1998 Chevrolet S-10 Extended Cab V6

Summary:

Piece of crap

Faults:

Water pump blew gasket three times.

Re-occuring misfire that seems to be unrepairable to any mechanic.

Windshield wiper switch doesn't work half the time.

Third door handle broke in my hand!

Passenger side automatic window gets stuck on occasion.

Re-occurring misfire that seams to be un-repairable.

Center console not strong enough to be an armrest.

General Comments:

As a long time Chevy guy, I am hereby declaring the modern Chevrolet products to be junk not intended to last more than 75000 miles.

I am looking forward to using a Toyota for work instead!!!

Runs great when it runs properly, which is not often enough. Sad.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 28th July, 2007

18th Jan 2008, 21:21

It is sad that some private shops try and rip people off, especially with something as simple as an oil change. If I didn't know and trust my mechanic, I would be going to the dealer as well, the few extra dollars on routine maintenance is worth knowing what is truly going in my vehicle.

My 98 S10 (V6 manual) has 161,000 miles on it, and it has never burned an once of oil during 3000 mile oil change intervals. I have towed 5000 lbs. several times from L.A. to Reno, Nevada on several occasions and it has performed flawlessly. There have been the few times that I have had to have things replaced on the vehicle, fuel pump, water pump, intake manifold gasket, but it has never, EVER, stranded me, on or off highway. I love the torque of this engine, and the gas mileage is a very decent 19 city, 24 highway (with an after-market, header to muffler exhaust system).

It's true, every batch of EVERY manufacturer has their lemons, and Chevy is no exception, but in terms of price, engine, and packaging of trucks made in 1998, I believe the S-10 is top of its class.

1998 Chevrolet S-10 LS 2.2 I-4

Summary:

Piece of crap

Faults:

Water pump cracked, because the Dex-Cool sludged up, causing insufficient cooling.

Transmission jolts under acceleration.

Interior pieces are coming apart.

Only the passenger side speakers work.

Leaf springs are bent, so the truck squats.

Gas pedal vibrates.

General Comments:

This is my friends truck, so when he first got it, I thought it was pretty nice. But looks are deceiving. It began when I started to truck up. This thing is n-o-i-s-y, and with a 2.2l 4 banger, my wife's 1987 Blazer blew the doors off this thing.

Worst of all, it rides like a Sherman Tank. The truck also has horrible overspray and orange peel in the paint (now I know that's not the trucks fault since it probably had paint work done).

But, I don't know where Chevy went wrong with this one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th March, 2007

18th Apr 2007, 18:20

The first thing wrong with the truck is the engine. Even Popular Hot Rodding named the G.M. 2.2L four as one of the top 10 worst engines of all time. It is gutless down low and noisy up top. I have the 4.3 V-6 and it has torque to spare. As far as the bits and pieces coming apart, it seems to be a G.M. trademark, hard breakable plastics all throughout the cabin. (although I will say they have come a long way with the new Sierra and Silverado, they can no longer afford to use such horrible interior pieces. Japan and even S. Korea have been light years ahead for a while now.)

13th May 2007, 19:13

I have been around several GM vehicles that have had similar problems with the coolant sludging. No matter how many times they flush the system it comes back within a few weeks. One engine was a 4.3L V-6 and the other was a 350ci Vortech. Both these vehicles were driven extremely hard with no regard to heat and the consequences of extended high RPM running. Both engines suffered from a subsequent crack in the block, allowing enough oil into the coolant lines to turn the DexCool into sludge. Both engines eventually died not to long afterward. I can imagine this may be the cause of the problem in the pathetic 2.2L you have in your truck.

14th May 2007, 12:21

I am the writer of this review, and both of you are right.

I've driven Blazers and S10's with the 4.3 Vortec and I agree, it's a far superior engine. I think the 2.2 is just outdated, and I hope the 4 and 5 cylinder engines in the Colorado and Canyon make up for this anemic 4 cylinder.