It is a great truck!
Battery, Fuel Injecter, motor is going out, air conditioning, front brackets on passenger side is broke.
It is a great old truck, I wouldn't have buy another vehicle.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 13th October, 2006
The 1989 S15 pickup is a great tough truck that has a few problems but nothing is perfect.
I highly recommend to never buy this truck with the stock charcoal grey paint job it has a bad record for peeling off.
Had problems with some of the plastic interior pieces breaking such as the climat control cover.
Touch truck takes pot holes well when you don't see them and are not able to dodge them in time.
Not too bad on gas with the 2.5L I can drive it for two weeks with a full tank before the next fill up.
The 2.5L is great with fluids never have had an oil leak etc.
The 2.5L always started right up on the coldest winter days without being plugges in!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th April, 2006
Hardcore little truck
Nothing has failed without first meeting a curb at high speed.
Digital dash is testy with the odometer.
Had motor rebuilt 40,000 ago. Trans is fine. Just did CV joints. Feels like it will last for another 100,000.
Very tough.
Ridiculously easy to find parts for.
Lots of company and fan support.
4x4 is awesome.
All round sweet truck.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th February, 2006
Best small truck you can buy
The head gasket blew out at about 125,000 miles. I replaced the engine myself. I found a used engine with 80,000 miles on it for $100.
The interior in deteriorating. The dash has some cracks in it, the headliner has fallen, and the carpet is heavily worn.
Cabin size may be uncomfortable for taller drivers.
This has been a very reliable vehichle. Besides the engine, I have never replaced any part.
The interior is very comfortable.
It is fun to drive and handles well for a pickup truck.
I own 2 other s-series trucks and both have been very good to me.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th January, 2004
Crude, but decent, does the job
Head gasket blew, requiring expensive repair.
Alternator failed.
Air conditioner operates erratically.
This truck had served me pretty well. It has decent power, nice interior, the paint still shines up nicely, and the four wheel drive system is easy to use. Typical of the early S-10/S-15 trucks, it's pretty crude. The ride is a bit jittery, but not intolerable. The motor is the early Vortec V6, throttle-body fuel injected, without counterbalancer, so at low RPM's, it has a shudder typical of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It's weird, but not detrimental.
The A/C system has developed a habit of shutting off in hot weather. Need to have the dealer fix that headache. The seats are a bit uncomfortable after a long ride, lacking good lumbar support.
The nice thing about the S-10/S-15 trucks is that they are plentiful and cheap. Getting parts for this truck is easy, and almost any mechanic can work on them. A similarly aged Japanese pickup would have cost me twice what I paid for this truck.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th August, 2002
One problem with the S-10 and S-15 trucks is the heat load generated by the 4.3 liter Vortec motor. The original thermostat is set to open at 195 F, which allows underhood temps to get up around 200-230 F over time. This is HOT, and can wear out a lot of stuff due to the thermal stress. I learned from frying my transmission that going to the 180 F thermostat will save wear and tear on the truck. Also, there are plastic fender sections that can be removed next to the shock mounts to allow better airflow through the underhood area.
My S-15 is not on the road right now, but I am getting ready to rebuild the whole truck! It is a great truck.
3rd Mar 2004, 20:49
Yeah, the S-15 is a decent little truck. What's surprising is how many of these old first generation S trucks (1982 thru 1993) are still on the road; I see dozens on a daily basis. Most are well over 100,000 miles on down the road; like mine, they have peeling paint and show their age, but these little beasts are tough and hard to kill. I found some aftermarket suppliers that now have restoration stuff (all the lenses, dashboard stuff, suspension parts, body panels, etc.) so I can start restoring the old truck.