1999 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

298 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Chevrolet S10, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 22/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 60,138 miles.

298Complaints
22/100Trouble index
5Recalls
60,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 1999 sits among all S10 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 37 complaints (12%) · typically ~60,138 miles
“When ever the brakes are applied, the vehicle would go into a slide. Stopping distance is extended due to sliding. Have been to dealer 3 times for brake failue. Mechanic informed owner its an abs braking system that has worn. Had to replace the entire abs braking system.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10
Seats & interior 33 complaints (11%) · typically ~44,500 miles
“The injury consisted of a dislocation of the s/i joint in the hip and a disk problem in the back. When we took the truck to the dealer we were first told that the part was "worn out". Then we were told that the part was "defective". The parts were replaced out of dealer stock due to a safety…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10
Body & structure 31 complaints (10%) · typically ~75,986 miles
“On three different occasions the door handle on the extended cab broke when the consumer attempted to open the door. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10
Electrical 30 complaints (10%) · typically ~61,000 miles
“My truck slowly started getting worse. First, the dinging noise that your car makes qhen the keys are left in the ignition or if you leave your lights on, my truck would make this sound with no light on or key in ignition causing the battery to drain. Then the gauges started acting crazy,…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10
Transmission & drivetrain 29 complaints (10%) · typically ~54,062 miles
“Automatic transmission failed. The truck has only 45000 miles on it and its transmission is already burned out. It will cost min. $1500 to correct. We had only purchased it 6 weeks before it failed. The warranty was already over. Gears started to slip, then car stopped dead on main road.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10
Airbags 28 complaints (9%)
“While traveling at 50 mph, consumer states the vehicle in front swirved to avoid an ice pack, and loss control of vehicle hit a ditch and truck rolled over twice. Consumer states' none of the vehicles airbags deployed. Please provide any further information. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 S10

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 103 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,000 and 84,562 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (5)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E025000 2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…

Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 07E021000 2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN…

Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E065000 2006

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…

Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E060000 2006

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…

Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Federal defect investigations

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES EA05008 opened 2005, closed 2006
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE(S) BREAK RQ04012 opened 2004, closed 2005
POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY PE99009 opened 1999, closed 1999

Technical service bulletins

99 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and electrical — are on file for the 1999 Chevrolet S10. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1999 S10 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

1999peak 71 in 20002017

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1999 Chevrolet S10 reliable?

The 1999 Chevrolet S10 drew 298 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 22/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).

What are the most common 1999 Chevrolet S10 problems?

The top reported problems for the 1999 Chevrolet S10 are brakes & stability (37 complaints), seats & interior (33), and body & structure (31).

At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet S10 problems show up?

Owners most often report 1999 Chevrolet S10 problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,000 and 84,562 miles.

Does the 1999 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

5 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Chevrolet S10. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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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.