10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,839 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #31

Feb 122005

S-10 Pickup 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,023 miles
Around the end of the warranty period, my truck started shifting into "second" gear hard after driving at highway speeds. Toward the end of a 200 mile trip, the transmission failed and no longer has a "second" gear. The truck had 48,023 miles on it. I cannot determine for sure if the overdrive function is working, either. While failure did not cause an accident or personal injury, the potential was significant. This vehicle has only been used for personal transportation, not commercial purposes or hauling heavy loads. Repairs will be costly. My research indicates repeat failures for this transmission. I am the second owner. I bought the truck from my mother after my father passed away.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #30

Apr 122004

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
Sunshell in transmission broken twice within 2 years, repair shop states heavy duty sunshell has been released to replace the inferior sunshell that was designed for the 1997 Chevrolet S-10 pickup. Repair shop states this is a common problem. Repairs each time totalling in excess of $2,000. Purchused vehicle from father at 13,000 miles. He had problems with transmission at 10,000 miles. Serviced by love chevolet on Dec. 1, 1998.

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #29

Oct 252003

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Got the truck at 48,400 miles. At 48,800 after driving at highway speed continuouly for about 25 minutes, my truck shifted very hard between first and second gear. The problem could be duplicated like clockwork. Talked to both the local Chevrolet dealer and Chevrolet and neither would budge on assisting on the repair bill which came out to be $710. After reading about more complaint of the same nature on this and many more sites, I can't understand how Chevrolet can get away with passing this cost on to the consumer. It's obvious there is a design flaw.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #28

Mar 022002

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
Bought truck in October and have recently been experiencing extremely hard shifting from first into second gear. This is also accompanied by the service engine soon light. I spoke with a transmission specialist about this and he said it is a very common problem with these GM transmissions, he suggested replacing the valve body which he said is clearly defective from the factory in my opinion GM should issue a recall on these transmissions. ****dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis****760962

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #27

Aug 192002

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #26

Aug 192002

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #25

Jul 102001

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Due to the huge number of similar problems and complaints, clearly a problem exists, that the manufacturer refuses to acknowledge. No safety defect listed.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #24

Apr 212002

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #23

Nov 072000

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Transmission failed approx. $1000 to repair. Alternator went out approx. $175 to replace. Windshield wipers only work 25% of the time.. many times when it is raining. Not repaired. Cruise control does not work at all. Not repaired. Backup lights(bulbs and fuses good) not working. Not repaired. We can only afford to repair the items that have to be repaired.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #22

Jun 012001

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
Transmission slippage from first to second gear with a hard jolt. 4-wd drive would not engage/disengage but a whirring sound present from location 20-40mph.

- Crownsville, MD, USA

problem #21

Jul 062001

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Each failure required valve body replacement.hard shift between 1st and 2nd gear & falls out of overdrive.dealer claims they know about problems, but refuses to help pay for repair. Many other reports of identical problem have been reported, no action to date by GMC.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #20

Jun 032001

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Transmission has hard shift between 1st and second gear, dealer says it needs a new valve body and new torque converter.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #19

Aug 101999

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
This vehicle has had both drive lines replaced, the four wheel drive, the torque converter, three different idler arms, three sets of tires and two alignments, the rear end has been rebuilt due to worn out pinion bearing, two pulleys are squeeling, the brakes have to be pressed extremely hard and ABS kicks in all the time, tires rubbed the fender, altenator squeeling. I feel that this vehicle is substandard and that most of the repairs have been made out of pocket due to vehicle not being under warranty when they occurred. I have written an E mail to Chevrolet service to find out what I can do with this truck.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #18

Jan 052001

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Transmission experienced hard shifts between 1st and 2nd gears. Also, engine service and check lights would come on intermittently. Dealer informed consumer that transmission body needed to be replaced for second time. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

problem #17

Oct 011999

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
After a long continuous drive on the interstate and entering local traffic after stopping at a light and then going from first to second, the transmission slammed into gear from first to second, it will stop after turning the ignition off and restarting the vehicle.

- Saint Pete, FL, USA

problem #16

Oct 302000

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #15

Sep 112000

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
At 40824amiles the car could not shift out of first geer and the service engine soon came on. I called the auto shop and they said to bring it in and that I could drive it until the light flashed. I took it in and had it repaired (which I have fought for the $200 deductable) at the time I questioned the fact that a transmission could go out so fast. ( I do not tow anything-it is a work car and take the kids to sports) two months to the day, I am having the exact problem with the car. Everyone I talk with that has a 97 Chevy Blazer has a transmission problem.

- Oakdale, CA, USA

problem #14

Oct 092000

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle. (dot number: N/a tiresize: N/a)

- Waukesha, WI, USA

problem #13

Aug 292000

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
Our transmission repair man said that '97, '98, '99 Chevy S10 have a common problem of the transmission tearing up at 60K miles. We would like a recall on this. We did not have an accident, although this could cause an accident.

- Elburn, IL, USA

problem #12

May 262000

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failed prematurely at 60,0000 and then replaced again 240 miles later.

- Scotia, NY, USA

Read the next 11 complaints »