the dealer can reroute the electrical wiring-harness.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    1997-12-15Service brakes, hydraulic97V218000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. A fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe can occur causing a slow brake fluid leak resulting in…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. ▮
    1998Complaint volume 613 complaints filed for this model year.
  4. 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 →

  5. I
    1999-06-11Engineering analysisClosed 2001-08-10 Post collision fuel system integrity
  6. 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 →

  7. R
    2000-09-13Exterior lighting00V220000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

    Remedy: Dealers will install a revised wiring harness that changes the drl's from high beam to low beam drl's, and install new long-life low beam bulbs.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2000-11-16Electrical system00V374000 Vehicle description: electric passenger vehicles and pickup trucks containing a nickel metal hydride (Nimh) battery pack. These vehicles contain software within the battery pack module intended to…

    Remedy: Dealers will install revised software in the battery pack module.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2004-11-22Recall queryClosed 2005-04-14 Tailgate support cable(S) break
  10. I
    2005-04-14Engineering analysisClosed 2006-05-19 Tailgate support cables
  11. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. 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 →

  14. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 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: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. 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

1998 Chevrolet S10 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Visibility: 208 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 79 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 57 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V208001 · Electrical system
  • Recall 97V218000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 98V177000 · Visibility
  • Recall 00V159000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 00V220000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 00V374000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • 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 1998 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Chevrolet S10 is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet S10?
The most-reported component is visibility, accounting for 34% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet S10 have?
11 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.