Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 S10 2WD.
The 1983 Chevrolet S10 2WD is documented here with a 4-quart engine oil capacity and recommended viscosity grades of 20W-20, 20W-40, or 20W-50 — fluid specs that point to a conventional lubrication setup rather than anything specialized. Its reliability profile shows just seven owner complaints filed, but the Power Train category dominates that small sample and the model carries four recalls, a combination that complicates any read of the otherwise low headline number. For researchers building a dependability profile of the S10, this 1983 entry serves as a baseline data point — minimal complaint volume, but with a clear drivetrain focus and recall activity that demand a closer look before drawing conclusions.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4 qt of 20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.0 qt |
| Differential Gear Oil | 80W-90 · GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.6 qt |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 20W-20 · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 15W-40 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4 qt |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1983 Chevrolet S10 2WD dominate in one area — the power train, 3 of 7 reports (43%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the power train, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 7 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH… Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM561204 | 1995-04-01 | Structure | WATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW |
| GM161514 | 1995-04-01 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | END GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW |
| 9310A343 | 1993-02-01 | Visibility | FRONT DOOR SIDE GLASS BINDING/TRACK DISENGAGEMENT. *TW |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F 30, ABOVE 20 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE 10 degrees F: 15W-40, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.