1997 Chevrolet S-10 2.2 4 cylinder

Summary:

Well built beater

Faults:

Alternator.

Transmission cooling line inside the radiator broke. Therefore had to replace the radiator and flush the transmission.

Did all work myself, no big deal.

General Comments:

Considering this is a compact entry level truck, it was built well and a good driver. The 4 cyl. engine is way too under-powered with an automatic and a space cab body, but ran strong and got the best gas mileage I ever got out of any vehicle I've owned, even though that engine does have its share of problems.

I only had this truck for a year, and it served all the purposes I needed it for.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th November, 2009

1997 Chevrolet S-10 LS 4.3L Vortec

Summary:

Very reliable truck

Faults:

Rear window had a small leak. Everything else was normal wear and tear items.

General Comments:

Have had this vehicle for over a year, and it still runs perfect.

The 4.3 engine is very punchy off the line. The S10 is also a ZR2 model with aftermarket 4 inch lift.

Gas mileage not very good, but was to be expected with lift tires and weight of the vehicle.

For a pickup is has a decent ride to it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th February, 2009

1997 Chevrolet S-10 V6

Summary:

I think Chev cheaped out on the S10

Faults:

Since I bought my S10, it has had a new clutch.

Left mirror mount broke two years ago.

The windshield wipers only work when they want to, also two years ago.

Replaced u-joints three years ago.

Front and back brakes shot and replaced right after I bought the truck.

Last year the hood release handle broke.

Window winder handle broke this year.

Both tailgate cables broke this year.

For the last two years, it wouldn't go into four wheel drive on the odd occasion and now it will not go at all. A mechanic told me my front end is shot, and it's going to be expensive to fix.

General Comments:

I will never buy another Chev pickup.

My husband is a Ford man and now he is really giving me a bad time about my Chev.

But I must say it really looks good, and handles better than his Ford truck.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 27th January, 2008

28th Oct 2012, 03:45

I agree with you 110%. You won't believe what I've replaced. I've owned my 97 S-10 4.3l V6 4x4 for 4 years, and the only thing that didn't have to be replaced was the engine.

As for body parts, I replaced all 3 mirrors and the exhaust pipes. I could tell the grille has obviously been replaced. I replaced the fuel pump, radiator twice, starter motor, alternator, almost all front end parts on both sides, recently the right pitman arm, upper right A-arm bushings, right control arm, the idler arm, and the battery... also twice. Not to mention the minor engine work that cost me a few hundred $$, and the brake line and brake pads. I even bought a pair of new tires when I bought it.

Then the other day on the way to work, the tranny dropped out, so now I've got like 6 grand wrapped up into a $2500 pickup that needs another 2 grand just to get back on the road, and did I mention I've only driven it 8000 miles in those 4 years, and it's just now hit 100,000. Plus it still steered like garbage.

I will never buy another S-10 or GMC after this one. I think I'm gonna just find an S-10 or GMC Sonoma with a shot motor on the cheap, and swap all my new parts with the engine. But never will I recommend such an atrocious excuse for a pickup truck. Chevy really muffed with this model.

1997 Chevrolet S-10 LS Ext. Cab 4.3

Summary:

"Like a Rock"

Faults:

54,000 gas gauge (dealer paid)

61,000 heater core (warranty)

64,000 Intake manifold gaskets (warranty)

70,000 heater again

75,000 radiator leaking (of course this happened after the warranty expired, I put a new one in myself in an hour)

Put new plugs in it, but that's usual maintenance.

General Comments:

Truck is OK, rides like a truck. The 4.3 is a vast improvement over a 2.2L. Seems to bog down a little with the A/C on.

I use it to haul my ATV, fits in the bed, but cannot close the tailgate. I am buying a trailer tomorrow to eliminate the tailgate issue, easier to pull a load than to haul a load. I think the factory springs in the rear should be stiffer though, sags too easily, my old 86 S-10 had great springs, load 1200 lbs and would not drop an inch.

3rd door seems cheap, vibrates sometimes. Very cheap door handle on the 3rd door as well. Hard to put larger tires on too, the best you can do is 235/75R15.

Overall, a good little truck, I put a tonneau cover on mine, helps a lot with gas mileage. I get 21mpg on the highway. Have pulled 2000 pounds in a trailer and she got it there with little effort. More power off the line than a Ranger, Mazda (Ranger again) Toyota and a Nissan. And more power than a V-6 (4.2L) F-150.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th September, 2007

31st Dec 2007, 14:03

I wrote the above review, at just under 88K miles the truck was totaled a couple weeks ago. On a narrow country road on ice, I bounced off the guardrails and spun around to hit one of the guardrails head on. I tell you what, this little truck held up well. I think it kind of tweaked the frame as the bed was off-center and the truck leaned just a little afterwards. The most important thing though was nobody was hurt. AT ALL!!! I even drove it home afterwards. My insurance company said it was worth 5300.00 which is about what I thought it was worth. Tore up the front fenders, scraped up the bed quite a bit, but like I said, NO INJURIES; I will miss that little truck.