Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet S10 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving 35 MPH the consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. The driver side seat belt failed to retract and the airbags failed to deploy. The consumer was knocked unconscious when his head hit the steering wheel.
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
Driver was driven off the road while traveling 60 MPH and into a ditch, air bag light came on no deployment of air bag, consumer took vehicle to dealer and was told he didn't hit hard enough or at the right angle, during front end collision the drivers side air bag did not deploy, the passenger shoulder harness failed and caused the passenger to be thrown thourghout the vehicle causing 3 herniated disc. Nlm
While driving at 35 MPH another driver was waiting to make a turn, the other driver turned in front of consumer, consumer hit other driver head-on, and went into high curve. The other driver was drunk. Upon impact, airbags failed to deploy. Consumer stated that airbags should have deployed at 10 to 14 MPH, but they did not. Consumer was willing to take car to be inspected.
Consumer was traveling about approx 40mph when vehicle was hit head on by another vehicle that had pulled in frontby druck driver, dual air bags did not inflate ,totally inoperative causing leg, arm , shoulder injuires to passenger.seatbelt was worn during the accident. There was no indictation of defective airbags. $4500.00 worth of damage to the frontend.
Consumer was traveling on the highway about 60mph. Another vehicle hit him from the rear, and vehicle veered over into the shoulder grass and flipped twice, the car was upside down. Then, vehicle was back on the road, and went into a concrete cover. Hit it head-on, and driver's airbag didn't deploy. Consumer had sustained head injuries.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision\. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, and restraints did not retract, resulting in major injuries. Right airbag sensor was shattered. Vehicle was totalled. The driver's nose hit the steering wheel and the passenger was thrown out of the seat during the accident.
Truck rear ended another vehicle and the air bag did not deploy, causing the driver to suffer some head injury. The truck only had a driver's side air bag. The truck is at the shop, and the dealer has not determine anything yet concerning the air bag not deploying.
Consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway and there was another vehicle sitting on the road. There was a blind spot, and consumer didn't see other vehicle and veered into it. Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy at all.
While driving at 50 MPH on wet and icy pavement, vehicle slid across the road, causing the front of the vehicle to hit the guardrail. The other part of vehicle hit the wall, and driver's side air bag didn't deploy.
Airbag complaints in other S10 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Chevrolet S10?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Chevrolet S10, 10% of the model year's 469 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Chevrolet S10, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 38 crashes, 0 fires and 24 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.