VehicleVerdict

1995 Chevrolet S10 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,151 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 26.5 times the median S10 year — the 1995 model ranks #2 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 189 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Brakes leads the complaint categories with 365 reports (32% of the total).

1,151

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

6

Investigations

217

Crash-involved

17

Fires reported

189

Injuries

1

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1995 compare to other S10 years?

S10 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1995 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, 1995 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all S10 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1995 Chevrolet S10 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes36532%
Visibility & Wipers21519%
Airbags12010%
Engine918%
Transmission545%
Fuel System393%
Seats353%
Other333%
Suspension313%
Speed Control303%
Electrical System252%
Steering242%
Seat Belts232%
Tires & Wheels192%
Body & Structure171%
Lighting131%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)111%
Latches & Locks61%

Does the 1995 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

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

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

07E021000Fuel SystemMarch 12, 2007 · 742 units

Defect

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Consequence

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

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.

99I006000BrakesJuly 19, 1999 · 2,400,000 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3-SENSOR ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) EBC4 UNITS.

Consequence

THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS ON CERTAIN MULTIPLE SURFACES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE COMPUTER PROGRAM WHICH OPERATES THE ABS UNIT ON SOME VEHICLES, OR REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ABS ON THESE SURFACES.

98V150001Visibility & WipersJuly 1, 1998 · 1,557,585 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

97V096001Seat BeltsJune 12, 1997 · 586,058 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.

Consequence

IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

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.

95V180000EngineSeptember 22, 1995 · 73,163 units

Defect

FAN BLADE RIVET BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE FAN BLADE TO SEPARATE FROM THE SPIDER.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE HOOD WAS OPEN, A PERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STRUCK BY THE FAN BLADE AND INJURED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE FAN WITH A NEWER FAN HAVING THICKER-HEADED RIVETS.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

“WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKES OF THE CONSUMER'S 1995 CHEVROLET S10 LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A STEEL POST. THE CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *NM THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 29, 2004 · crash

“WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN POURING RAIN. DRIVER DECIDED TO PULLOVER. AS HE NEARED A CURB WITH ALMOST NO VISIBILITY, HE REALIZED THAT A DEER WAS SANDING ON EDGE OF ROAD. UNABLE TO STOP, DEER HIT THE SIDE OF TRUCK, CAUSING A DENT ON THE SIDE. ”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · crash

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 14 AND TURNING AT THE INTERSECTION ANOTHER DRIVER TOOK OFF, CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES, CAR SLID ABOUT 12 INCHES, AND HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE DOOR. TRUCK FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. AIRBAG SENSOR WAS CHIPPED, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 5, 1999 · crash

“ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE: WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING; INSURANCE CO REPORT INCONCLUSIVE; VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. REPORTED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE CO.; CAROLYN; CLAIM #24-1073-095; PHONE #[PHONE]. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 15, 1996 · fire

“LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE AWAY FROM WHEEL DRUM, STILL ATTACHED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSED VEHICLE TO SWIRL. HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND TURNED OVER ON ITS TOP. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. ALSO TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT CONCERNING REAR AXLE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 11, 1999 · crash

1995 Chevrolet S10 — common questions

Is the 1995 Chevrolet S10 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,151 complaints put the 1995 model at #2 of 30 S10 years. It is one of the S10 years to avoid.

What are the most common 1995 S10 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (365 complaints), visibility & wipers (215 complaints), airbags (120 complaints).

Does the 1995 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 1995 Chevrolet S10. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1995 Chevrolet S10 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 6 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.