1995 Chevrolet S10 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1995 Chevrolet S10 report two dominant themes: intermittent brake performance, especially ABS operation, and windshield wipers that stop working or fail to start, often in rain. Many complaints about the wipers are from owners whose trucks were not covered by the wiper recall, and reported mileage is typically high — the sample clusters from roughly 70,000 to 170,000 miles, with many trucks well past 100,000.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or fail to start, often in rain

   • 184 complaints (20%)
   • median 125,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2008

   Owners report wipers that quit mid-sweep, refuse to start when rain begins, or only move after being pushed by hand, leaving poor visibility. Several say the wiper motor or its circuit board was replaced, and some note the problem came back after repair. Many complaints say the truck was not included in the wiper recall because of its VIN even though symptoms matched the recall description. Reported from low mileage up through 160,000 miles, and typically triggered by rain or wet conditions.

   Recall 98V150001

   What to check: Run the wipers at every speed setting, including intermittent, and check whether the truck's VIN was covered by recall 98V150001 and whether that work was done. Ask whether the wiper motor or pulse module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to your web site to check out all recalls on my 1995 chev. S10, I been having problems with my windshield wiper/washer for about a couple of years and never recieved a recall on this problem so I contacted Chevrolet about this problem and they refuse to fix this ploblem on my 95 S10.”

   NHTSA complaint #10007734, filed 2003-02, 80,000 miles

   “The windshield wipers have a malfunction. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I can be driving down the street, with the wipers on, and they will just quit. Sometimes, when it starts raining they won't even come on. It's frustrating and dangerous. Chevy has a recall out for this problem, they state that it effects 1995 s-10s, but according to my VIN, my vehicle is not part of the recall. Obviously, that is incorrect, my wipers are doing exactly what the recall states. I fail to understand why my truck is not considered under this recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #704263, filed 1999-03
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS brakes: long pedal or pedal to the floor, longer stops

   • 287 complaints (32%)
   • median 99,800 mi at 9.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 73 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor or stopping the truck far later than expected, sometimes only on the first application and sometimes intermittently. Several mention the condition appearing during panic stops or on wet, gravel or snowy surfaces, and some say the ABS warning light was on beforehand. Dealers reportedly found no fault on some trucks, while others were told the ABS system needed service; complaints filed years later note that repairs never fully resolved it. Reported across a wide mileage span, from roughly 70,000 to 170,000 miles, and often described as intermittent.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Ask for service records on the ABS system and whether the 99V193000 recall was performed. During a test drive, brake firmly from moderate speed on a safe, empty surface and confirm the pedal stays firm and stopping distance feels normal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1995 Chevrolet S10 2wd pickup truck. I have experienced several occasions where my antilock brakes have failed to stop me in a reasonable distance. I have not yet recieved a notice from the manufacturer so I was wondering what I should do. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10063721, filed 2004-03

   “Abs deployment sometimes increases stopping distance / reduces braking power. Brake pedal is pushed back up by system. I am aware of the recall on ABS systems on 4 wheel drive models, but this does happen on my 2 wheel drive model!”

   NHTSA complaint #708944, filed 1999-07
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in frontal impacts

   • 109 complaints (12%)
   • median 144,000 mi at 21.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 103 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2019

   Owners describe frontal collisions where the driver or passenger airbag did not deploy, with some reporting injuries as a result. In some cases the manufacturer was contacted and could not explain the non-deployment, and in others the truck was totaled without the system being diagnosed. A few complaints also mention the airbag warning light staying on. Reported on trucks ranging from low mileage to about 170,000 miles, in crashes at various speeds.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light turns off after the bulb-check sequence on start-up, and ask whether the airbag system has ever been serviced or diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata inflators--air bag light is on and stays on even after I had already had it reset,the dome light blows fuses more than it should sometimes 3-4 times a month,the blinkers act funny sometimes and the seat belts hang up and u have to pull on them a few times to get them to release so you can buckle them,the transmission grinds when you put it into reverse,the clutch fan came apart and I had to replace it and most of this happened when I was sitting still I have the recall#'s(n970033--n980043/NHTSA#98v150”

   NHTSA complaint #11210231, filed 2019-05, 170,000 miles

   “(1)the vehicle was involved frontal impact crash; 2)the airbags failed to deploy,;and the occupant was injured. (3)nothing was done to correct the failure, the vehicle was totaled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10102262, filed 2004-12, 144,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Cooling system sludge and overheating with Dex-Cool

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe overheating along with a rust-colored, dirt-like sediment packed inside the radiator, water pump, heater core, hoses and engine block. In one account the dealer could not flush the material out and replaced the entire cooling system. Separate complaints describe the cooling fan blade separating while driving and damaging the radiator, and an engine that stalled and was found to have a broken crankshaft. Mostly reported between roughly 80,000 and 180,000 miles.

   Recall 95V180000

   What to check: Look inside the radiator and overflow tank for rust-colored sediment, and ask about coolant flush history. Listen for fan noise and check whether the fan-related recall 95V180000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The coolant used in the cooling system is dex-cool. Then engine overheated, so I decided to add more dex-cool. When I opened up the radiator, I noticed this rust-colored dirt-like substance packed inside the radiator. When the dealer that serviced my truck inspected the cooling system, every component had this substance packed in it (water pump, heating core, thermostat, all hoses, radiator, engine block, etc.). They could not clean this substance out of the components and had to replace the whole cooling system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #703497, filed 1999-02

   “While driving, fan came off in 1995 Chevrolet blazer and damage the radiator. This is similar to campaign 95v-180. If hood would have been open, this could have been a hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10200765, filed 2007-08, 180,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Oil and fuel line leaks

   • 44 complaints (5%)
   • median 85,890 mi at 6.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2007

   Owners describe remote oil filter lines that leak where the rubber hose is crimped to the aluminum tubing, with one truck needing replacement three times. Others report a fuel smell traced to corrosion on the fuel tank or fuel line, including a leak at the front bottom edge of the tank where a plastic cover traps water and debris. Reported from about 80,000 to 125,000 miles, with one recurring leak noted roughly every 30,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the remote oil filter lines at the crimp joints for weeping, and check the front of the fuel tank and lines for rust under the plastic cover. Ask whether fuel or oil lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1995 S10 (4x4) pick up. I purchased this vehicle new in 1994. I had to replaced the remote oil filter lines 3 times!!! My third set is currently leaking. The remote oil filter lines fail where the rubber hose is crimped to the aluminum tubing. This is a very poor design. Apparently, chevy doesn't acknowledge the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10005539, filed 2003-02, 81,000 miles

   “Leaking fuel tank -- 1995 s-10 there is a plastic cover over the front end of the fuel tank. This cover collects trash and water. The front bottom edge of the fuel tank has started to rust out. I had been smelling fuel for about a week and had been unable to locate the problem. After finally noticing the leak, I removed the cover and found a small pin hole. When inspecting the hole, it turned into one the size of a pencil eraser. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10020526, filed 2003-05, 90,781 miles

Buying note. These trucks are old and mostly high-mileage, so condition and maintenance history matter more than the model year itself. Have a shop inspect the brakes and ABS, the wiper motor and wiring, and the fuel and oil lines before buying, and confirm which of the recalls listed for this year were actually completed on the specific truck.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.