Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1997 Chevrolet S10 Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip — runs 2.3× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
469Complaints
8Recalls
63Crashes
8Fires
38Injured
3Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (13.6% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip complaints here are 2.3× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 64 · 13.6% | Recalled | Recall 00V159000 · Recall 97V146001 |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor | 62 · 13.2% | Recalled | Recall 03V159000 · Recall 98V177000 |
| Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer | 38 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 03V159000 · Recall 98V177000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 33 · 7% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 31 · 6.6% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components | 15 · 3.2% | Recalled | Recall 00V159000 · Recall 97V146001 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 469 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 8 campaigns
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 00V159000 · 2000 · reported 06/16/2000
THIS COULD WEAR OFF THE CORROSION PROTECTION ON THE BRAKE PIPE, LEADING TO PREMATURE CORROSION AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY. WHEN BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY IS LOST, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices
NHTSA campaign 07E021000 · 2007 · reported 03/12/2007
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
NHTSA campaign 00V069200 · 2000 · reported 03/03/2000
HEAT COULD BUILD UP WITHIN THE CHARGE PORT AND A FIRE COULD RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
NHTSA campaign 03V159000 · 2003 · reported 04/28/2003
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts
NHTSA campaign 97V096001 · 1997 · reported 06/12/1997
IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 97V146001 · 1997 · reported 09/11/1997
BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
NHTSA campaign 98V177000 · 1998 · reported 08/04/1998
IF RAPID FOGGING WERE TO OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IT COULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VISION INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“ONGOING ERRATIC OPERATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM; FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ALSO, FRONT LEFT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONCE WITHIN…”NHTSA complaint 845015 — filed 08/12/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY LOCK UP, VEHICLE MPVES FORWARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.”NHTSA complaint 843304 — filed 07/26/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL NEARLY GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.”NHTSA complaint 843232 — filed 07/23/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet S10?
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues are the most-reported category, cited in 64 of 469 NHTSA complaints (13.6%), followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (62), visibility:windshield wiper/washer (38), air bags:frontal (33). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have?
469 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 63 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, and 38 reported injuries. 3 deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have any recalls?
Yes — 8 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Chevrolet S10's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
