1997 Chevrolet S SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
109,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 1 |
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
2005: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10138073 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
1997 CHEVROLET S10 TAILGATE CABLES/ASSEMBLIES ARE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT FROM FALLING OFF THESE TAILGATES. THESE ASSEMBLIES AND CABLES ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS AND RUST RAPIDLY. CABLES RUST FROM INSIDE OUT DUE TO MANUFACTURER NOT SEALING THEM PROPERLY WITH PLASTIC, OR MAKING OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL. ONGOING PROBLEM AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138073 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1988 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10138073 · 109,000 mi1997 CHEVROLET S10 TAILGATE CABLES/ASSEMBLIES ARE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT FROM FALLING OFF THESE TAILGATES. THESE ASSEMBLIES AND CABLES ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS AND RUST RAPIDLY. CABLES RUST FROM INSIDE OUT DUE TO MANUFACTURER NOT SEALING THEM PROPERLY WITH PLASTIC, OR MAKING OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL. ONGOING PROBLEM AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0% | 120.0%ODI 10143519 · 90,000 miEA05008 - TAILGATE CABLES CRACKING & BREAKING; DO NOT SUPPORT WEIGHT OF LOAD ON TAILGATE IN TRANSIT AND LEAVE POSSIBILITY FOR GATE TO BECOME DETACHED AND FALL OFF. *JB | 1100.0%ODI 10139475 · 63,325 miWILE LOADING A BICYCLE INTO MY 2001 S10 CREW CAB BOTH TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED CAUSING ME AND THE BICYCLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10021033 · 81,000 miI HAVE A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK OCCASIONALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1996 S-10'S. MY DAD OWNS THE 96 AND HIS TRUCK HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE DOES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE I HAVE HAD THE WIPERS NOT WORK MANY TIMES WHILE IT IS RAINING OUT. THE PROBLEM ON HIS TRUCK WAS BROKEN SOLDER JOINTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. *NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 342.9%ODI 10039257 · 66,700 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WHEN USING INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION. HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND WIPERS MUST BE SET ON FULL SPEED SETTING TO GET THEM TO WORK AT ALL. THEY WILL REMAIN UNUSABLE IN INTERMITTENT SETTINGS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OR SOMETIMES DAYS. THE DEFECT GOES AWAY AND RETURNS WITHOUT ANY PATTERN OF FAILURE, LATELY, WIPERS STOP WORKING IN ALL MODES UNTIL SHUT OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10148518I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A 4.3L V-6 ENGINE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THIS TRUCK HAD AN IDLE LOPE AND MISS WHICH I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT. I HAVE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSORS, FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL REGULATOR, AND ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A UNIT ON THAT MODEL AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE EGR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL. UP T… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10492192 · 50,000 miWINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED AND STOPPED FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS AND NOW TOTALLY STOPPED RAINING HARD AND ALSO CAUSED A WRECK TRUCK IN GOOD CONDITION ONLY 50,000 MILES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10148518I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A 4.3L V-6 ENGINE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THIS TRUCK HAD AN IDLE LOPE AND MISS WHICH I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT. I HAVE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSORS, FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL REGULATOR, AND ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A UNIT ON THAT MODEL AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE EGR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL. UP T… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10069019ENGINE SEIZED UP WITH NO WARNING THROWING ROCKER ARM OUT THROUGH ENGINE BLOCK. TRUCK TOWED TO GM DEALERSHIP. OVER TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRUCK IS STILL AT GM DEALER. CUSTOMER AWAITING ESTIMATE OF REPAIR. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10017776WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. *NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10148518I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A 4.3L V-6 ENGINE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THIS TRUCK HAD AN IDLE LOPE AND MISS WHICH I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT. I HAVE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSORS, FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL REGULATOR, AND ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A UNIT ON THAT MODEL AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE EGR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL. UP T… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Other:Delivery | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10148518I OWN A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A 4.3L V-6 ENGINE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW.. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THIS TRUCK HAD AN IDLE LOPE AND MISS WHICH I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT. I HAVE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSORS, FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL REGULATOR, AND ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A UNIT ON THAT MODEL AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE EGR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SERVICED UNDER RECALL. UP T… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10023079 · 55,000 miTHE DEFECT(S) RELATE TO THE EXTENDED CAB VERSION OF THE VEHICLE WITH A 3RD DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. 3RD DOOR UPPER LATCH HAS BROKEN SEVERAL TIMES. PART IS MADE FROM STEEL ROD STOCK WHICH IS FORMED INTO A U SHAPE THEN STAMPED TO FORM HOLES FOR THE MOUNTING SCREWS AND THE SERRATED MOUNTING SURFACE. FAILURE EACH TIME HAS BEEN METAL FATIGUE WHERE THE METAL IS STAMPED AND IS DUE TO THE METAL BECOMING FATIGUED BY HITTING THE UPPER STRIKER/LATCH ASSEMBLY. THIS KEEPS THE 3RD DOOR FROM LATCHING AT THE TOP LETTING RAIN AND FUMES ENTER THE CAB. THE DEAL… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10052761THE THIRD DOOR RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME REASON. THE LATCH ITSELF BROKE WHERE THE LINKAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR IS STRAINED AND HAS BECOME FATIGUED AND BROKE. THE DEALER AT ONE POINT CLAIMED THAT THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM AND THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART WAS AN UPDATED VERSION HOWEVER IT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG BEFORE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE IS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WILL SOON HAVE TO BE PAYING TO GET THESE REPLACED ON MY OWN. PLEASE INVESITGATE BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ANYONE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE TRUCK YOU CANNO… |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | Too few reports for a range | 109,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10138073 · 109,000 mi1997 CHEVROLET S10 TAILGATE CABLES/ASSEMBLIES ARE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT FROM FALLING OFF THESE TAILGATES. THESE ASSEMBLIES AND CABLES ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS AND RUST RAPIDLY. CABLES RUST FROM INSIDE OUT DUE TO MANUFACTURER NOT SEALING THEM PROPERLY WITH PLASTIC, OR MAKING OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL. ONGOING PROBLEM AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. *NM |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2001: 0 complaints · 2002: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.