Problems · by component
2003 Chevrolet S-10 structure problems
31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet S-10 cite structure, 15% of all 205 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
31
15% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“THE DOOR PINS ARE FAULTY ON THESE TRUCKS AND BLAZERS AND MY DOOR DOES NOT SHUT SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF IT AND IT FLEW OPEN ON A TURN ALMOST CAUSING ME TO FLY OUT TOO. I WENT AND BOUGHT THE PART THAT WEEKEND BUT THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED THIS IS DANGEROUS! *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED AND COLLAPSED INTO THE LATCH PANEL DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. AS A RESULT, THE LATCH WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER INTO THE SECURE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION CORRODED, AND THEN FRACTURED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER RQ04012(STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE ). HE HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY BECAUSE THE SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTICS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. DESPITE THE CONTRARY, THE DIFFERENCES HAVE NOT BEEN SUBSTANTIATED BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT WITH THE S10 MODEL HAS BEEN COMMONLY REPORTED TO GM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96000.”
“ON THE 2003 CHEVY S-10 PICK UP TRUCK, THE DOOR HANDLE FOR THE THIRD DOOR WHICH LEADS TO THE REAR COMPARTMENT IS POORLY MADE. THIS HANDLE HAS BROKEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. NOW I CAN NOT OPEN THE THIRD DOOR. IT SEEMS WHATEVER PART OF THE MECHANISM IS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT BREAKS AFTER LITTLE USE. *TR”
“I HAVE AN 2003 CHEVY S10 THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT YET. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKE AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. THE INCIDENT DATE WAS THE AROUND THE LAST TIME I PUT ONE ON. IT CURRENTLY NEEDS ANOTHER HANDLE PUT ON IT NOW. I HAVEN'T DONE IT YET CAUSE AT $30 EACH TIME IT HAS TO BE REPLACED IS GETTING EXPENSIVE FOR A PIECE OF PLASTIC. WITHOUT THIS PIECE IT IS HARD TO OPEN THE DOOR AND I USE THE DOOR TO GET MY DAUGHTER IN AND OUT OF MY TRUCK. I FEEL THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CHANGED TO A BETTER HANDLE. *TR”
Showing 6 of 31 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.