Problems · by component
2001 Chevrolet S-10 engine and engine cooling problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet S-10 cite engine and engine cooling, 8% of all 319 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
8% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“S10 CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS TEST IN MA. DUE TO A LATENT DEFECT THAT ALLOWS WATER,MUD. AND SLUDGE TO GET INTO THE AIR COMPRESSOR, EFFECTING THE ENTIRE EMISSIONS SYSTEM. A TECH ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALERSHIPS BOTH WERE I BOUGHT IT AND NEAREST TO ADDERS ARE A JOKE. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1200 FOR NEW O2 SENSORS IN TAILPIPE AND MAIN ENGINE INTAKE, NOW IT IS A NEW AIR PUMP AND MORE DEFECTIVE SENSORS. AT AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $1100. THE TRUCK OTHERWISE RUNS FINE. IF IT WERE NOT FOR EMISSIONS TESTS I WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING. THIS IS A GM DESIGN PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR EVER. WHO ELSE CAN I CONTACT?PLEASE , I CANNOT AFFORD TO DRIVE TO WORK W/O BEING IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW. I AM OUTRAGED BY GM'S TOTAL LACK OF SUPPORT. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET S-10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED AND KEPT SLIDING BACK. PASSENGERS HAVE SUSTAINED MINOR LEG INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE SMOG HOSE KEPT CATCHING FIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRE HARNESS TO BECOME HEATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 90 MPH. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,400.”
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE WAS NOTICED INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN. NO WARNING LIGHTS ALERTED THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED, AND REQUIRED A SECOND REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE GASKET A THIRD TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS VERY SENSITIVE BECAUSE THE SMOKE ENTERED THROUGH THE VENTILATION TO THE CABIN AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE AT STOP SIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE.”
“1) TAIL GATE CABLE BROKE ON MY '01 S-10 PICK UP HAVE NOT REPLACED THE PART YET,THE OTHER SIDE IS SUPPORTING BY ITSELF CURRENTLY 2) AT 80000 MILES IN JAN. OF THIS YEAR THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1000. IT WAS A USED MOTOR. IT WAS KNOCKING, MISSING AND RUNNING ROUGH. PIECES OF BEARING WERE IN THE ENGINE OIL. *JB”
“I AM SMELLING A STRONG ODOR AND SMOKE OF OIL BURNING ON THE EXHAUST OF MY 2001 CHEVY S-10. IT IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT I WENT TO THE AUTO HOBBY SHOP AT THE US NAVAL BASE AND PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT TO SEE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE HOBBY SHOP HAS AN S-10 ALSO. HIS WAS DOING THE SAME THING. HIS WAS COMING FROM A LEAKY VALVE COVER GASKET THAT WOULD DRIP OIL DOWN THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON TO THE EXHAUST. I COULD NOT GET A CLEAR LOOK. I DID SEE OIL COLLECTING ON A BRACE ON THE FRAME NEAR THE EXHAUST. I AN AFRAID THAT THE OIL WILL CATCH FIRE. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. I AM SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *JB”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.