Comments: 1-15, 16-21
Around 20k miles the window seal leaked water into the door causing an electric motor on the passenger side to short.
Around 38K miles the u-joints were replaced.
Around 40k the turn signaler blows fuses when used. I tell dealer about the problem... charged $55 to replace a fuse, not solve the wiring problem.
Around 70k miles all shocks needed to be replaced.
Around 90k miles the fuel pump goes out leaving me stranded on the highway.
Around 90k the u-joints were replaced.
Around 120k miles the 5 speed tranny was replaced.
Around 125k miles the clutch was replaced along with the fuel pump which stranded me on the highway again.
Around 126k miles the fuel sending unit went bad. Third fuel pump installed.
Around 145k miles the u-joints were replaced.
Shocks are destroyed again. Too cheap to replace them.
Around 166k miles the head gasket was replaced.
Around 169k miles, loosing around 10 psi oil pressure as I drive. Suspect the main bearings are going bad.
173,000 miles, oil pressure keeps going down, @ 40psi now, not 60 psi, which was the norm. Changed from 10w-30 to 10w-50. Problem fixed... lets hope the snow doesn't catch up to me this year!
I will never...eeeevvver, buy another S-10 or Chevy for this matter for my entire life. GM seem to be in the parts business, not the automobile business. I learned early on that its best to do the work yourself and save money by not paying the +55 dollars an hour they charge to work on your vehicle. I went to three dealerships to have a service done on my truck, and all three botched something... forgot why my truck was there to have a service done, another said I needed parts ordered which they did while the parts dept. in their dealership were saving them under my name and could not release them to the mechanic to perform work, and a dealership that charged me $55 to replace a fuse I knew to be blown, and not replace the turn signaler.
It's a high mileage car! > "What do you expect?".
If it's so bad, how come you've had it so long?
Your first problem was at 20,000 miles, now you still own it with more than 125,000 miles. Why haven't you got rid of it?
I agree with you totally, I have one of my own and have spent $5000 in repairs. U-joints, cooling fan, tranmission, torque converter, A/C, head gaskets, and so on... The worst vehicle I have ever owned, not to mention this had all happened in the course of 37,000 miles! Shame on Chevy for making such an unreliable vehicle.
My name is Chad and I own a Chevy S-10 4-wheel drive, I have a few comments. First, 2.2 liter is junk and so are 2-wheel drive trucks. It is a truck and no matter what you have, parts like the ball joints, U-joints etc. are going to go bad. You wouldn't of had the problem with the electrical system if you would of got manual windows, it does not take too much energy to roll a window down.
If you take the time to get under the truck and actually grease the parts you wouldn't have trouble. And as for your tranny going out, take out the check plug, put your finger in, if you need transmission fluid add it using a squirt bottle. If you are not lazy things will not go wrong. I'm sure you didn't change the oil every 3000, plus if you were smart you would know that you are suppose to use 5w-30. Questions or comments, e-mail me at cfalse23@aol.com
I had a 1988 s-10 4x4 that was in terrible shape when I got it. Even still, I only had to perform each of these repairs once.
Any vehicle you buy will go out if you drive it too hard and do not service it on a regular basis.
The fuel pump will almost always go out when the fuel filter is allowed to go too long without cleaning or replacement.
The u-joints are a result of simply driving too rough and too hard.
Just drive it like a pick-up. Service it regularly keep in mind that anything will mess up if you do not take care of it.
My first truck was a '94 s-10 that I owned for a year with no problems. My second was a '96 that needed a rebuild transmission at 36,000 miles. I now own a LOW mileage (80,000) 1996 4.3 v6 S-10 that I bought it in '98 and so far mine has needed:
Ball joints
U-joints
Water pump
AC Compressor and Dryer
Starter
Turn signal flasher
Drive shaft
Radiator
Tensioner Arm.
I drive 50 highway miles 3 days a week, plus occasional weekend miles. That's only 10,000 miles per year!!! High miles don't make these parts fail, poor engineering does. Even my mechanic admitted that these trucks have universally defective parts.
The main comment/problem I've noticed with my 1996 S-10 2 wheel drive is the lack of power with the 2.2l engine. I've driving from MD to SC every weekend now for the last two years (welcome to my world) and there are times when I have barley avoided an accident due to the lack of power. I have also had to have my transmission serviced for what was originally diagnosed as the torque converter. However, the real problem was the radiator/transmission radiator combination. Once the entire unit was replaced I have had no problems. I use only the recommended 5-30w oil every 4000 miles. I agree with some of the other respondents with their comments. If you want something to last then take care of it. If the truck is so bad then get rid of it!.
I own a 94' S-10 Blazer, which I bought new. It now has 191,000 miles on it and the fuel pump just went out. This is the first problem I have had with this vehicle! I've replaced the usual parts that wear out; alternator, brakes, shocks...but other that that, this has been the best truck I have ever owned. Maybe I got lucky;Maybe you got a bad one... who knows.
I got a '96 S-10 truck and I think it is great. I just passed 40,000 miles and had a total check over of the whole thing. The only thing I had to do was change the oil. It has been the best car I have ever had. You just have to make sure you take good care of it.
I own a 96 2.2 liter S-10, and at only 80,000 miles it is a piece of junk. I have had to replace my drive shaft, 3 head gaskets, u-joints, rebuild my tranny, and know my main barrings are bad. My mechanic says I need a new engine or rebuild the one I have. I am curious to whether or not there is a way around this? Can't I just have the barrings replaced. I know it's going to cost me, but isn't it cheaper than getting my engine rebuilt? Comments, please email me @ gdaily80@hotmail.com.
I have a 1996 chevrolet blazer. We just bought it in October we have had it 5 1/2 months. I just found out that in the 1996 & 1997
models.The oil lines leak occasionally, until it gets so bad that the line just bursts. I was told this by a friend who just had to get his fixed for $219.00.He contacted the gm corp and they told him to send them a copy of the bill. If you do not get this problem fixed before 70,000 miles they won't fix it. But if the line decides to rupture which in short, causes your engine to blow up you are more or less screwed. Has anyone else had this problem?Please contact me and let me know what you did!chrkru570@aol.com
Thank You!!!
I totally disagree. I own an S-10. The only problems I have had ever: abroken caliper bolt at about 40K. U joints at 100K and replaced my clutch at 160K. Driving habits and maintenance probbly have more to do with the problems than vehicle quality.
I have 94 Chevy S-10 with a 2.2. I admit it's not extremely powerful, it is a 4 cylinder, but I have had very little trouble out of it. It has 179,984 miles on it as of today and I have owned it since 1994. I have had to replace the clutch twice, first at 85,000 miles then at 175,000 miles, but that is because of the way I drive. I replaced the belt tensioner at 170,000 miles after it broke, the windshield wiper motor at 165,000. Both parts I got at a junkyard and put on myself for $20. I need new shocks right now, but I haven't put them on yet. These will be the first. Last week my truck wouldn't start and I replaced the fuel pump for a grand total of $60.99. If I can do this stuff anyone can. I am a 21 yr old female and blond at that L.O.L. You just have to take care of things. Occasionally you will have defective parts, I got a good truck without any. I also keep a close check on the manufacturers site for part recalls, those are fixed for FREE. I have had two minor replacements done both in 1995. I keep the oil changed every 3,000 and check all of my fluids weekly or every other week. I haven't had a leak from anywhere. I love my S-10 and if this engine ever fails I will most likely put a 350 in it and keep it forever.
I have a 1996 2.2L s-10. it is not powerful, but it has never let me down, left me stranded, or anything. it is the most dependable vehicle I've ever owned. the only non-regular service problem I've had was the O-2 sensor going out. I'm hitting 99k miles and have had the truck since 98.
I own an 89 S-10 pickup with the 4.3L. It's very reliable as far as the engine goes. The alternator was replaced around 100K and the fuel pump just went at 140K, but that's expected of a hard driven vehicle. The shocks are still good, never replaced. The only problems I've had with it are:
The passenger side door handle broke off from the hinge, but was replaced with a $10 part from a junkyard.
The turn signal lever/wiper controls have a bad wiring problem. The wipers are very sensitive, and often turn on when signaling.
Some small rust spots under the paint around the wheel arches and some along the back of the bed where it meets the tailgate.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with my vehicle. Sure it has problems, but nothing lasts forever.