1990 Chevrolet S10

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
201
Structure › Body2
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
001
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights08E050000
Filed Aug 11, 20081,921 vehiclesK2 Motor Corporation

Defect. K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector96V195000
Filed Oct 8, 1996144,598 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LOOSENS AT THE STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR COUPLING. WITH THIS LOOSENESS, THE YOKE PINCH BOLT CAN WEAR ON THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE IS NO LONGER AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPLINES AND THE BOLT.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODY TO CHASSIS MOVEMENT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan93V008000
Filed Jan 14, 1993215,052 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.

Risk. IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.

Remedy. INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Mar 16, 201498,858 milesMO

A JEEP WITH A BIKE MOUNTED ON A BIKE RACK STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT MY BRAKES, BUT QUICKLY LOST BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I TRIED TO SWERVE, BUT HIT THE REAR OF THE JEEP, DAMAGING THE BIKE AND BIKE RACK. SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY GRILLE, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER AND HEADLIGHT, AND RADIATOR MOUNT. AFTER EXCHANGING INSURANCE INFORMATION, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON GROUND, BY THE FUEL TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE. LIMPED HOME (ABOUT 2 BLOCKS). NO BRAKES OTHER THAN EMERGENCY BRAKE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED FAILED BRAKE LINE AND SEVERE RUST ON MOST BRAKE LINES. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 17, 2001MO

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FRONT WHEELS LOCK, AND REAR WHEELS KEEP TURNING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 23, 2000UT

LAST WEEK TWO TIRES HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. TIRES WERE ON A 1990, CHEVROLET, S10. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 35,000. THERE WAS 5/32 TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES. *AK BOTH OF THE BACK FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRES HAD BULGES ON THE TREAD. *SLC

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Dec 28, 1999WA

FUAL PUMP WIRE MELTED INSIDE OF FUAL TANK. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed May 27, 1999UN

3RD DOOR LATCH FAILED CAUSING DOOR TO NOT OPEN/STICK. MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 3, 1999OH

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 6 1999 I DISCOVERED THE #2 CYLINDER WAS BADLY CARBON FOULED ,SINCE THAT TIME IT'S HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS ON 10 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR MY OWN PERSONAL USE AT ALL,THE MECHANIC HAS BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT ,THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED TO OPERATE IN THIS MANNER AND BASICALLY LIVE WITH IT! I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK IN FULL SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AT ALL AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A LEMON VEHICLE. *AK

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 23, 1999CA

PAINT ON ROOF IS BEGINNING TO PEEL. EVERYTIME I WAS IN VEHICLE MORE PAINT FLAKES OFF

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Feb 23, 1999MD

THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE ON BROKE. IF ANY VISUAL INSPECTION IS NEEDED FEEL FREE TO DO SO

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 1, 1998UN

ENGINE IS GIVING AN ERROR SIGNAL. OWNER INTERESTED IN COMPLAINTS ON 1990-1998 S10'S AND THE VORTEX V-6 ENGINES.

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Filed Aug 11, 1998CA

WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE THE JACK COLLAPSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE JACK WILL NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed May 21, 1998MO

SPARE TIRE MOUNT FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 13, 1998CA

BRAKES FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1 injured
Filed Apr 13, 1998CA

BRAKES FAILED TWICE; BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED WITHIN TWO YEARS, RESULTING IN COLLISIONS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1 injured
Filed Apr 12, 1998CA

ABS BRAKES FAILED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES.

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 7, 1998MD

INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED HAD TO HAVE CLUSTER MODULE REPLACED.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 24, 1998LA

GAS TANK RUSTED OUT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Dec 18, 1997FL

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE, RESULTIN IN ROLLOVER. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO FLY OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT AND ONTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Dec 12, 1997WA

GAS TANK EXPLODES IF AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IS CONNECTED BACKWARDS BECAUSE 12 VOLTS IS SUPPLIED TO THE SENSOR CIRCUIT, CAUSING IT TO BURN OUT AND EMIT SPARKS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Dec 4, 1997FL

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 6, 1997HI

WHILE DRIVING APPROX 30 MPH, NEEDING TO MAKE A QUICK STOP, APPLIED BRAKES, NO REACTION, DID NOT STOP. MECHANIC CHANGED PADS/DRUMS, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED AFTER 1 YEAR. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

20 of 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20183000Routine
20171000Routine
20161000Routine
20070100Routine
20061100Routine
20050100Routine
200421310Routine
2003178411Fatalities reported
2002214323Fatalities reported
2001308560Above average
2000471983Fatalities reported
1999231520Above average
19986131190High concern
1997469883Fatalities reported
199666810111Fatalities reported
19959118131Fatalities reported
1994967871Fatalities reported
19932336110Above average
1992180681Fatalities reported
19911749102Fatalities reported
1990 — this page29500Routine

Compare every S10 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 11, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.