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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,241 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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1997 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup Owner Comments

problem #11

Mar 011999

S-10 Pickup 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since I have purchased this vehicle, I cannot get the correct fuel amount to show on the gauge. I have been to the dealer several times waiting for a recall with no luck. I have ran out of gas several times when the gauge says I have fuel. Once on the highway I was forced off the road and into a ditch causing damage. I was placed in a life threatening situation more than once because of this problem. Chevrolet wants me to pay $220 for parts and another $175 labor and I cannot afford that amount.

- Tiverton, RI, USA

problem #10

Feb 282000

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles
The fuel gauge on my 1997 S-10 extended cab truck does not work. The needle remains on the full position. I noticed the gauge was erratic prior to the warranty expiring, but I forgot it, so unfortunately no recorded complaint was availale when it ceased to operate. I am aware that this is a problem on other S-10 vehicles. In fact I owned a 1983 Silverado and the fuel gauge on it did not work. I determine when to refuel by use of the odometer.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 012003

S-10 Pickup

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
Fuel gauge did not work. Consumer experienced this problem with other GM vehicles he owned. The cause of the problem had not yet been determined.

- Scotts Valley, CA, USA

problem #8

May 162002

S-10 Pickup 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Fuel gauge in instrument cluster not reading correctly.

- Kinston, NC, USA

problem #7

Jun 122003

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
At 45,000 miles the fuel gauge became unstable on my 1997 S-10 pickup. The gauge indicates more fuel in the vehicle than is in the tank. The vehicle ran out of fuel during a rainstorm and once again while in interstate traffic. Inquiries indicate that this is a long-standing problem for many GM vehicles. Repair estimate to fix the gauge is $500. This is certainly a safety-related issue when the vehicle stalled on the interstate.

- Hoover, AL, USA

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problem #6

May 282000

S-10 Pickup 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Gas gauge reads full with less than 1/2 tank. I also own 2000 Blazer with the same problem. Reset the trip odometer after fill-up with both of them.

- Irmo, SC, USA

problem #5

Jan 012001

S-10 Pickup 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Fuel gauge goes to full when driving regardless of fuel level. Original owner ran out of fuel once before they knew the gauge wasn't correct. This could have caused an accident and/or fatality. It also may have shortened the life of the electric fuel pump.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #4

Feb 052004

S-10 Pickup 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 41,050 miles
Faulty fuel gauge/sensor: The '97 Chevy S10 I own recently experienced very erratic behavior with indicating the level of fuel currently in the vehicle. While depending upon the gauge I ran out of fuel when the gauge showed just under 1/2 tank. This vehicle has just over 40,000 miles on it so I thought it would be a good thing to check with the local Chevy dealer. After paying an insane amount of money ($100) just to run dianostics on it the end result was exactly what I had expected and seen by others on the internet with the same vehicle. The Chevy dealer says the minimum that it will cost is $550 to replace the "sending card, " if the module is bad then it will cost $1050. Not having that amount of $$ available I decided to not have it repaired at this time (probably never). Since technically this could be a safety issue I would like to report it. Running out of fuel in the winter months is not all that great. Luckily it didn't happen a week earlier when it was well below zero. GM please fix your so call glitches. This vehicle has not been a fun experience to own and most likely will be the last GM I will ever own....

- Anoka, MN, USA

problem #3

Nov 202003

S-10 Pickup 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,800 miles
Gas gauge began reading "full" when only 1/4 tank or less. Now gauge is "all over the place" regardless of how much fuel is in tank. I reset the trip odometer each time I fill up so I know approximately how much fuel I have.

- Horsham, PA, USA

problem #2

Nov 202003

S-10 Pickup 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,800 miles
Fuel gauge reads full when tank is only 1/4 full or less.

- Horsham, PA, USA

problem #1

Jun 101999

S-10 Pickup

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Fuel level sensor/sender unit failed. Mjs

- Tempe, AZ, USA

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