IllustrationTAIL GATE CABLE IS CUT AND HAS STRETCHED TO WHERE IS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TAIL GATE. *JB
2002 Chevrolet S Pickup
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S Pickup years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 10 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Structure complaints
8 reportsLOWERED TAILGATE TO CLIMB INTO BED OF TRUCK. AFTER STEPPING UP ONTO TAILGATE, BOTH RESTRAINING CABLES BROKE, THROWING ME TO THE GROUND. MINOR BRUISING AND SCRATCHING ONLY CABLES NOT REPLACED TO DATE BECAUSE DEALER CHARGING EXCESSIVE MONEY. *NM
#2 (RIGHT SIDE) TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE FAILURE. NO EXCESSIVE STRESS PLACED ON TAILGATE; I LOWERED IT TO LOAD SOME LIGHTWEIGHT ITEMS IN BED (BY HAND, NO RAMPS OR LOADING EQUIPMENT) AND HEARD POP WHEN TAILGATE WENT FULL DOWN. NOTICED CABLE BROKEN. NO REPAIR YET; CONTACTING LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER NEXT WEEK. *JB
TAILGATE CABLES ON 02 S10 PICK UP DUE TO CORROSION. SHRINK PLASTIC NOT PROTECTING FROM MOISTURE AND CAUSED CABLE TO RUST AND SNAP SENDING TAILGATE ONTO HIGHWAY. *NM
WHEN I OPENED THE TAIL GATE TO MY 2002 S-10 BOTH CABLES SNAPED-IN-TWO AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CABLE FAILURE HAS DAMAGED THE TAIL GATE WHEN IT HIT THE BUMPER. WHEN I WENT TO THE PART STORE TO GET A REPLACEMENT CABLE FOR BOTH SIDES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLE DID NOT MATCH WHAT WAS LISTED IN HIS BOOK AS A REPLACEMENT AND WOULD NEED T…
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WHEN I OPENED THE TAIL GATE TO MY 2002 S-10 BOTH CABLES SNAPED-IN-TWO AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CABLE FAILURE HAS DAMAGED THE TAIL GATE WHEN IT HIT THE BUMPER. WHEN I WENT TO THE PART STORE TO GET A REPLACEMENT CABLE FOR BOTH SIDES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLE DID NOT MATCH WHAT WAS LISTED IN HIS BOOK AS A REPLACEMENT AND WOULD NEED TO SEE A DEALER ABOUT THE REPAIR..... ODD THING BUT I ALSO HAVE A 1991 FORD F-150 WITH 215,000 MILES ON IT AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME TAIL GATE CABLES FROM WHEN IT WAS NEW.
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. THE CABLE THAT ATTACHES THE TAILGATE TO THE TRUCK HAS CORRODED AWAY. THIS RESULTS IN THE TAILGATE FALLING FROM HORIZONTAL POSITION AND POSSIBLE FALLING OFF. A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GM SILVERADO PICKUP. THE SAME RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO THE S-10, AS IT IS THE SAME DE…
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I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. THE CABLE THAT ATTACHES THE TAILGATE TO THE TRUCK HAS CORRODED AWAY. THIS RESULTS IN THE TAILGATE FALLING FROM HORIZONTAL POSITION AND POSSIBLE FALLING OFF. A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GM SILVERADO PICKUP. THE SAME RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO THE S-10, AS IT IS THE SAME DEFECT AS IN THE SILVERADO. *JB
TAILGATE CABLES ON 02 S_10 PICKUP HAVE SAME FALIURE AS LARGER TRUCKS THAT ALL HAVE RECALLS.THE CABLES ARE MANUFACTURED BY SAME COMPANY AS RECALLED TRUCKS.CABLES SNAP AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND ALSO POSE RISK OF INJURY.DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS YET NO RECALL.*AK
ME AND MY WIFE WERE SITTING ON MY TAILGATE OF MY 2002 CHEVY S10 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CABLES SNAPPED. AND MY WHOLE TAILGATE FOLED OVER MY BUMPER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD AND BUY AN USED TAILGATE. CUZ CHEVY SAID THEY WERNT COVERD UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.