1998 Chevrolet S10 complaints

BOTH SEATS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM: WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN ONE POSITION, SEATS WILL FREELY MOVE WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP ABOUT 8 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WITH 5 TIMES BEING DOCUMENTED. PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER I TOOK DELIVERY OF IT. NEARLY ALL THE LIGHT SWITCHES WERE CHANGED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC EYE FOR THE LIGHTS.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON ICY ROADS AT 30-35MPH AND AN 18 WHEELER DRIFTED INTO CONSUMERS LANE. CONSUMER SPUN AROUND, HIT A CONCRETE WALL HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAD ON/OFF SWITCH. *AK

THE ABS SENSOR WIRES ARE IMPROPERLY ROUTED FOR THE FRONT WHEELS, CAUSING THE WHEEL RIMS TO RUB THROUGH THE WIRES DURING SHARP TURNS.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL STIFFENS AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES LOCK UP, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO KEEP GOING AFTER APPLICATION OF BRAKES. CALIPERS AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. *AK *ML

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ACCELERATOR WILL STICK AND THE SPEED GRADUALLY GOES UP. TO MAKE CAR STOP, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PULL BACK UP. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

FRONT TIE RODS AND STABILIZER BAR AND EVERTHING IN BETWEEN BROKE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE,CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO WALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, CONSUMER HIT BRAKES SUDDENLY AND PASSENGER'S SEAT SLID FOWARD, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HIT HEAD ON DASH. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A UNSAFE CONDITION. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE TRACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT, BUT NOW CONSUMER HAS TO SLAM SEAT WITH ALOT OF FORCE IN ORDER FOR IT TO LOCK INTO PLACE. *AK

BATTERY POST RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE WIRES CAUSING RUST TO OCCUR ON ALL AREA AFFECTED BATTERY CABLE AND STARTER. YH

PROBLEM WITH LEFT FRONT WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN IT RAINS ONLY THE LEFT BRAKE WORKS AND IT THROWS THE TRUCK TO THE LEFT OFF THE ROAD. THE G.M. CORP LIED AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS, BUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM STILL EXSIT. G.M. REFUSED TO GIVE ME A REPORT OF THERE FINDINGS, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS G.M. PROPERTY, AND THEY DID NOT WORK ON IT THEY JUST INSPECTED IT, BUT AFFTER HAVEING ANOTHER MACHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT HE FOUND WHERE G.M. HAD WORKED ON IT. IT IS WORSE NOW THEN IT WAS. I HAVE BEEN LIED TO BY THE DEALERSHIP AND G.M. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCATION. THE PROBLEM STILL EXSIT AND IS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY.

MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS MADE A NOISE WHEN I MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURNS. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHIN WRONG WITH IT, AND NOW IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN, SO I DON'T SEE HOW THEY COULD'VE MISSED IT. ALSO, THE RECLINER LEVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE OFF AT THE METAL AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED SO I GUESS I'M OUT OF LUCK WITH THAT. *AK

ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING. AFTER THREE SERVICE VISITS TO THE DEALER I WAS THEN INFORMED THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THEY STATE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. *AK

BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHEN OTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY CUT IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND THEN ABRUPTLY APPLIED BRAKES.BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND.DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID REAR END COLLISION.VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID, STRIKING A CONCRETE POLE.AT NO TIME DID THE BRAKES EVER STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED AFTER STRIKING THE CONCRETE POLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH SPARE TIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE CARRIER BROKE AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH HE STRUCK ANOTHE VEHICLE IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK A COW. THIS WAS A TOTAL FRONT END COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A SANDY ROAD CONSUMER COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT BRAKES WON'T RESPOND, FORCING CONSUMER TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE EXITING EXPRESSWAY. SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL FROM 70 MPH WITH BRAKE SHUT OFF.. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW BUT ACCELLERATED. TRIED TURN SIGNAL SHUTOFF.COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE ON RAMP UNTIL ENGINE SHUT OFF. VEHICLE ACCELLERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. REAR TIRES SPINNING WHEN AT STOP AND BRAKE APPLIED. CONTINUED THROUGH 4-5 STARTUPS AND SHUTDOWNS AND 10-15 MINUTES. COINCIDENTAL: LOW FUEL LIGHT ON AT TIME. ENGINE IDLED AT TOP RPM UNTIL REV LIMITER SLOWED ENGINE RPM AT RED LINE. DEALER LISTED ON COMPLAINT STATES THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOUND. INVOICE CTCS47068 ON 12/07/1999. HAS NOT REPEATED TO CURRENT DATE.

SEAT BELT PASSENGER SIDE CANNOT BE CLOSED BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CATCH

HEADLIGHTS/DRL FAILED. CANNOT TURN ON MANUALLY USING SWITCH. FUSES OK. ALL OTHER LIGHTING SYSTEMS WORKING. VEHICLE JUST ECLIPSED FACTORY WARRANTY, SO WILL BE OUT OF MY POCKET. HAD NO CHOICE IN BUYING THIS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND NOW AM STUCK WITH COSTLY REPAIR.

NO SUMMARY

OWNER REPORTS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF.

GM RESPONDED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.UPON THIS PROBLEM WITHTHE BRAKES WAS ALSO HAMMERING THE CONSUMER'S FOOT. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL IS SOFT. VEHICLE WILL STOP FIVE FEET FROM THE DESTINATION. VECHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES. *AK

ROTORS OVERHEAT WHICH CAUSES WARPING. ALSO, BRAKE PADS ARE TOO HARD AND HEAVY AND CAUSE THE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT AND WARP. THE BRAKE SHOES ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. GM MOTOR STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THE MANUFACTURER TO USE THESE PADS. *AK

FRAME AND BUMPER LEAN TO THE LEFT SIDE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE LEAF SPRINGS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELLING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE OF A COLLISION IF NOT CORRECTED. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND; ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NOTE: THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO MY EARLIER ODI REPORT # 713057, FILED VIA THE INTERNET TWO DAYS AGO ON 10/09/99 REGARDING A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE EXTREME DIFFICULTY BLOWING THE HORN ON CERTAIN 1998 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCKS. THE SERVICE REP AT SULLIVAN CHEVROLET IN ROSEVILLE, CA, HAD PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNREPAIRABLE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE IS INDEED A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. BUT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER A SECOND TIME -- AND AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA TWO DAYS EARLIER -- THE DEALER'S QUALITY CONTROL EXPERT, ROBERT POTTER, WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PARTIALLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG AND HORN ASSEMBLY ON MY ONE-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE AND USING A CROWBAR TO BEND THE HORN ASSEMBLY AND AIR BAG MOUNTING BRACKET OUTWARD TO ALLOW MORE "PLAY" BETWEEN THE HORN RING AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DESIGN DEFECT TURNS OUT TO BE TOO LITTLE PLAY BETWEEN THE HORN RING AND THE STEERING WHEEL, SO THAT WHEN YOU PRESS THE HORN RING, IT BUMPS AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL INSTEAD OF MAKING CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO THE HORN -- THUS REQUIRING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF THUMB PRESSURE TO FORCE THE HORN RING PAST THE OBSTRUCTION TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT TO BLOW THE HORN IN A SUDDEN EMERGENCY. THE LOCAL SERVICE REP SAID THEY HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THE 1998 CHEVY S10 HORN IS MUCH HARDER TO BLOW ON ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAN THE OTHER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE

DANGEROUS HORN DESIGN. HORN WON'T HONK WHEN YOU PRESS THE LEFT SIDE OF THE "HORN RING" UNLESS YOU EXERT ENORMOUS THUMB PRESSURE. IT REQUIRES SO MUCH MUSCLE PRESSURE THAT IN A SUDDEN EMERGENCY, IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW THE HORN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL -- EVEN IF YOU PRESS HARD WHERE THE HORN SYMBOL INDICATES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PRESS ON THE LEFT. (THE RIGHT SIDE IS MUCH EASIER TO BLOW -- NO PROBLEM THERE.) WE TOOK IT TO SULLIVAN CHEVROLET IN ROSEVILLE TO REQUEST A MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY REPAIR, BUT THE SERVICE REP TOLD US THEY HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO REPAIR THIS DESIGN DEFECT BUT HAVE FOUND THAT IF THEY ADJUST THE SPRING LOOSER, THEN THE HORN TENDS TO HONK EVERYTIME YOU HIT A BUMP. UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER MAKES A SPECIAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT, THE DEALER INDICATED THEY CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR IT. A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER AGREED THAT IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT IF YOU CANNOT EASILY BLOW THE HORN IN A SUDDEN EMERGENCY. SULLIVAN CHEVROLET SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY CHEVROLET DESIGNED THE HORN TO FIT OVER OR AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SOME OTHER MANUFACTURERS WISELY PUT TOTALLY SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL HORN BUTTONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG TO AVOID INTERFERING WITH THE AIRBAG, BUT CHEVROLET OVERLAYS A LARGE, ONE-FOOT WIDE, SPRING-LOADED HORN-BLOWING BAR ACROSS THE TOP OF THE AIRBAG WHICH PIVOTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU PRESS TO

NO SUMMARY.

THERE HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGATE ON THIS TRUCK FROM DAY 1. DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE TAILGATE POPS OPEN. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SO OFTEN THAT I NOW USE BUNGEE CORDS TO KEEP THE TAILGATE SHUT IN CASE THE LATCH FAILS. I HAVE HAD DEALERS TWICE DO WARRANTY WORK ON THIS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM YET. THE LATCH LOOKS NORMAL, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO LINE UP, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TAILGATE IS GOING TO FLOP OPEN. USUALLY WHEN I'M PULLING A TRAILER, BUT OFTEN NOT.. MY THEORY IS THAT THE FRAME AND BODY ARE SO FLEXIBLE THAT TOLERANCES OPEN UP AND POP, THE LATCH NO LONGER HOLDS. HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE SOME KIND OF A HANDLE ON THIS PROBLEM. THANKS-- JMS

THE BRAKES FELT MUSHY AND STOPPING WAS WITHOUT GOOD GRIP. THE GM DEALER WAS INFORMED 5 TIMES AND FOUND NO FAULT. I BOUGHT A JACK AND CHECKED THE BRAKES MYSELF AND FOUND THE AXLE SEAL LEAKING BADLY CONTAMINATING THE LEFT REAR BRAKE. THIS REDUCED STOPPING POWER DRAMATICALLY. BRAKES ARE THE FIRST THING ON A CAR THAT SHOULD WORK, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX IT.

ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. RIGHT FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WHEN DRIVER THEN ON CURVE, SPINNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. BRAKES WERE APPLIED A SECOND TIME AND AGAIN THEY LOCKED CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CLUTCH CABLE BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, WIRE HARNEES SHORTED OUT/ BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY/ THERE IS SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE WITHIN THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT COIL SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

OIL CONSUMPTION IS 1 QUART PER 1000 MILES, IS THIS TO MUCH???? I THINK SO!

THE CONSUMER STATE'S THE HEATER CORD FAN HAS NO TYPE OF SHUT OFF UNIT WHICH THE EXHAUST FUME'S ARE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAS VERY LITTLE POWER. CONSUMER CANNOT CHANGE LANES OR DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER INSISTS IT'S THE CHARATERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS WHILE CONSUMER RELEASES THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE HESITATES AND SOMETIMES HAS LITTLE POWER. THE CONSUMER SMELLS FUEL AND SULFER, THE DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEMS. THE STARTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, THE CLUTCH LOCKS UP IN REVERSE AND IS NOISY. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP FAST ENOUGH. THE FAN CLUTCH WAS NOISY. *SLC

MANUAL TRANSMISSION LEAK.

DOOR LOCK.

LIGHT SWITCH--HEAD LIGHTS.

REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

,MENTIONED ABOUT BRAKES BEFORE, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. TOOK IN FOR OVERHEATING, DEALER REPLACED SOME PARTS, SAID IT WAS READY, FOLLOWING WEEK OVERHEATED AGAIN, DEALER TOWED VEHICLE IN, TOOK APART, SAID IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, BUT IT WAS STILL IN PIECES, AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX. FURTHER CONTACTING CHEVROLET WITH THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN ON GOING.