The 1989 Chevrolet S10 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 359,650 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING96V1950001996-10-08144,598 affected
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING93V0080001993-01-14215,052 affected
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.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
2fires
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
2
Total complaints55
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I had a tie failure on a goodrich p225/70-r14 m&s tire. The sidewall split on the tire without warning. The tire was taken to the dealer who examined it and said that the sidewall failure was due to some sort of manufacturing defect. When the other tires were examined, one of them was found to…”
“While driving 45 mph rear passenger firestone tire blew out. The consumer checked the tire pressure three weeks prior to the blow out. *ak *ph *nlm”
“Steering wheel turned 180 without warning and locked up. While driving the steering column turned 180 degrees without warning and locked up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the bolts were loose. The dealer reinstalled them with thread lockers. *nlm”
“When purchasing the vehicle I asked a salesman why there was rust showing on the underneath of the new vehicle I was purchasing. He commented that all the new vehicles had that. I walked the line and found that all the in cheaper vehicles had rust but the more expensive vehicles din't. That made…”
“When purchasing the vehicle I asked a salesman why there was rust showing on the underneath of the new vehicle I was purchasing. He commented that all the new vehicles had that. I walked the line and found that all the in cheaper vehicles had rust but the more expensive vehicles din't. That made…”
“When purchasing the vehicle I asked a salesman why there was rust showing on the underneath of the new vehicle I was purchasing. He commented that all the new vehicles had that. I walked the line and found that all the in cheaper vehicles had rust but the more expensive vehicles din't. That made…”
“Steering wheel is coming loose. *ak”
“While driving, the consumer noticed white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and pulled over, a few minutes later the consumer saw a flame and exited the vehicle which became completely engulfed in flames, possible engine failure causing fire. (ohio traffic crash report) *slc”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP90006 Opened 1990-04-13 · closed 1990-07-24
LIFT GATE FALLS OFF
LIFT GATE FALLS OFF
InvestigationEA92015 Opened 1992-05-22 · closed 1993-05-28
HIGH IDLE FLARE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA94029 Opened 1994-07-29 · closed 1996-07-31
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
InvestigationPE91057 Opened 1991-03-06 · closed 1991-07-12
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE92001 Opened 1992-01-07 · closed 1992-05-22
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Chevrolet S10 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.