1997 Chevrolet S10 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1997 Chevrolet S10, and owners have filed 469 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2006
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018

6 safety recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet S10

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

   NHTSA 03V159000 Reported April 28, 2003 1,755,876 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.

   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 do not receive the free…

2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 00V159000 Reported June 16, 2000 306 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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.

3. 12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)

   NHTSA 00V069200 Reported March 3, 2000 576 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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.

4. Defroster/defogger/hvac system (visibility)

   NHTSA 98V177000 Reported August 4, 1998 354 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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 temperature is between 35 and 76 degrees fahrenheit and (2) water has collected on the heat exchanger during previous operation of the air conditioning.

   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.

5. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 97V146001 Reported September 11, 1997 146,167 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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 point of brake fluid loss during brake application.

   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 pan and brake…

6. Seat belts

   NHTSA 97V096001 Reported June 12, 1997 586,058 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.

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

469 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have filed 469 complaints with NHTSA; 63 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 38 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 83,949 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 84 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip64
• Visibility: motor62
• Visibility: windshield wiper/washer38
• Air bags: frontal33
• Power train: automatic transmission31
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline15
• Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components15
• Vehicle speed control12

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a flat tire. The contact was unable to release the spare tire from underneath the vehicle. The contact indica”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 22, 2019 · Structure

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. When the contact started the vehicle, the windshield wipers activated intermittently. The failure occurred in rainy weather, which caused a reduction in visi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 19, 2015 · Visibility/wiper

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Chevrolet S10 Pickup (S10 Pickup 2WD, S10 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Chevrolet S10 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet S10 model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1997 Chevrolet S10

Other Chevrolet models

• Malibu19,364 complaints
• Silverado 150018,029 complaints
• Impala10,434 complaints
• Tahoe10,032 complaints
• Equinox9,161 complaints
• Silverado8,799 complaints
• Blazer8,192 complaints
• Suburban8,164 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.