1991 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

253 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1991 Chevrolet S10, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 7 defect investigations. It scores 19/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1991 Chevrolet S10 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

253Complaints
19/100Trouble index
9Recalls

Better year

Where 1991 sits among all S10 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 86 complaints (34%)
“Faulty brakes resulted in brake pedal going to the floor with little or no braking power.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 S10
Engine 26 complaints (10%)
“Recall related engine cooling system fan has been replaced 3 times, notification of the fan blade from dealership. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 S10
Seat belts 22 complaints (9%)
Electrical 20 complaints (8%)
Other 20 complaints (8%)
Body & structure 18 complaints (7%)

Recalls (9)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 08E050000 2008

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…

Fix: 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 LIGHTING 06E049000 2006

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…

Fix: 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 LIGHTING 06E026000 2006

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…

Fix: 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 99V193000 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

STEERING 96V195000 1996

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.

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 93V008000 1993

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

Fix: INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN ASSEMBLY.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 91V108000 1991

VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SHIPPED WITH THE FUEL TANK SENDER SEAL OUT OF POSITION.

Fix: REPLACE SENDER SEALS.

SUSPENSION 90V193000 1990

NUTS USED TO ATTACH LOWER CONTROL ARMS, REAR SPRING AND SHACKLE, AND REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD "STRIP".

Fix: REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT NUTS AS WELL AS REAR SPRING AND SHACKLE, AND REAR SHOCK ABSORBER NUTS.

VISIBILITY 90V107000 1990

USE OF IMPROPER PRIMER ON METAL SURFACES OF WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOW OPENINGS COULD CAUSE LOW ADHESION TO THE METAL SURFACE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE RETENTION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212.

Fix: REMOVE AND REINSTALL GLASS USING PROPER PRIMER.

Federal defect investigations

SPARE TIRE SEPARATION FROM VEHICLE EA99018 opened 1999, closed 2000
SEPARATION OF SPARE TIRE FROM VEHICLE PE99004 opened 1999, closed 1999
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM EA94038 opened 1994, closed 2000

Led to recall campaign 99I006000.

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES EA94029 opened 1994, closed 1996
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS PE94046 opened 1994, closed 1994
HIGH IDLE FLARE EA92015 opened 1992, closed 1993
HIGH IDLE FLARE PE92001 opened 1992, closed 1992

Technical service bulletins

7 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and latches & locks — are on file for the 1991 Chevrolet S10. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1991 S10 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 63 in 19952014

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1991 Chevrolet S10 reliable?

The 1991 Chevrolet S10 drew 253 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 19/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).

What are the most common 1991 Chevrolet S10 problems?

The top reported problems for the 1991 Chevrolet S10 are brakes & stability (86 complaints), engine (26), and seat belts (22).

Does the 1991 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

9 recall campaigns apply to the 1991 Chevrolet S10. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1990 S10 All S10 years 1992 S10 →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.