1990 Chevrolet S10: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1990 Chevrolet S10: 2 recalls, 29 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 3 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #93V008000 · 1993 · 215,052 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine cooling fan blades break as a result of fatigue and/or vehicle induced stress.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Install a newly designed fan assembly.
Steering Vehicle recall #96V195000 · 1996 · 144,598 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will retorque the upper and lower bolts to correct specifications.
3 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E026000 · 2006 · 61,944 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E049000 · 2006 · 27,176 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #08E050000 · 2008 · 1,921 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility May be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (10): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (6).
- Fuel system (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine & cooling (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Body & structure (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 1990 Chevrolet S10 has 29 owner complaints, ranking #14 of 19 S10 model years for complaints (well below the 299 average). Complaints peaked in 1998 (9 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 98,858 miles. Neighboring years: 1991 (174 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 17 | 17 | Regular |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1990 Chevrolet S10.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1990 Chevrolet S10 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 1990 Chevrolet S10, plus 3 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1990 Chevrolet S10 problems?
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (10), fuel system (4), engine & cooling (4).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Chevrolet S10 get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.5 L, Manual 5-spd), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1990 Chevrolet S10 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.