Wipers just stopped working while driving in the rain. Unable to get them to turn back on. Seems to be eerily similar to a previous recall (03v159000) of earlier year model vehicles. Recall needs to be extended asap to cover 1998+ year model vehicles
The worst 1998 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.
- Visibility203
- Brakes77
- Engine52
- Electrical49
- Seats48
- Transmission40
- Body38
- Airbags37
- Suspension24
- Locks22
- Acceleration18
- Fuel system16
- Seat belts14
- Steering14
- Tires12
- Lights8
- Wheels8
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Chevrolet S10
Wipers 193No deployment 22ABS 18Stalling 14Brake failure 10Pulling 10Door locks 9Won't start 8Ball joint 5Grinding brakes 5Check engine light 5Fire or smoke 5Headlights 5Overheating 5
Recalls 6
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: electric passenger vehicles and pickup trucks containing a nickel metal hydride (nimh) battery pack. These vehicles contain software within the battery pack module intended to disable the vehicle from being driven if the electrical resistance with the battery pack exceeds a prescribed value. Affected vehicles will illuminate the "service now" and "reduced performance" telltales and continue to function in a reduced performance model instead of being disabled.
- Risk
- If the telltales are ignored and the affected vehicle continues to be driven, heat could build up and a fire could result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install revised software in the battery pack module.
Recall number 00V374000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the daytime running lights built with a candela value greater than 3,000 cannot be mounted higher than 864mm above the road surface.
- Risk
- These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a revised wiring harness that changes the drl's from high beam to low beam drl's, and install new long-life low beam bulbs.
Recall number 00V220000 · 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
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
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- The clip material on the exhaust manifold can ignite and subsequently ignite other combustible components resulting in a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers are contacting owners by telephone to have their vehicles towed to the dealer and alternate transportation provided to them until the dealer can reroute the electrical wiring-harness.
Recall number 97V208001 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. A fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe can occur causing a slow brake fluid leak resulting in a soft brake pedal. If the brake pipe breaks, the driver would experience a sudden drop in the brake pedal, the instrument panel brake light would illuminate, and there would be a loss of rear brake performance.
- Risk
- Partial loss of braking at a time when minimum stopping distance was required could result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.
Recall number 97V218000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet S10
Defect investigations
Tailgate support cables
General motors is conducting a special policy program for 903,464 owners of 2000 - 2003 model s/t vehicles through which owners may, at their option, either (1) periodically inspect the tailgate support cables installed in their vehicle and have the cables replaced if the cable coating exhibits any indications of damage or deterioration or (2) request that the tailgate support cables be replaced free of charge. Gm will honor all requests by owners who opt for replacement without question regardless of the condition or appearance of the cables. Gm has agreed to mail reminder notifications to owners every two years until the tailgate support cables have been replaced or until the vehicle is 12 years old.odi's investigation indicates that a significant majority of the reported complaints (87%) and injuries (94%) have occurred in my 2000 - 2003 s/t vehicles.
EA05008
Tailgate support cable(s) break
Odi is upgrading rq04-012 and opening an ea to investigate the tailgate support cables installed in 1998 - 2004 model year sonoma and s10 model vehicles.general motors is conducting recall campaign 04v‑129 to replace the tailgate support cables originally installed in certain model year 2000-2004 sierras and silverados and certain model year 2002-2004 avalanches and escalade exts (c/k models).general motors has advised odithat the tailgate support cables installed in the subject vehicles were fabricated using identical or similar sheathing material as the recalled vehicles.however,general motors has advised odi that sonoma and s-10 vehicles differ from c/k models in several ways: the vehicle height is lower; the tailgate displacement (drop) when not supported by the cables is smaller and the tailgate comes to rest at a less severe tip angle when not supported by the cables; the tailgate mass is smaller; and the size, payload, and usage characteristcis are less demanding than c/k model vehicles.gm also stated that sonoma and s-10 warranty claim information indicates a lower claim count and a lower claim rate than recalled c/k models.notwithstanding the above information, odi has received an additional 73 non-injury complaints and 10 injury complaints on the subject vehicles during rq04-012 (since november 2004 to date), which justifies opening an engineering analysis to further investigate this issue.
RQ04012
Post collision fuel system integrity
Allege that in certain side impact crashes, the subject fuel tanks may contact the prop shaft rear universal joint components with sufficient force to puncture the tank.
EA99012
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Chevrolet S10 91
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Structure: body: tailgate
- 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...
- Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Power train
1998 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 | 17-20 | 24-26 | 19-22 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15-16 | 20-21 | 17-18 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14-15 | 19-20 | 16-17 |
| Electric motor Electric 72 mi range | 2WD | 28-52 | 28-58 | 28-55 MPGe |
What 1998 Chevrolet S10 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I just bought the truck used and sometimes the windshield wipers will work and sometimes they will not come on at all. It does this whether it is stationary, in motion, on a city street or a highway, turning, braking, hot or cold weather, etc. It is unsafe when it is raining because the wipers do not clear the windshield of rain, snow, sleet, water from other vehicles on the road passing or ahead of you or sleet. You cannot see clearly where you are driving. I was told by a friend they had a recall on the 1997 wiper motor on his s10 truck. Thought this might be the same problem. The two owners before me had the same problem with it. I am not sure who the orginal owner is or was.
My parking brake doesn't work. My seatbelts come undone when I'm driving which is a major issue for safety.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 chevrolet s10. While driving 5 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle that drove through a red light. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the head and lower back. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was destroyed. A dealer was not made aware of the crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the crash and transferred the contact to the federal safety agency. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000. *tt updated 8/30/18
While in motion on the freeway, the spare tire hoist cable under the truck bed failed and the spare tire dropped to the ground. After it fell, a second safety cable used to prevent theft of the tire was causing the tire to drag behind the vehicle for an unknown number of miles. While pulling over, the safety cable also failed due to rubbing against the ground and the tire came fully loose from the truck. Another vehicle behind the truck ran into the tire but no major accident occurred. Both vehicles were able to pull off the road. The loose spare tire and the loose safety cable lock were recovered, however, the broken piece for the tire hoist was not recoverable. Damaged/failed hardware: oem spare tire cable hoist (failed), third part safety cable (damaged)
My pickup was sitting in front of my home when it wouldn't start. I raised the hood and a rat was under the hood with debris with pieces of hoses and insulation from under the hood. After removing the debris I could see the wireing coatings and the hoses were all chewed and missing with part of it in the debris. I had discovered the same type of damage to my car that day but with a squirrel under the hood! I've lived here many years never had a problem with other vehicles. Afraid this could cause a safety hazard if it doesn't show up till on the road. Have not had it repaired yet due to the severity of damage & cost. Why are the rodents eating the wiring cover and hoses in vehicles?
Rusted brake lines. Almost total loss of braking.
The vehicle intermittently shuts off while driving. All power is lost. All lights on instrument panel come on as if the truck were just started. "service engine soon" light comes on. Sometimes the truck restarts and continues working and other times it stalls completely as if the key was turned off. This happens at random times and in random situations. We may be accelerating aggressively (merging into traffic) or driving smoothly at slower speeds. It is not consistent with road conditions, temperature or whether we are driving up or downs a hill, on the flats, going straight or around curves. It may happen twice within a mile then not again that day. Once it has staled completely, starting the engine can be difficult, like it is not getting fuel or electrical current to the engine. Fuel filter has been changed with no change in symptoms. Problem codes that come up when diagnosed are as follows... P1632 p0341 p0335 this problem has just begun to show itself in the past 6 weeks, maybe starting in early september, 2015. This is very disconcerting as this is my wife's commuter car and she does not feel safe in it at this point.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet s10. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000. Updated 01/09/15*lj updated 06/2/2015
Same as other complaints. Wipers stopped working during a rainstorm. Have changed the motor twice and recently started doing the same thing. Also both cables in the lid corroded and broke. Using some chains to hold until able to find and buy the cables. Will get the VIN number to see if it was ever part of a recall I wasn't aware of.
Compare the 1998 Chevrolet S10
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Questions about the 1998 Chevrolet S10
Is the 1998 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
Owners have filed 612 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet S10, 29.1 times a typical S10 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Chevrolet S10?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 203 complaints, typically around 60,500 miles. Next is brakes (77).
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet S10 have?
6 recalls, covering electrical system, exterior lighting and service brakes, hydraulic.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet S10 visibility?
Yes, 1 recall: 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 1998 Chevrolet S10 get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Chevrolet S10 range from 16 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 17-20 city and 24-26 highway.
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