Front Seat Recliner problems of the 1999 Chevrolet S10

25 problems related to front seat recliner have been reported for the 1999 Chevrolet S10. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 11/24/2005

Both seat recliner handles have broken off. I have less that 30,000 miles on this vehicle since I only use it occasionally. The passenger side is rarely used and that recliner handle broke off first. There are numerous complaints regarding this problem which indicates a defect in the manufacturing of the recliner arms. I will contact gm to see if they will replace them.

2 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 03/23/2005

Seat recliner lever breaks and falls off. This applies to all 1999 Chevrolet S10 pickup and S10 blazers. Both driver and passenger seats. Witnessed this occurrence on 4 different S10 pickup/blazers. Metal is made of cheap cast that breaks off even with no use. Levers fall off during vacuuming/opening door and regular use. No available replacement part or remedy to my knowledge.

3 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 01/08/2005

Driver and passenger seat recliner handle broke off very easily. We are now unable to recline both seats in my truck. When I went to the dealership they said "that this was a common problem with chevy s-10" (per the parts counter & service department). I was advised that I would need to replace the entire recliner assembly and the handle, they wanted $600 to fix this! I could buy a lazy boy recliner for that kind of money. This is totally ridiculous and they need to fix this. The parts dept. Guy told me that they redesigned this recliner because they were having so problems with the old one.

4 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/06/2004

Driver and passenger side seat release levers have broken off.

5 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/21/2003

This is not a safety issue, I own a 1999 Chevrolet S10 blazer with 23000 miles and have had to replace the seat recliners three times already also the oil cooler lines on a 4. 3l engine have been replaced. Now I didn't think much of this until I researched it further and noticed that alot of other individuals have had same problems . I believe this would constitute a defect investigation. Thanks.

6 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 11/19/2003

Passenger seat front recliner assembly sheared off without hardly any pressure applied. . . Bumped slightly while vacuuming truck. Lever was used maybe 3 times, if that much.

7 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 08/06/2003

While driving about 20 mph on a side road the driver's side seat shaft lever broke which caused the seat to collapse. The passenger side lever broke 11 month prior to this incident.

8 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 04/25/2003

Defective parts ---right and left seat back recliners broke in the same identical places after very little use. The right side broke with no more than 4-5 times of use. The left side broke after no more than 10 times of use. If this was a item that got used every day I would understand they might wear out. I had the extended warranty but it expires at 75000 miles so gm refuses to warranty it.

9 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 04/01/2003

While reclining the driver side seat, the lever broke without any force being applied. Also, the passenger side lever broke on a separate occasion. No force was used in either incidents they simply broke during normal use. The cost to repair the vehicle was approximately $186. 00 each. Gm refuses to repair the seats and they have not issued a recall knowing there is a definitely a problem with the seats. Also the door handle on the jump door extended cab broke.

10 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 03/15/2003

Seat recliner adjuster handles attach to a ferrelled piece of pot metal that is drilled and slotted to accept a screw that holds the handle. This piece of weak metal breaks easily and the handle falls off rendering the back of the seat non adjustable. Several dealers tell me they have replaced hundreds of these at a total cost of $125 (labor and parts). Gm tells customers this is normal wear and can be expected.

11 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 03/09/2003

Recliner lever broke.

12 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 11/18/2002

Lever to recline and raise the seat has broken, not the plastic handle, but the metal that connects the lever to the seat. The metal is very coarse & brittle and doesn't seem suited to it's intended use. Fortunately, my seat is stuck in an upright position. Unfortunately, the break occurred post warranty. Bottom line, the levers on the seats of Chevrolet s-10's are junk, not intended to last, and could result in injury if locked in an unsafe position when the break occurs.

13 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 05/13/2002

Both recliner seat levers that adjust recline of bucket seat broke off. Driver was unable to recline seats. .

14 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 05/05/2002

Seat recliner handle broke off while adjusting seat while driving. Problem was reported to a Chevrolet dealer, who said there was no recall or known problem. Seat is now at a funny position, I will have to repair at my own expense. Handle assy. Is a very cheap and inadaquate for its purpose.

15 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2002

Driver's side seat broke while traveling on highway lever to the seat broke. Dealership is aware of problem. Consumer stated that both passenger and driver seat recliners broke.

16 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/10/2001

Seat adjustment level sheared off, causing problem with driver's seat.

17 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 06/23/2001

The handle used to recline the passenger side seat broke completely off. I went by the dealer. They stated they had replaced lots of these, but that GMC hadn't recalled them or anything. Since my vehicle was out of warrenty, I would have to pay for entire cost. I told them I would wait because gm should recall if they are faulty.

18 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 04/12/2001

My handles for the seats to recline has broken 4 times since I purchsed my S10 truck. Twice under warranty. Warranty is gone,both seat handles are presently broke.

19 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2001

No events leading to it. Just happens out of the blue when using it. This happens sporadically. Seat recliner levers defective and break very easy, the parts that hold it together are cheap die cast metal. Haven't bothered replacing as I cannot afford, dealer wont replace, junk yards don't have them.

20 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 05/09/2000

Front seat recliner.

21 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 02/22/2000

Handles on recliner seat broke. These handles had broken 4 times. Contacted dealer. Consumer was covered first time under factory warranty, but currently they were not covered . GMC knew that haddles on recliner seat were defective.

22 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/22/1999

The recline handles on both of my seats snapped off the first time they were used. I took it ti the dealer and they said it was not covered by the warranty. I was told that I would have to replace the seats inorder to fix the problem. . . They also told me that I broke them by applying to much force to the seat recline levers. I am only 5,2 and I dont think I could apply that much force to break metal unless they were defective to begine with. I would accept it if only one broke but when both of them broke this is a little more than coincidence. . . I would like cheverolet to recall these or issue a repair part.

23 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 04/04/1999

The injury consisted of a dislocation of the s/I joint in the hip and a disk problem in the back. When we took the truck to the dealer we were first told that the part was "worn out". Then we were told that the part was "defective". The parts were replaced out of dealer stock due to a safety concern.

24 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 01/01/1901

Seat recliner mechanism operates poorly. The consumer had to use one hand to pull the lever and use the other on to the seat back to get it to operate.

25 Front Seat Recliner problem

Seat recliner handle breaks off with use. If handle comes off when seat is reclined the truck can not be driven safely. I have had this replaced twice in less than one year. The Chevrolet dealers have contacted gm but there is no long term solution. Is the owner responsible for this safety repair after the warranty has expired?.


Other Seats related problems of the 1999 Chevrolet S10


Fuel Economy of S10 Vehicles
S10 Service Bulletins
S10 Safety Recalls
S10 Defect Investigations