Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a flat tire. The contact was unable to release the spare tire from underneath the vehicle. The contact indicated that the spare tire hoist assembly retainer had malfunctioned. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified, but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The worst 1997 Chevrolet S10 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Visibility117
- Brakes101
- Transmission49
- Airbags47
- Fuel system46
- Engine40
- Acceleration21
- Body20
- Electrical19
- Suspension13
- Seat belts11
- Seats10
- Lights7
- Steering7
- Tires6
- Locks3
- Wheels3
- Driver assistance1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Chevrolet S10
Wipers 109No deployment 33ABS 25Brake failure 21Fuel gauge 20Stalling 14Ball joint 8Grinding brakes 7Fuel pump 7Adaptive cruise 6Airbag light 6Harsh shifting 6Transmission failure 6Loss of power 5Sudden acceleration 5
Trouble codes owners of the 1997 Chevrolet S10 mention
P1870 2
Recalls 6
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
- What is wrong
- On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor may fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
- Risk
- If this were to occur during bad weather, driver visibility would be reduced, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on june 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537.
Recall number 03V159000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: electric pickup trucks. A condition in which the fuel-fired heater fill pipe ground strap contacts the rear passenger side brake pipe.
- Risk
- This could wear off the corrosion protection on the brake pipe, leading to premature corrosion and eventual loss of brake pipe integrity. When brake pipe integrity is lost, brake fluid leakage can occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will relocate the ground strap attachment, inspect the brake pipe for wear, and replace the brake pipe if necessary.
Recall number 00V159000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: generation 1 electric light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles were built with a charge port assembly that could fail during a charging event.
- Risk
- Heat could build up within the charge port and a fire could result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the charge port assembly with a redesigned charge port assembly.
Recall number 00V069200 · Recall details
Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with electric drive. Rapid fogging of the interior glass can occur within two minutes after the heat is turned on if (1) the outside temperature is between 35 and 76 degrees fahrenheit and (2) water has collected on the heat exchanger during previous operation of the air conditioning.
- Risk
- If rapid fogging were to occur during driving, it could obstruct the driver's vision increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are being provided with a caution label and supplemental insert for their owner's manual advising them to follow a "stop and wait" procedure to help avoid window fogging while driving.
Recall number 98V177000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3l engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the point of brake fluid loss during brake application.
- Risk
- Brake fluid loss can reduce braking effectiveness and increase stopping distances resulting in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the clearance between the oil pan and the brake line. If the clearance is 6mm or less, dealers will install an additional brake line clip and if there was contact between the oil pan and brake line, the front brake line will be replaced.
Recall number 97V146001 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
- Risk
- If a separation occurred and there were secondary crash events or vehicle rollover, there would be no belt restraint of the occupant and increased injuries could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
Recall number 97V096001 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet S10
Defect investigations
Driver's seat belt buckle assembly
On february 18, 2004, odi opened this recall query (rq) based on two fatality reports involving my 1997 gm s-10 pickup trucks.each report alleged that the belted driver occupant was ejected in a multiple-rotation rollover crash.the my 1997 s/t series pickups use an energy-absorbing loop in the driver seat belt that allows the webbing to elongate up to 10 inches (to mitigate driver injury in frontal crashes).gm also used this energy-absorbing loop seat belt design in my1997 s/t series utility vehicles (chevrolet blazer, gmc jimmy and oldsmobile bravada).gm conducted a safety recall campaign (03v‑117) to replace the driver seat belt in these utility vehilces based on a higher fatality rate of ejected belted drivers in rollover crashes.both fatal crashes are severe rollover crashes (multiple-rotation rollover) and both vehicles sustained damage to the roof structure.odi reviewed the field data performance of the subject vehicles and compared them to peer vehicles using the federal safety agency's fatality analysis reporting system (fars) database.the fars data did not indicate a field performance trend for the subject vehicle.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
RQ04002
Seat belt webbing separation
The federal safety agency's new car assessment program (ncap) tested a 1997 chevrolet s-10 extended cab pickup equipped with a driver-side air bag.the front passenger seat belt was completely cut during the test.
EA97004
Seat belt webbing separation
On 9/9/96 the federal safety agency's new car assessment program (ncap) performed a 35 MPH barrier crash test with a 1997 chevrolet s10 extended cab pickup.the front passenger seat belt was completely cut during the test.
PE96061
Abs braking system
This investigation resulted in a safety recall, 99v‑193, and a service campaign, 99i-006.
EA94038
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Chevrolet S10 63
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Fuel system, gasoline
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Equipment
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Vehicle Recalls
- This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85...
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
1997 Chevrolet S10 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | RWD | 18-20 | 25-27 | 20-23 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15-16 | 21-23 | 17-19 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15 | 20 | 16-17 |
What 1997 Chevrolet S10 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. When the contact started the vehicle, the windshield wipers activated intermittently. The failure occurred in rainy weather, which caused a reduction in visibility. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v159000 (visibility). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
The windshield wipers operate sporadically when turned on. Some times when you turn them on, they will operate normally and other times they will not turn on at all. The vehicle make and model were included in a recall but my VIN was not included in the recall. The problem can occur when the vehicle is moving or stopped in the driveway or parking lot. (reference gm recall 03023)
When slowing down to enter the garage, the engine accelerates when applying the brakes. Letting off of the brakes and reapplying them and pushing harder has eased the issue somewhat. It does this very frequently.
Occasionally about 5 or 6 times and counting when initially applying the brake at either 45mph or 10 MPH my 1997 chevy s10 vehicle starts to accelerate with my foot off the gas and cruise control off at what appeared to be full speed/throttle. My first reaction was to brake even harder, but then the antilock brakes kicked in and seemed to reduce the stopping force by not letting the wheels lock. The vehicle continued to accelerate until I placed the car in neutral and then the vehicle stopped and also stopped accelerating.
Severely corroded brake lines, lines blew. Near miss accident. This is a common complaint across mfrs. . Well maintained cars with severely corroded fuel and brake lines. I bet it can be traced to a cheap supplier that supplied the big 3 for a period of years. No corrosion resistance on the steel. Can't blame this on ne winter salt. My oem 1964 looks better than my late model vehicles.
Vehical pulled out in front of me I hit him running 55 MPH my safety bags did not deploy resulting in severe seatbelt and sterring wheel damage to my body and terible neck pain and back pain resulting from lack of air bagneglect
Wipers do not always start or stop when switch is turned on/off. Intermittent setting does not work, wipers will continue to work as if turned on and not in intermittent mode. Wiper blade will stop at different intervals on windshield.
I have read of a saftey recall on this vehical with the exact description of what happened to me, I should have had plenty of distance to stop, it's only a small pick up, I know for certian I have a fully loaded work truck a ford 3/4 ton econoline van and I know I could have stopped that vehicle in time. I was standing on the brakes, they just wouldnt do anything , in an emergency they just don't cut the mustard. I had extensive front end damage, and my neek has been not feeling good ever since. My father in law gave this truck to my wife hen he was no longer able to drive, and it was told to me he had the truck into the shop repeatedly for the same thing since it was new. Seems to me gm should make it right and the body collision, beings they have known about it and havent done squat, and pay for my pain and medical.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. While parked, the contact noticed the windshield wiper was not functioning. The contact stated he was a mechanic, who inspected the vehicle and determined that the failure was caused by the circuit board. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 03v159000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Compare the 1997 Chevrolet S10
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Questions about the 1997 Chevrolet S10
Is the 1997 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
Owners have filed 469 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet S10, 22.3 times a typical S10 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chevrolet S10?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 117 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles. Next is brakes (101).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 have?
6 recalls, covering visibility, service brakes, hydraulic and electrical system.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet S10 visibility?
Yes, 2 recalls: 03V159000, 98V177000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet S10 have the most visibility problems?
The Chevrolet S10 model years with the most visibility complaints are 1994 (241 complaints), 1995 (207 complaints) and 1998 (203 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Chevrolet S10 get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Chevrolet S10 range from 16 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 18-20 city and 25-27 highway.
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