What year does the S-10 have a T5 transmission?
The S-10 did not come from the factory with a Borg-Warner T5 five-speed manual transmission in any model year.
Context: the S-10’s transmission history
The Chevrolet S-10 (and its sibling the GMC Sonoma) ran from 1982 through the mid-2000s in various configurations. While GM offered several manual transmissions over the years, the Borg-Warner T5 was not used as an OEM option on the S-10 lineup. Enthusiasts occasionally discuss swaps or aftermarket solutions, but there is no factory year that shipped with a T5.
What transmissions did the S-10 actually use?
Before listing the main transmission options, note that the S-10 and Sonoma were offered with a mix of manual and automatic gearboxes depending on year, engine, and drivetrain. The following are representative transmission families that appeared in the lineup, rather than a complete year-by-year catalog:
- Manual transmissions: early S-10s used 3-speed manuals, with 4-speed manuals becoming common in later years; some late-model trucks offered 5-speed manual options sourced from different suppliers.
- Automatic transmissions: GM paired the S-10 with several 4-speed automatic families over its life, including later generations of the popular 4L60-E behind V6 configurations.
Bottom line: the S-10 did offer manual options beyond the basic 3- and 4-speed setups, but none of the factory configurations used a Borg-Warner T5. Any T5-style swap would be aftermarket and not representative of original factory equipment.
Takeaway for buyers and restorers
If your goal is to identify a factory year with a T5 in the S-10, you won’t find one. When documenting or restoring an S-10, rely on the vehicle’s VIN and build sheet to confirm the exact transmission model instead of expecting a factory T5 from Chevrolet.
Summary
In short, there is no S-10 model year that shipped with a Borg-Warner T5 transmission. The S-10’s factory gearboxes included a range of manual and automatic options from other transmission families, but the T5 was not part of the OEM lineup. For precise details, check the truck’s build documentation or transmission codes.
