Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Chevrolet S-10 problems
Owners filed 514 complaints about the 2000 Chevrolet S-10 with NHTSA between Dec 1999 and May 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (104).
Complaints
514
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
55
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
48
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic104
- Structure97
- Seats55
- Power train48
- Engine and engine cooling33
- Electrical system30
- Air bags29
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Suspension20
- Vehicle speed control18
- Exterior lighting17
- Tires16
- Latches/locks/linkages14
- Steering13
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
69
77
55
61
67
71
40
11
12
5
4
5
2
4
11
4
2
6
2
1
0
2
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 69 |
| 2001 | 77 |
| 2002 | 55 |
| 2003 | 61 |
| 2004 | 67 |
| 2005 | 71 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
104 reports21 crashes1 fire
“2000 CHEVROLET S-10 WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES JUST GRABBED AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. *MW THE CONSUMER DOES NOT LIKE ABS. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. *JB”
Structure
97 reports3 crashes1 fire
“THE TOP HINGE OF THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR IS WORN ALLOWING AIR AND RAIN TO ENTER THE CABIN. THE SMALL PLASTIC SLEEVE IN THE TOP HINGE APPEARS TO BE BROKEN OR WORN EXCESSIVELY.”
Seats
55 reports1 crash
“THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE SEAT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN PLACE AND THIS HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN INTERSECTIONS, WHEN THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN MOTION. NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, I'VE BEEN ESPECIALLY CAREFUL & PREPARED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK FORWARD SO I CAN AGAIN REACH THE PEDALS. MY SOLUTION FOR THE TIME BEING - PLACING A WOODEN 2X4 PIECE BEHIND THE SEAT SO IT WILL STAY FIXED. IT'S WORKING, BUT IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT GETTING INTO OR OUT OF THE SEAT. WILL TRY TO REPAIR OR TAKE TO A SHOP IF A RECALL IS NOT MANDATED.”
Power train
48 reports2 crashes
“NO ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE BUT THE TRANSMISSION IN TWO SEPARATE 2000 MODEL S-10 AND AN S-10 BLAZER HAVE GONE OUT IN THE SAME EXACT MANNER WITHIN 3,000 MILES OF EACH OTHER AND BOTH VEHICLES WERE PRIMARILY DRIVEN IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THE SLIPPING OF THESE TRANNYS IS SO SUDDEN THAT IT ACTUALLY ALMOST BECAME A SAFETY CONCERN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS BEING SENT TO THE WRONG DEPT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF CHEVY HAS HAD ANY RECALLS ON THESE MODELS AS WELL. THANKS! *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
33 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET S10. ON MARCH 7, 2007, THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAITED TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE IN 2002. WHEN HE CURRENTLY STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE SECURITY LIGHT FLICKERS AND THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS NOTED IN TSB # 010856001. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST OF 2000. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 125,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Electrical system
30 reports1 crash6 fires
“ALTERNATOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH. VEHICLE REMAINED OPERATIONAL WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS, SIGNALS, GAUGES OR SPEEDOMETER UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHERE THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND DIED EVEN WHILE REVVING. VEHICLE WAS LEFT STRANDED AT A 6 LANE INTERSECTION WITHOUT ANY HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS, INDICATORS OR OTHER LIGHTS TO WARN ONCOMING VEHICLES THAT I WAS NOT MOVING RESULTING IN MAY NEAR INCIDENTS.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.