VehicleVerdict

1998 Chevrolet S10 electrical system problems

The 1998 Chevrolet S10 has 61 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

61

Electrical System complaints

8%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

S10 electrical system complaints by model year61 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 2 complaints1988: 4 complaints1989: 7 complaints1991: 19 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 13 complaints1994: 33 complaints1995: 25 complaints1996: 45 complaints1997: 25 complaints1998: 61 complaints1999: 26 complaints2000: 29 complaints2001: 32 complaints2002: 15 complaints2003: 16 complaints2004: 3 complaints
S10 electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

00V374000Electrical SystemNovember 13, 2000 · 492 units

Defect

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. AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL ILLUMINATE THE "SERVICE NOW" AND "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" TELLTALES AND CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN A REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODEL INSTEAD OF BEING DISABLED.

Consequence

IF THE TELLTALES ARE IGNORED AND THE AFFECTED VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN, HEAT COULD BUILD UP AND A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL REVISED SOFTWARE IN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE.

97V208001Electrical SystemNovember 25, 1997 · 33,973 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence

THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

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.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH HAD A DIRECT IMPACT WITH AN EMBANKMENT/ POLE AND A TREE DURING WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE CRASH. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION WIRING WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 1, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet S10 have?

NHTSA has 61 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet S10 electrical system — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet S10 electrical system?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the electrical system: 00V374000, 97V208001.

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.