Electrical complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Chevy s-10 quad cab caught on fire due to electrical malfunction; passenger seat was adjusted (electric seat with heat) smelled smoke and parked vehicle took keys and exited vehicle with passenger. Vehicle burned all wiring and the fuse box under the hood melted. No flames seen only smoke, all wiring melted under the seat and carpet the vehicle would not start and no electrical item would turn on. Had vehicle towed on back of flat bed to Chevy dealer. They said it was our fault that a wire under the seat was pinched by the seat track. The cost was over $4,000. They said that the installed zip ties and that the wire would not have any issues again, they also replaced carpet, fuse box, junction clock, sir module, (carpet, harness, module, block, harness, fuse kit, fuse, coil kit, heater yes two harness were replaced) and the complete wiring harness. …
Headlights go out when driving and horn starts sounding when the vehicle is park and without keys. Problem reported to GM when the vehicle was new. GM dealership worked on the vehicle and said that is was fixed. Problem has reappeared. Also a lot of minor electrical problems *
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet S10. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal ticking noise and the entire instrument cluster failed. Due to the failure, the contact received a ticket because of the unknown speed limit and was speeding 20 MPH over the speed limit. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted or made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was over 100,000.
The truck was occasionally not turning over. Tried things like turning fan on, radio, etc and it would start. Security light comes on or will blink. Truck now is not turning over at all. Dash lights blink and or come on when door opens. This is a problem I've seen all over internet, but nothing has worked. I think it should have a recall. I am paying for a dead truck now. Truck was stationary-won't start.
While driving, the owner smelled burning wires. The alarm went off, the windshield wipers started moving, and the horn started blowing inadvertently. Also, the air bag on the passenger side deployed. Owner took the vehicle to an independent mechanic ,who inspected the vehicle. The owner contacted the manufacturer who instructed the consumer to take the vehicle to a g.m. Dealership. Provide further details. A mechanic inspected the vehicle and found had been run under the carpet on the drivers side and they were worn and corroded, the wires were the cause of all the electrical componets malfunctioning.
Vehicle will just stop running. The fuel pump has been replaced. After being replaced it quit 15 miles from the dealership that repaired it. They could not diagnose. Vehicle will start again after sitting several hours. They told us to drive until it quit again. Frustrated, we took it to a more sophisticated dealership who also could not diagnose the problem and told us to drive it until it acted up again. The vehicle has quit 2 more times, but on the weekend but starts in a few hours.
Truck has ABS lights on when driving at lower speeds as soon as the fluids are not cold the check gushes light comes on and the oil pressure gauge needle drops until the throttle is again depressed... Also ABS in rear shakes whole truck when going below 50mph and then continues up to 80mph before subsiding. The truck has serious steering issues constant leaks caused I'm sure my rack and pinion are worn down as well as now my tires and supension I have so many problems like the interior is crumbling to pieces the body has giant holes from improper painting options on this model I have over sized tire wells that are rusted completely out it make your company look silly for not making these vehicles better when they last people keep buying them again and again! …
2001 Chevrolet S10 zr2 package .brake lights dont work, fuses blown for door locks and mirrors, smoke was coming from driver side firewall. Took to shop to have them check wires. They said nothing was wrong with wires. Driving lights turn on by themself while car is not running, cannot shut off headlights, had to disconnect headlights. Took to another shop. Has been in shop for over a week now and they said our wiring harness was melted. Some kind of white lubricant or silicone is inside of harness? We have pictures to prove it. And we will get a report from the mechanic shop. I only have 45,000 miles on my truck. I am a very unhappy customer. Please help!
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install revised software in the battery pack module.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
Vehicle description: generation 1 electric light duty pickup trucks. These vehicles were built with a charge port assembly that could fail during a charging event.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the charge port assembly with a redesigned charge port assembly.
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet S10 years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (50), 1996 (41), 2001 (28), 2000 (26) and 1995 (25) model years. Electrical complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet S10 electrical problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 00V-374 (12v/24v/48v battery, Nov 13, 2000); 00V069200 (12v/24v/48v battery, Mar 3, 2000); 97V208001 (front underhood, Nov 25, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet S10 electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (40 mentions), followed by the 12v/24v/48v battery (29).
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.