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 1999 Chevrolet S10 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
A large pickup pulled in front of my Chevrolet S10 (1999) and I hit it in the driver door with the front of my S10. I was traveling at about 55 MPH when the accident happened. The driverside airbag on my S10 did not deploy. My wife was riding as a passenger. Her shoulder/seatbelt did not restrain her and she was thrown into the dashboard. (passenger side airbag was turned off due to transporting children in carseats.).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet s-10. While driving 55 MPH the contact's son fell asleep at the wheel and crashed head on into a tree. His injuries consisted of a sprained ankle and abdominal contusion from the steering wheel. The seat belt restrained him, but caused bruising in the chest area. The front air bags failed to deploy. The failure mileage was 87,861.
Consumer states while traveling at 30 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign, unable to stop fast enough, consumer's vehicle hit that vehicle broadside. None of the vehicles airbags deployed. See odino 10026511
The vehicle was in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was traveling at approximately 50 MPH when the accident occurred. The consumers husband's hand was broken as a result.
I was travelling at aproximately 55 MPH. A full sized silverado 4x4 pulling a horse trailer failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of me. I applied my brakes and hit hm in the driver door. My driverside airbag did not deploy. My wife was riding as a passenger. She was wearing her shoulder/seatbelt. It did not lock in place and hold her back. She was thrown forward into the dashboard. She received bruised ribs and a bruise on her forehead. The passenger side airbag had been turned off due to the fact that we sometimes transport our grandchildren. We have contacted GM about this. We were told that the conditions were not right for airbag deployment or for the seatbelt to restrain! Come on! I thought these things were supposed to be safety equipment!!!!!
I was travelling at aproximately 55 MPH. A full sized silverado 4x4 pulling a horse trailer failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled out in front of me. I applied my brakes and hit hm in the driver door. My driverside airbag did not deploy. My wife was riding as a passenger. She was wearing her shoulder/seatbelt. It did not lock in place and hold her back. She was thrown forward into the dashboard. She received bruised ribs and a bruise on her forehead. The passenger side airbag had been turned off due to the fact that we sometimes transport our grandchildren. We have contacted GM about this. We were told that the conditions were not right for airbag deployment or for the seatbelt to restrain! Come on! I thought these things were supposed to be safety equipment!!!!!
Consumer was traveling about 40mph on the highway a dog ran in front of vehicle. Trying to avoid hitting the dog, vehicle jumped and crossed the road, landing in a ditch. Vehicle was straddling inside the ditch , and was trying to get back on the road. Consumer was afraid to put on brakes, and vehicle lost control, went into a driveway, and hit a tree. Front end of vehicle was embedded in the tree. Upon impact, drivers side airbag didn't deploy. Consumer has forty stitches on his face, and a cracked rib.
My son was traveling at 30-35 MPH when another car traveling in the opposite direction, turned in from of him. The front and left front as well as left side of bed were impacted. From the force of the hit he has burns from the seat belt and the truck stopped to rest pointing in the direction from which he was traveling. The airbags never deployed even though the truck is a total loss.
Truck was involved in a crash. First truck t boned another vehicle while traveling about 45 MPH. Then, truck went down into an embankment, and hit a concrete culvert. Upon impact, there was no deployment of driver's side air bag. Passenger's side air bag was turned off. Not sure if the truck was totalled.
While driving 33 MPH consumer's vehicle collided with the vehicle in front. Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver and passenger sustained minor injuries, and were transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop.
Airbag complaints in other S10 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Chevrolet S10?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Chevrolet S10, 12% of the model year's 231 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Chevrolet S10. 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 1999 Chevrolet S10 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 13 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.