The 1988 Chevrolet S10 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 144,598 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING96V1950001996-10-08144,598 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE UPPER AND LOWER BOLTS TO CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS.
Complaints by component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
3
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
Total complaints43
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The sidewall of the passenger side front tire is splitting in a circular pattern. The consumer noticed this on 6/24/2003. The tires have about 5,000 miles on them. Firestone, radial atx.*ak”
“When applying brakes vehicle veers to the right. *ak”
“The firestone supreme was the tire the 1988 s10 blazer originally came with. This one we used as the spare, replacing only the four regular tires when needed. We put the spare on the car because the current set are close to replacement and the tread on one was low. This firestone supreme had only…”
“Possible engine failure resulted in fire. (ohio traffic crash report). *mjs”
“Vehicle was serviced for an electronic control module and fuel pump 2 days later consumer noticed a rattling and saw smoke coming from the vehice, pulled over, exited vehicle and saw fire under the hood and noticed radiator fluid pouring onto the ground, possibble engine failure. Nlm”
“Vehicle was serviced for an electronic control module and fuel pump 2 days later consumer noticed a rattling and saw smoke coming from the vehice, pulled over, exited vehicle and saw fire under the hood and noticed radiator fluid pouring onto the ground, possibble engine failure. Nlm”
“Vehicle was serviced for an electronic control module and fuel pump 2 days later consumer noticed a rattling and saw smoke coming from the vehice, pulled over, exited vehicle and saw fire under the hood and noticed radiator fluid pouring onto the ground, possibble engine failure. Nlm”
“Ny daughter was driving her truck on the freeway and the hood flew up on her, causing the windshield to break. Luckily, she was not injured but she is in need of vehicle repairs. She only carries liability insurance on her vehicle. She is only 19 year old . It seems there may have or there was a…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE90039 Opened 1990-02-05 · closed 1990-06-29
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Chevrolet S10 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.