1998 Chevrolet S10 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Chevrolet S10 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 742
- on record
- Top problem area
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
- 85 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 76 reported crashes · 47 injuries · 9 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#636
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+434
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 1996-2000
+474
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
21%
Visibility: 155 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Chevrolet S10
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 85
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER 70
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 48
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 29
- SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER 26
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Chevrolet S10
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Chevrolet S10 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
NHTSA has 742 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Chevrolet S10. The most-reported problem area is visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (85 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Chevrolet S10 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet S10?
Owners most often report problems with: visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (85), visibility:windshield wiper/washer (70), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (48), air bags:frontal (29). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Chevrolet S10?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.