FaultScore

1998 Chevrolet S10 window and wiper problems

212 of the 742 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet S10 are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 29% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,250 miles.

D

212

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Motor 85 40.1%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 70 33.0%
Switch/Wiring 17 8.0%
Motor 10 4.7%
Visibility 7 3.3%
Rear Window Wiper/Washer 5 2.4%
Windshield 4 1.9%
Visibility/Wiper 4 1.9%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 2 0.9%
Heater Core 2 0.9%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Chevrolet S10 year

1993 10 1.1%
1994 251 26.8%
1995 215 23.0%
1996 104 11.1%
1997 118 12.6%
1998 212 22.6%
2000 10 1.1%
2003 16 1.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Cleveland, TN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. UNABLE TO GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON. SEEMS TO BE EERILY SIMILAR TO A PREVIOUS RECALL (03V159000) OF EARLIER YEAR MODEL VEHICLES. RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED ASAP TO COVER 1998+ YEAR MODEL VEHICLES

NHTSA complaint #11360967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 155,322 miles Dunlap, TN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. IT DOES THIS WHETHER IT IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, BRAKING, HOT OR COLD WEATHER, ETC. IT IS UNSAFE WHEN IT IS RAINING BECAUSE THE WIPERS DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD OF RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, WATER FROM OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD PASSING OR AHEAD OF YOU OR SLEET. YOU CANNOT SEE CLEARLY WHERE YOU ARE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE 1997 WIPER MOTOR ON HIS S10 TRUCK. THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TWO OWNERS BEFORE ME HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH IT. I AM NOT SURE WHO THE ORGINAL OWNER IS OR WAS.

NHTSA complaint #11083341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Guayanilla, PR

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS. WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. HAVE CHANGED THE MOTOR TWICE AND RECENTLY STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO BOTH CABLES IN THE LID CORRODED AND BROKE. USING SOME CHAINS TO HOLD UNTIL ABLE TO FIND AND BUY THE CABLES. WILL GET THE VIN NUMBER TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER PART OF A RECALL I WASN'T AWARE OF.

NHTSA complaint #10651005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Greenville, SC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WIPERS COME ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WONT TO..

NHTSA complaint #10521943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,000 miles Salem, OR

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA complaint #10435579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Brighton, MI

VISIBILITY

WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10432843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Newnan, GA

VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY BUMPY ROADS. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD, A PROBLEM FOR WHICH TWO RECALLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED BY CHEVROLET BUT WHICH DO NOT EXTEND TO THE 1998 MODEL YEAR. WIPERS WILL OFTEN SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PREVIOUS RECALLS THAT ONLY COVER UP TO 1997 NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER LATER MODEL VEHICLES WHICH SUFFER FROM THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. (THE INCIDENT DATE IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A RANDOM DATE SELECTED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND AROUND THE TIME I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY SEVERE SINCE THEN.)

NHTSA complaint #10416823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Newnan, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY BUMPY ROADS. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD, A PROBLEM FOR WHICH TWO RECALLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED BY CHEVROLET BUT WHICH DO NOT EXTEND TO THE 1998 MODEL YEAR. WIPERS WILL OFTEN SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PREVIOUS RECALLS THAT ONLY COVER UP TO 1997 NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER LATER MODEL VEHICLES WHICH SUFFER FROM THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. (THE INCIDENT DATE IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A RANDOM DATE SELECTED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND AROUND THE TIME I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY SEVERE SINCE THEN.)

NHTSA complaint #10416823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Newnan, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY BUMPY ROADS. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE WIPER CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD, A PROBLEM FOR WHICH TWO RECALLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED BY CHEVROLET BUT WHICH DO NOT EXTEND TO THE 1998 MODEL YEAR. WIPERS WILL OFTEN SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PREVIOUS RECALLS THAT ONLY COVER UP TO 1997 NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER LATER MODEL VEHICLES WHICH SUFFER FROM THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM. (THE INCIDENT DATE IN THIS COMPLAINT IS A RANDOM DATE SELECTED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND AROUND THE TIME I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AND HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY SEVERE SINCE THEN.)

NHTSA complaint #10416819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles AVA, MO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK FOR A BRIEF TIME AND SHUT OFF AND OTHER TIMES, THEY WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. HE WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TAP ON THE MOTOR WITH A HAMMER OR SCREWDRIVER TO GET THE WIPERS TO FUNCTION; SOMETIMES IT WORKED, OTHER TIMES, IT DID NOT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #10359254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Granada Hills, CA

VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK OFF & ON.

NHTSA complaint #10300428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Hastings, TX

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLIMATE WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS MODEL YEAR WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10274346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles North Dartmouth, MA

VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1998 S-10 WILL STOP WORKING FOR NO REASON. WILL REMAIN OFF FOR AN INDETERMINATE TIME AND WILL SOMETIMES CHANGE OPERATION EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE OPERATING KNOB. 1995-1997 S-10 PICKUPS WERE RECALLED FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING DURING ALMOST EVERY RAIN STORM FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10265615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Zion, IL

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY S10 PICK UP TRUCK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY OFF OR GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AND COMES BACK ON WHEN NOT NEEDED. THERE IS SURLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS SET UP AND POSSIBLY REUSED OLD PARTS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR MAKES AND MODELS THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND I WAS WONDERING IF IT HAS BEEN LOOKED INTO.

NHTSA complaint #10264205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,247 miles NEWT6ON, KS

VISIBILITY

THE WIPERS ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET S-10 FREQUENTLY STOP OPERATING AND WHEN THEY DO COME BACK ON THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. THEY HAVE SHUT DOWN DURING A RAIN AND HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC WHEN I COULD AND WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK ON, MOST TIMES THEY HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF COMPLETELY, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT COME BACK ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10234719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,555 miles North Dartmouth, MA

VISIBILITY

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP AND IT HAS A RECURRING FAULT WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AT VARIOUS INTERVALS, WITH NO WARNING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL FAIL TO OPERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, OFTEN DURING RAIN AND CAUSES ME TO PULL OVER TO EITHER WAIT OUT THE RAIN OR FOR THE MOTOR TO UNEXPECTEDLY RESTART. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT 1995-1997 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUPS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WERE RECALLED. IT WAS A WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD PROBLEM WHICH LEAD TO THE RECALLS. I FEEL THE 1998 PICKUPS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS ON THE MYCARSTATS.COM MESSAGE BOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10234239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Wichita, KS

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WIPER MOTOR STOPS RUNNING - OCCURS OFF AND ON - THROUGH-OUT VEHICLES HISTORY STARTING AROUND THE 40,000 MILE MARK. CURRENT MILEAGE 75,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10224796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Wichita, KS

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WIPER MOTOR STOPS RUNNING - OCCURS OFF AND ON - THROUGH-OUT VEHICLES HISTORY STARTING AROUND THE 40,000 MILE MARK. CURRENT MILEAGE 75,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10224796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,500 miles Goose Creek, SC

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD ORIGINALLY NOT TURN OFF WHEN ACTIVATED ON INTERMITTENT, OR FULL ON. NOW IT SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHEN ACTIVATED. IT DID THIS THE OTHER DAY DURING A SEVERE RAINSTORM. OTHER OWNERS OF S-10'S THAT I KNOW ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT ON YOU , IN TRAFFIC OR NOT, DURING A RAINSTORM.

NHTSA complaint #10209730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,500 miles Goose Creek, SC

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD ORIGINALLY NOT TURN OFF WHEN ACTIVATED ON INTERMITTENT, OR FULL ON. NOW IT SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHEN ACTIVATED. IT DID THIS THE OTHER DAY DURING A SEVERE RAINSTORM. OTHER OWNERS OF S-10'S THAT I KNOW ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT ON YOU , IN TRAFFIC OR NOT, DURING A RAINSTORM.

NHTSA complaint #10209730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakwood, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPER PROBLEM ON 98 S10 EXACTLY LIKE LISTED IN YOUR RECALL 03V159000.

NHTSA complaint #10206625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,000 miles Hollister, MO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPS WORKING ON MY 1998 CHEVY S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY DURING A RAIN STORM.

NHTSA complaint #10198657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 113,200 miles Auburn, WA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 CHEVY S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXHIBIT THE EXACT BEHAVIOR DESCRIBED IN NHTSA SAFTETY RECALL BULLETIN #03023--THE WIPERS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY, OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS HERE IN RAINY WASHINGON STATE. IT IS MY STRONG BELIEF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHICH NOW ONLY COVERS 1995-1997. I WOULD GUESS IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THIS '98 HAS THE SAME WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD INSTALLED AS THE PREVIOUS YEARS HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10192600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Jefferson City, MO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

I DRIVE A 1998 CHEVY S-10. EVERYTIME IT RAINS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. I INSTANTLY GO BLIND, AND PULL OFF THE ROAD/HIGHWAY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. THE 1995-1997 CHEVY S-10 HAS A RECALL ON THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM DUE TO A FAULTY WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD. THE DESCRIPTION FITS MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. THIS DEFECT HAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V159000. MY TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 1997. WHEN I CALLED UP CHEVY, AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THEY SAID THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING WHAT IT IS DOING. THE CHEVY REP. SAID THAT MY TRUCK, MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 1997 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT SHOULD BECAUSE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREEZE AT THE SLIGHTEST BIT OF RAIN. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS PROBLEM FIXED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10189598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 148,000 miles Sylva, NC

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. HAPPENED IN THE POURING RAIN ALMOST WRECKED. I CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10188306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Brookfield, MA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY STOP DURING USE. ALSO WIPER SPEED CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10182827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Scotts Valley, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

RE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V50001 & 97V096001 " WINDSHIELD WIPE FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. UNIT FAILED ON MY 1998 CHEV S-10 VIN 1GCCS1948WK1XXXXX. GM 1ST AGREED TO REPLACE AT NO COST. UPON DEALERSHIP CONFIRMATION OF PROBLEM, GM CHANGE TO POSITION OF NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE UNITS ACCORDING TO SERVICE MANAGER. GM TAKES THE POSITION THAT VEHICLE IN NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. THE PART INVOLVED IS THE SAME AS ON THE 1996 VEHICLES. I REPLACE UNIT A MY EXPENSE, DEALERSHIP DID NOT CHARGE LABOR. THE DEFECT CAME TO MY ATTENTION WHEN WIPERS FAILED AND THEN CAME TO LIFE AFTER TOUCHING CIRCUIT BOARD HOUSING. THE ABOVE NHTSA RECALLS NEED TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL GM S-10 PICKUPS AS WELL AS OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10175961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Erie, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10164253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Shelburne, VT

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPERS FAIL TO WORK WHEN TURNED ON, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. STARTED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASE OF VEHICLE WHEN NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10163863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harned, KY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS THEN IT DOESN'T.

NHTSA complaint #10159600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Chevrolet S10 problems

← Full 1998 Chevrolet S10 report