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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic104
  2. Structure97
  3. Seats55
  4. Power train48
  5. Engine and engine cooling33
  6. Electrical system30
  7. Air bags29
  8. Fuel system, gasoline22
  9. Suspension20
  10. Vehicle speed control18
  11. Exterior lighting17
  12. Tires16
  13. Latches/locks/linkages14
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19992
200069
200177
200255
200361
200467
200571
200640
200711
200812
20095
20104
20115
20122
20134
201411
20154
20162
20176
20182
20191
20200
20212
20220
20230
20241

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2014Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10653339

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2018StructureODI 11164133

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2018SeatsODI 11102222

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2008Power trainODI 10214939

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10191564

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2017Electrical systemODI 10955622
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.