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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,846 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup brakes problems

brakes problem

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1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #64

Dec 042005

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brakes: The front brakes will lock up at slow speeds, particularly if the vehicle has set idle for a few days. This has been a continuous problem for the last 4 years. Additionally, the anti-lock brakes will sometimes engage, allowing the vehicle to continue, with no means of stopping.

- Matthews, NC, USA

problem #63

Oct 012005

S-10 Pickup 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The contact states there NHTSA recall campaign 05V379000 concerning anti lockbrakes. This vehicle is experiencing the same problems as indicated in the recall, but it is not included in the recall due to vi and the year, and model. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time.

- Folkston, GA, USA

problem #62

Apr 052004

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When applied the brakes on normal conditions. Vehicle will take longer to stop, making unsafe to drive.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

problem #61

Sep 122003

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,166 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took my 1997 S10 pickup to a mechanic and requested he check the brakes. The brake pedal faults when continueing to apply pressure and begins to make a bouncing type of feeling and the distance to stop (especially on wet roads) cannot be determined. This is a dangerous problem. The mechanic stated that the ABS were faulty and to contact a dealer and have the VIN researched for recalls, etc. Also referred me to NHTSA.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #60

Mar 012002

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Seems as if when I come to a complete stop, the bakes lock up or do not catch. Car-X said they couldn't find the problem. The ABS light keeps coming on and they don't know where the malfunction is. This problem almost cost me to crash a couple of times when parking in a parking lot and my brakes do work correctly. Any help on this matter will be greatly apprectiated. Thanks.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

problem #59

Apr 252002

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle will not stop every time if rolling slow. Say in traffic.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #58

Jul 252001

S-10 Pickup

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The number of failures is an approximate number because the brakes have given me problems from the day after I brought the truck home until the day my husband wrecked. The approximate dollar amount of damage is yet to be determined, however both vehicles in the accident will probably be totaled. I had the truck in the dealership many times and was always told there was nothing wrong with my brakes. Once they rebuilt my master cylinder just to saisfy me, although it did not fix the problem.

- Beckley, WV, USA

problem #57

Jun 292001

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 15 mph applied brakes, had to push really hard to get vehicle to stop, there was a squishy noise, and extended braking distance. Brake booster causing noise, dealer replaced.

- Middletown, CT, USA

problem #56

Jun 012000

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
When braking quickly or a complete stop ant lock brake system doesn't kick in. Pedal goes down to the floor, and there is no braking. Brakes grab a little with pulsating. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Nouales, AZ, USA

problem #55

Jan 262001

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Consumer was traveling outiside of driveway, there was snow on ground, went to apply brakes, and brakes didn't hold. Dealership was aware of problem.

- Moravia, NY, USA

problem #54

Aug 252000

S-10 Pickup

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle will not stop in rain or snow or while driving on rough pavement.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #53

Aug 252000

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Vehicle will not stop in rain or snow or while driving on rough pavement.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #52

Aug 312000

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Was driving & had started to apply the brakes. Brake pedal would leave the foot after being pressed. ABS acts as if its working on the right front side. Brakes would go out when the roads are either wet or snowy. Currently, doing it on dry pavement. Having problems stopping vehicle due to lack of brakes. Taken to dealer & mechanic indicated brakes were fine.

- Quicksburg, VA, USA

problem #51

Jun 022000

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • miles
The ABS failed while driving.

- Vineyard H, MA, USA

problem #50

Feb 011999

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
The anti-lock brake failure started approx.Feb/March in 1999 and was reported to dealership without help of resolution. The brakes have acted up numerous times but I have been able to avoid a collision to date. The are still not fixed because the dealership has told me that it would cost approx. $500-700 depending on the problem. At the time the first news report of a recall on the S-10 vehicles were made, my vehicle was only 2,000 miles out of warranty. Now it is 32,000 because I was driving 40,000 miles a year to work and home. Also, the news reports did say my model year of 1997 in one of the reports. I need help. This should not be happening. The transmission or clutch failure happened yesterday. It's in the shop for determination and repair. Is there a recall on the transmissions also? I care for my vehicles with regular maintenance through dewey's auto center, a goodyeard dealer in fenton, Michigan 810/629-2278. Please advise asap. Thank you.

- Linden, MI, USA

problem #49

Apr 102000

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
Unwilling to accept blame for poor engineering. No safety defect mentioned within summary.

- Hamilton, NJ, USA

problem #48

Apr 052000

S-10 Pickup

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving down the highway, it was not raining and coming to a stop light, consumer pressed on brakes, vehicle stopped, and then brake pedal released. Consumer went into an intersection. Consumer felt this was a safety issue.

- Ft. Mccoy, FL, USA

problem #47

Feb 112000

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
When applying brakes in icy conditions ABS kicks in and the vehicle doesn't stop. There is a horrible grinding noise, and the brake pedal pushes up (severly). The same problem occurs in panic stop conditions on wet and dry pavement.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

problem #46

Feb 062000

(reported on)

S-10 Pickup

  • miles
The vehicles anti lock brakes seem to (at random) engage far to early under normal braking conditions causing increased stopping distances and near misses. Several times when approaching an intersection at speeds between 35 and 40 mph and the lights change, when applying normal braking pressure to stop the truck the brake pedal will drop to the floor and the ABS brakes kick in extending the stopping distance to dangerous distances as a result. If the brakes had remained normal and the ABS not engaged the truck would have stopped in the normal amount of distance for that speed. In short I can stop my 69 Cadillac faster at times than I can this pickup truck. The truck has been to the dealer a few times now for this problem and they say there is nothing wrong with the brakes. However I did recently notice that up to the 1996 model year for the S-10 the trucks are being recalled for a ABS problem.....I think that needs to be extended to the 97 model year as well.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #45

Dec 011997

S-10 Pickup 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When applying ABS brakes pedal goes to the floor, causing extended stopping distance which nearly resulted in a collision. Vehicle taken to dealer, computer shows no problems.

- Hodgenville, KY, USA

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