Most common 1999 Chevrolet S10 problems
Share of the 231 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet S10 complaints by model year
Best S10 years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1997, 2000. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1999 Chevrolet S10:
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…
Post-collision fuel system integrity
Alleged that the fuel tank May be susceptible to puncture in certain crash modes
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.
What 1999 Chevrolet S10 owners say
Brakes all 35 →
I was moving my truck around in my drive way and the brakes failed and I hit the garage. After inspection I found that my brake line had rusted through and broke. This is the second time this has happened and I think it is ridiculous that something this important to the safety of a vehicle is this poorly made. Please look into this matter.
1999 Chevrolet s-10 truck with 4cylinder engine, brakes fail in panic stop situation immediately following initial acceleration after a stop. Result is loss of power brakes and extended stopping distance causing possible incidents.
Seats all 33 →
The recline handles on both of my seats snapped off the first time they were used. I took it ti the dealer and they said it was not covered by the warranty. I was told that I would have to replace the seats inorder to fix the problem... They also told me that I broke them by applying to much force to the seat recline levers. I am only 5,2 and I dont think I could apply that much force to break metal unless they were defective to begine with. I would accept it if only one broke but when both of them broke this is a little more than coincidence... I would like cheverolet to recall these or issue a repair part.
Driver and passenger seat recliner handle broke off very easily. We are now unable to recline both seats in my truck. When I went to the dealership they said "that this was a common problem with Chevy s-10" (per the parts counter & service department). I was advised that I would need to replace the entire recliner assembly and the handle, they wanted $600 to fix this! I could buy a lazy boy recliner for that kind of money. This is totally ridiculous and they need to fix this. The parts dept. Guy told me that they redesigned this recliner because they were having so problems with the old one.
Transmission & drivetrain all 28 →
Consumer pulled into a parking lot when smoke began emitting from under the hood. Vehicle then caught on fire under the hood. Transmission fluid was just flushed approximately 1 hour before incident occurred.
After a previous day of uneventful use,I noticed on the morning of 10/1/02,that after starting, the truck would only shift into neutral and reverse.when an attempt was made to shift into drive,the vehicle froze.the truck was then towed to a transmission shop,and the problem was diagnosed.the 4l60e transmission had to be rebuilt as well as a torque converter,which was literaly torn apart.the tranmission specialist asked me how many miles were on my truck,and when I told him, (only 56,000) he explained that this problem should not have occured in a vehicle with such relatively low mileage.in fact after examining the defective parts more closely,he concluded that the failure occured as a result of the faulty way in which these parts were machined.the total cost for all of this was around $1,284.00.attempts were made to contact GM,but they were unwilling to accept responsability.I …
1999 Chevrolet S10 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 26 / 23 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Chevrolet S10 a good car?
Based on 231 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 S10 rates better than average: 52% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S10 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Chevrolet S10?
The brakes — 35 complaints, 15% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the seats (33) and transmission & drivetrain (28).
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet S10 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Chevrolet S10. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet S10?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1997 and 2000. See the full Chevrolet S10 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Chevrolet S10 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.