Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Chevrolet S-10 problems
Owners filed 205 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet S-10 with NHTSA between Jan 2003 and Oct 2021. The most-cited component is structure (31).
Complaints
205
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure31
- Electrical system24
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Power train18
- Air bags17
- Tires14
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Fuel system, gasoline13
- Service brakes12
- Visibility12
- Latches/locks/linkages11
- Steering8
- Exterior lighting7
- Engine6
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
27
24
23
14
27
14
12
13
7
8
8
9
6
1
3
2
3
1
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
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
Structure
31 reports1 crash
“UPON PERSONAL INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE I DISCOVERED MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND THE CABLE HAD SNAPPED DUE TO CABLE FRAYING OR CORROSION. THE EXACT TIME AND SPEED OF THIS FAILURE IS UNKNOWN BUT THE DANGER COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS A: THE TIRE COULD POSE A HAZARD TO TRAFFIC BEHIND THE VEHICLE. B: THE TIRE COULD ROLL INTO LANES OF TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS. C: THE TIRE COULD FALL AT SUCH AN ANGLE TO LIFT AND DEFLECT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF CONTROL. D: THE OPERATOR COULD FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE. *TR”
Electrical system
24 reports1 crash
“THE TRUCK WAS OCCASIONALLY NOT TURNING OVER. TRIED THINGS LIKE TURNING FAN ON, RADIO, ETC AND IT WOULD START. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON OR WILL BLINK. TRUCK NOW IS NOT TURNING OVER AT ALL. DASH LIGHTS BLINK AND OR COME ON WHEN DOOR OPENS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I'VE SEEN ALL OVER INTERNET, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. I AM PAYING FOR A DEAD TRUCK NOW. TRUCK WAS STATIONARY-WON'T START.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
22 reports1 crash
“I WAS PARKED IDLING WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT. COOLED DOWN AND STARTED. GOT ON 10 AT 60 MPH AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SPEED DROPPED INSTANTLY TO ABOUT 30 MPH. TWICE ON THE WAY HOME DID THE SAME, THEN CONKED OUT. TRIED TO DRIVE TO SHOP AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THEY REPLACED THE CAM SENSOR AND ACTS MOSTLY OKAY. BUT EVERY SO OFTEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SPEED DROPS DRAMATICALLY THEN RECURS. THERE IS NOT A CODE BEING PUT IN THE SYSTEM TELLING THEM THE ISSUE WHY BUT THERE WAS A CODE ONE ABS SENSOR IS TURNING ON. IT IS LIKE THE ABS IS ENGAGING WITHOUT ME HITTING THE BRAKES AND THEN CUTTING OFF. AGAIN THIS ONLY HAPPENS SPORADICALLY WILL BE TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER ASAP. NOTE AGAIN NO INDICATOR THE CAM SENSOR WAS BAD OR ANYTHING ELSE. UPDATED 08-20-14 *BF THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A CODE IN THE SYSTEM, FOR THE SPEED SENSOR, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CLEAR IT. UPDATED 09/15/14 UPDATED 08/28/2017*CT”
Power train
18 reports2 crashes
“THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR I WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE AT 65MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT ALSO CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROLS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THE TRUCK NEEDS TO HAVE THE ACTUATORS (5), THE VACUUM TANK, THE VACUUM LINES AND THE HEATER CONTROL. A 1400.00 REPAIR BILL I WILL HAVE TO COVER. *TR”
Air bags
17 reports10 crashes
“The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet S 10. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, another vehicle T-boned his vehicle at a high rate of speed. The contact stated that the air bag did not deploy and the contact hit his head on the windshield. The contact was taken from the scene to a local hospital where they initially ran a test and found no injuries on his body. The contact stated that his head remained in pain and went back to the hospital the next day. The next day, the contact was informed that a blood clot was discovered near his brain, and was transferred to another hospital for surgery. The contact was sent to outpatient rehabilitation once he was released from the hospital. The contact stated that the other driver did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was deemed a total loss and his insurance had taken possession of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Tires
14 reports
“I WAS PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION WHEN SOMETHING "JOLTED" THE VEHICLE AND MADE A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE TRUCK. LOOKING BACK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS LYING IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT IT. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TIRE. AFTER RETURNING HOME MY FATHER INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SAID THE CABLE HAD BROKEN WHERE THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT HOLDS THE TIRE UP UNDER THE TRUCK BED. THE TIRE IS CUT IN A COUPLE PLACES ON THE SIDEWALLS AND THE BRACKET THAT SHOULD BE ON THE END OF THE CABLE IS MISSING. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT LYING IN THE ROAD AS I JUST GRABBED MY TIRE IN A HURRY BECAUSE MORE TRAFFIC WAS COMING. *TR”
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.