VehicleVerdict

1992 Chevrolet S10 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 221 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.1 times the median S10 year — the 1992 model ranks #13 of 30 S10 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 16 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 64% of all reports (142 of 221), far ahead of fuel system at 14.

221

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

5

Investigations

27

Crash-involved

8

Fires reported

16

Injuries

1

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1992 compare to other S10 years?

S10 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1992 highlighted1,225 complaints1981: 1 complaints1982: 2 complaints1983: 7 complaints1984: 9 complaints1985: 15 complaints1986: 32 complaints1987: 44 complaints1988: 43 complaints1989: 55 complaints1990: 34 complaints1991: 253 complaints1992: 221 complaints1993: 276 complaints1994: 1,225 complaints1995: 1,151 complaints1996: 875 complaints1997: 574 complaints1998: 742 complaints1999: 298 complaints2000: 559 complaints2001: 404 complaints2002: 246 complaints2003: 230 complaints2004: 30 complaints2005: 0 complaints2006: 1 complaints2007: 0 complaints2016: 1 complaints2017: 1 complaints2018: 5 complaints
S10 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1992 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all S10 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1992 Chevrolet S10 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes14264%
Fuel System146%
Engine125%
Seat Belts125%
Electrical System84%
Speed Control63%
Other63%
Tires & Wheels52%
Visibility & Wipers42%
Seats42%
Transmission31%
Body & Structure21%
Suspension10%
Steering10%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%

Does the 1992 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

08E050000LightingAugust 11, 2008 · 1,921 units

Defect

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

06E049000LightingMay 24, 2006 · 27,176 units

Defect

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

99V193000BrakesJuly 19, 1999 · 1,125,749 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

96V195000SteeringOctober 8, 1996 · 144,598 units

Defect

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT LOOSENS AT THE STEERING SHAFT TO STEERING GEAR COUPLING. WITH THIS LOOSENESS, THE YOKE PINCH BOLT CAN WEAR ON THE SPLINES OF THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE IS NO LONGER AN INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE SPLINES AND THE BOLT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE BODY TO CHASSIS MOVEMENT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.

93V008000EngineJanuary 14, 1993 · 215,052 units

Defect

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES BREAK AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND/OR VEHICLE INDUCED STRESS.

Consequence

IF THE BLADE BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE HOOD IS OPEN, APERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCKAND INJURED BY THE BLADE SEGMENT.

Remedy

INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED FAN ASSEMBLY.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“VEHICLE HAS HAD EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ALSO, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.OWNER ALSO HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE PARTS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. *AK WIPERS COME ON BY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

“THE GAS TANK ROTTED OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. THE GAS TANK EXTENDS BEYOND THE BED OF THE TRUCK. WHEN BULK ITEMS SUCH AS MULCH ARE LOADED THEY FALL ON THE TANK AND BECOME LODGED BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE PLASTIC SAFETY SHIELD.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · July 1, 1998

“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER. ONCE VEHICLE WAS HIT, THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETACT ONCE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · June 23, 1997 · crash

“THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE MY EXHAST MANIFOLD.. I HAVE HEARD THERE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE GM 2.5 L ENGINE WHO ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE EXHUAST MANIFOLD NUMBEROUS TIMES. IS THERE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT?”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine

“VEHICLE HAS HAD EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ALSO, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.OWNER ALSO HAD NUMEROUS BRAKE PARTS REPLACED WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. *AK WIPERS COME ON BY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · crash

1992 Chevrolet S10 — common questions

Is the 1992 Chevrolet S10 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 221 complaints put the 1992 model at #13 of 30 S10 years. It is one of the S10 years to avoid.

What are the most common 1992 S10 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (142 complaints), fuel system (14 complaints), engine (12 complaints).

Does the 1992 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1992 Chevrolet S10. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1992 Chevrolet S10 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 5 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet S10 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the S10 years to avoid are 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1997, 2000, 2001, 1999, 1993, 1991, 2002, 2003, 1992. The cleanest record among S10 years belongs to 2007.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.