1998 Chevrolet S10 recalls
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet S10. Between them they involve electrical system, lighting, brakes and visibility. The most recent was received on November 13, 2000.
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Electrical system
GM/battery pack module
The defect: Vehicle description: electric passenger vehicles and pickup trucks containing a nickel metal hydride (nimh) battery pack. These vehicles contain software within the battery pack module intended to disable the vehicle from being driven if the electrical resistance with the battery pack exceeds a prescribed value. Affected vehicles will illuminate the "service now" and "reduced performance" telltales and continue to function in a reduced performance model instead of being disabled.
The risk: If the telltales are ignored and the affected vehicle continues to be driven, heat could build up and a fire could result.
The remedy: Dealers will install revised software in the battery pack module.
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Lighting
GM/FMVSS 108/drl
The defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the daytime running lights built with a candela value greater than 3,000 cannot be mounted higher than 864mm above the road surface.
The risk: These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 108.
The remedy: Dealers will install a revised wiring harness that changes the drl's from high beam to low beam drl's, and install new long-life low beam bulbs.
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Brakes
GM/brake pipe
The defect: Vehicle description: electric pickup trucks. A condition in which the fuel-fired heater fill pipe ground strap contacts the rear passenger side brake pipe.
The risk: This could wear off the corrosion protection on the brake pipe, leading to premature corrosion and eventual loss of brake pipe integrity. When brake pipe integrity is lost, brake fluid leakage can occur.
The remedy: Dealers will relocate the ground strap attachment, inspect the brake pipe for wear, and replace the brake pipe if necessary.
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Visibility
GM/glass fogging
The defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with electric drive. Rapid fogging of the interior glass can occur within two minutes after the heat is turned on if (1) the outside temperature is between 35 and 76 degrees fahrenheit and (2) water has collected on the heat exchanger during previous operation of the air conditioning.
The risk: If rapid fogging were to occur during driving, it could obstruct the driver's vision increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The remedy: Owners are being provided with a caution label and supplemental insert for their owner's manual advising them to follow a "stop and wait" procedure to help avoid window fogging while driving.
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Electrical system
GM/wiring-harness clip
The defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.
The risk: The clip material on the exhaust manifold can ignite and subsequently ignite other combustible components resulting in a vehicle fire.
The remedy: Dealers are contacting owners by telephone to have their vehicles towed to the dealer and alternate transportation provided to them until the dealer can reroute the electrical wiring-harness.
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Brakes
GM/brake hose fracture
The defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. A fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe can occur causing a slow brake fluid leak resulting in a soft brake pedal. If the brake pipe breaks, the driver would experience a sudden drop in the brake pedal, the instrument panel brake light would illuminate, and there would be a loss of rear brake performance.
The risk: Partial loss of braking at a time when minimum stopping distance was required could result in a vehicle crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.
Check by VIN
A campaign rarely covers every S10 built in 1998. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.
Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.
Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.
What 1998 Chevrolet S10 owners should do
- Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
- Call a Chevrolet dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers.
- If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
- Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.
Other Chevrolet S10 model years
Common questions
Does the 1998 Chevrolet S10 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet S10: 00V-374 (GM/battery pack module); 00V-220 (GM/FMVSS 108/drl); 00V-159 (GM/brake pipe); 98V-177 (GM/glass fogging); and 2 more.
How do I know if my 1998 Chevrolet S10 has an open recall?
Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.
Will the dealer charge to fix the 1998 Chevrolet S10?
No. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge by Chevrolet dealers. Quote the NHTSA campaign number when you book.