1997 Chevrolet S10 complaints

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, TIRE WAS THROWN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

SUNSHELL IN TRANSMISSION BROKEN TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS, REPAIR SHOP STATES HEAVY DUTY SUNSHELL HAS BEEN RELEASED TO REPLACE THE INFERIOR SUNSHELL THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR THE 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. REPAIR SHOP STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. REPAIRS EACH TIME TOTALLING IN EXCESS OF $2,000.00. PURCHUSED VEHICLE FROM FATHER AT 13,000 MILES. HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AT 10,000 MILES. SERVICED BY LOVE CHEVOLET ON DEC. 1, 1998.

WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES ON NORMAL CONDITIONS. VEHICLE WILL TAKE LONGER TO STOP, MAKING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK AT FIRST THEY WOULD STOP OPERATING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THEN THEY STARTED NOT TO OPERATE AT ALL. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN OFF THE ROAD TWICE. *PH

FUEL GAUGE GOES TO FULL WHEN DRIVING REGARDLESS OF FUEL LEVEL. ORIGINAL OWNER RAN OUT OF FUEL ONCE BEFORE THEY KNEW THE GAUGE WASN'T CORRECT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FATALITY. IT ALSO MAY HAVE SHORTENED THE LIFE OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL POLICY THAT RECOGNIZED THIS DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND SOMETIMES WOULD RESTART ON ITS OWN. ALSO, SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE NOT TO REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK. *AK

FAULTY FUEL GAUGE/SENSOR: THE '97 CHEVY S10 I OWN RECENTLY EXPERIENCED VERY ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WITH INDICATING THE LEVEL OF FUEL CURRENTLY IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE DEPENDING UPON THE GAUGE I RAN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE GAUGE SHOWED JUST UNDER 1/2 TANK. THIS VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO CHECK WITH THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. AFTER PAYING AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY ($100) JUST TO RUN DIANOSTICS ON IT THE END RESULT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD EXPECTED AND SEEN BY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CHEVY DEALER SAYS THE MINIMUM THAT IT WILL COST IS $550 TO REPLACE THE "SENDING CARD," IF THE MODULE IS BAD THEN IT WILL COST $1050. NOT HAVING THAT AMOUNT OF $$ AVAILABLE I DECIDED TO NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME (PROBABLY NEVER). SINCE TECHNICALLY THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN THE WINTER MONTHS IS NOT ALL THAT GREAT. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN A WEEK EARLIER WHEN IT WAS WELL BELOW ZERO. GM PLEASE FIX YOUR SO CALL GLITCHES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN A FUN EXPERIENCE TO OWN AND MOST LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST GM I WILL EVER OWN....

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MADE A CHOKING NOISE LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO STALL THEN, IT STOPPED ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE GASKET, SEALS, AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. ALSO, AT 49,773 REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER QUIT WORKING BECAUSE OF A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE MOTOR. *AK

THE PAINT HAS A DEFECT IN IT ON THE HOOD AND THE ROOF THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS PEELING DOWN TO A GRAY SURFACE AND I CALLED THE SERVICE CENTER AND HE TOLD ME I AM OUT OF LUCK OF GETTING MY CAR PAINTED. IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT SO WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY POCKET.

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID, AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

I AM AN AUTOMOTIVE FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR. I HAVE INSPECTED THIS VEHICLE, WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER INCIDENT, AND FOUND THE SAME "ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP" AS WAS RECALLED IN NHTSA RECALL #03V117000. THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE WAS A 29 YEAR OLD GENTLEMAN, 6 FOOT TALL AND 200 POUNDS. HE WAS FULLY EJECTED AND FATALLY INJURED. THE SURVIVAL SPACE SURROUNDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD REMAINED INTACT, AND LIKELY THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE NOT SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC INJURY BUT FOR THE 10" OF EXTRA SLACK ADDED TO THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM DURING THE ROLLOVER.

GOT THE TRUCK AT 48,400 MILES. AT 48,800 AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONTINUOULY FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES, MY TRUCK SHIFTED VERY HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED LIKE CLOCKWORK. TALKED TO BOTH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND CHEVROLET AND NEITHER WOULD BUDGE ON ASSISTING ON THE REPAIR BILL WHICH CAME OUT TO BE $710. AFTER READING ABOUT MORE COMPLAINT OF THE SAME NATURE ON THIS AND MANY MORE SITES, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW CHEVROLET CAN GET AWAY WITH PASSING THIS COST ON TO THE CONSUMER. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, AFTER VEHICLE WAS WARMED UP, FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED WITH NO PROBLEM IN COLD WEATHER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. *AK *SC *JB

AFTER OIL INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED, GRINDING NOISE W/ VIBRATION CAME FROM DASHBOARD. HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND WHEN IDLING ON COLD DAYS. VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN GAS PEDAL. REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM, NOISE CONTINUES. *AK

FUEL GAUGE READS FULL WHEN TANK IS ONLY 1/4 FULL OR LESS.*AK

GAS GAUGE BEGAN READING "FULL" WHEN ONLY 1/4 TANK OR LESS. NOW GAUGE IS "ALL OVER THE PLACE" REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN TANK. I RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER EACH TIME I FILL UP SO I KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE.*AK

WHILE OPENING THE TAILGATE THE STRAPS BROKE AND CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO COLLAPSE COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

TOOK MY 1997 S10 PICKUP TO A MECHANIC AND REQUESTED HE CHECK THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAULTS WHEN CONTINUEING TO APPLY PRESSURE AND BEGINS TO MAKE A BOUNCING TYPE OF FEELING AND THE DISTANCE TO STOP (ESPECIALLY ON WET ROADS) CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS WERE FAULTY AND TO CONTACT A DEALER AND HAVE THE VIN RESEARCHED FOR RECALLS, ETC. ALSO REFERRED ME TO NHTSA.

WHEN DRIVING UNDER RAINING CONDITIONS IF WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ENGAGED WIPERS WON'T COME ON ,AND SOMETIMES THEY DO. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

PER DEALERSHIP "THERE IS AN OIL GALLERY BLOCK IN THE CAMPSHAFT THAT CAUSES AN OIL LEAKAGE". THIS RESULTS IN ENGINE MOTOR FAILURE.*AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. NHTSA HAS A RECALL ON THIS OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. JOHN L. SULLIVAN, A CHEVROLET DEALER, STATES THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THIS ITEM ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP. I PAID THEM TO GET IT FIXED, SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD BE NEGLIGENT NOT TO DO SO. *NLM

THE TIMING BELT BROKE TWICE. THE LAST TIME IT BROKE WAS ON 2/27/2003. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND IMMEDIATELY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEP BOYS, THEY STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND THE VEHICLE DID HAVE ANY AIR COMPRESSION. *AK PH *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THIS WASTHE SECOND TIME THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE AND OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVERS VIEW. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 20 - 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES FAILED. *JB

I BOUGHT A CHEVY TRUCK BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 FROM THE J.D. BYRIDER STORE IN ST. PETERSBURG, FL AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. THE RADIATOR WAS ALWAYS RUNNING HOT AND FOUND THAT THE WATER WAS SO RUSTY THAT THE WHOLE RADIATOR WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AS WELL AS THE WATER PUMP. I TRIED TO EXCHANGE THE TRUCK FOR SOMETHING BETTER, BUT THE STAFF FROM THE ST. PETERSBURG, FL STORE WOULD NOT DO IT. CLAIMING I WAS LOCKED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THEM THAT COULD NOT BE BROKEN. I EXPLAINED THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN APPARENTLY NEGLECTED BEFORE I WAS SUCKERED INTO GETTING IT AND THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY. I STILL CONTINUED TO PAY PAYMENTS ON TIME EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO PAY FOR OTHER REPAIRS MYSELF. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY RIGHT AWAY $500.00 DOLLARS FOR A RADIATOR AND $400.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE A NEW WATER PUMP INSTALLED SO I MADE DO UNTIL I COULD. THEN, I WAS RECENTLY LAYED OFF FROM MY JOB AND THE D.J. BUSINESS HAD ALSO BEEN SLOW FOR MY ROOMMATE/CO-PARTNER AND ASKED IF THE ST. PETESBURG STORE WOULD WORK WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL WE GOT THE MONEY TOGETHER AND WHILE I SEEK ANOTHER EMPLOYER. AT FIRST THE MANAGER OVER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT SAID HE WOULD WORK WITH US SINCE THE LAST THING THEY LIKE TO DO IS TO REPOSSESS OUR TRUCK, THEN THE NEXT DAY I RECEIVED A NASTY MESSAGE FROM A STAFF MEMBER OF THE ST. PETESBURG, FL STORE BY THE NAME OF BRETT BOWEN WHO SAID THAT THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO BE REPOSESSED BECAUSE WE HAD MOVED WITHOUT LETTING THEM KNOW FIRST. I E-MAILED BRETT BACK SAY

THE BALL JOINT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY *JB

DEX-COOL COOLANT EATING AWAY AT GASKETS. PH

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.*JB

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

HINGE ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR WEARING CAUSING DOOR TO SWAG AND CLOSE PROPERLY

THE CARRIER AND PINION BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS REPLACED.*JB

1997, S-10 CHEVROLET PICKUP VIN [XXX]. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY AND CHEVY DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, DESPITE A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THE IN CANADA, FOR THE SAME DEFECT. ALSO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS FAILED (A KNOWN FAILURE ITEM) AND AGAIN CHEVY DENIES THE DEFECT. SEE THE AUDI RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE. TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ABS LOCKED UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE THE DIFFERENTIAL CHECKED. THERE WERE BITS OF METAL FOUND IN THE OIL, AND THE ORIGINAL SEAL HAD NOT BEEN BROKEN. *JG *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE BUILT-IN WEAR INDICATORS NEVER MADE A HIGH-PITCHED WARNING SOUND TO INDICATE BRAKE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WAS ALSO HEARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ROTORS, DISC, WHEEL CYLINDER AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

LEAKING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD

THE OIL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAME TOO OLD WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS AND BEARING RING TO CHIP NOTE: THIS LETTER IS BEING ANSWERED BY ANAMARI ALONSO UNDER #10006063 FOLLOW-UP LETTER BY SAME CONSUMER,AAJ. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM HAPPENED BECAUSE HE DID NOT PUT ENOUGH MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE BROKE, SPARE TIRE BOUNCED FROM UNDER THE CAR AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769309. *AK *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FRONT BALL JOINT ARE WORN AND THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE, THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF RECALLS 01I-018 AND 01V-200 BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. I KNOW THAT THE CHEVY S-10 IN MODEL YEARS 1995 AND 1996 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE "DELAY BOARD" REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. SINCE I HAD THE PART REPLACED IN AUGUST, 2002 I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS. I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED ON THE 1997 MODEL CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. MR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STAY ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON. WHEN THEY STAY ON THEY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHEILD WHIPER SHUT OFF WHILE IN USE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK *YH

WIPERS WORK FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN STOP. WHEN ITS RAINING, THEY DONT WANT TO GO ON. IF THEY DO GO ON THEY USUSALLY STOP HALFWAY THROUGH CYCLE. NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND WILL DISENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN OPERATION. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COMPUTER BOARD WAS REPLACED. *SCC