1996 Chevrolet S-10 LS review from North America
"A high performance lemon"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The "Check Engine" light came on the day I drove away from the dealer. I think it was an omen.
The engine initially used a quart of oil every 300 miles. This was repaired under warranty.
The air flow-through vent in the back of the cab leaked rainwater into the cab.
At about 2000 miles the engine computer dropped its programming. This happened 4 more times in the first year and 6 more times in the second year.
At various times the engine would accelerate entirely on its own, with no warning whatsoever, through intersections, over curbs, nearly into other vehicles. The truck mightily resisted numerous repair attempts.
When coming from the highway the engine would frequently not return to idle, but would instead remain at the highway rpm. This again was a long-term mystery.
General comments?
The 4.3 liter engine had gobs of power even with a load in the bed.
Fuel economy was very good in the city and admirable on the highway.
Cabin accommodations were also very good. The bucket seats were comfortable, the steering was linear and the air conditioning was strong.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 1996 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1998 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.3L Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 11 miles |
| Most recent distance | 35000 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge Shadow |
| Date of Entry | 1st June, 2004 |