IllustrationTHE O-RINGS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM ARE FAILING AT THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AND LEAKAGE, WHILE DRIVING.
2002 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
3925–50K
3250–75K
1675–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
139 reports with mileage · 75 unknown
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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 11/26/14*CN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 11/26/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TWO GAS LEAKS. UPDATED 10/5/2015 *JS
MYSELF AND TWO FRIENDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD GASONLINE CAPS AT APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS OF VEHICLE LIFE. THE WEAR AND TEAR OVER 10 YEARS HAS DIMINISHED THE SEAL CAPACITY OF THE GASOLINE CAP. THE GASOLINE CAP DEFECT OR NORMAL WEAR/TEAR SEEMS TO RESULT IN EVAP CANNISTERS BECOMING SATURATED, WHICH RESULTS IN AN IDENTIFIED SMALL …
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MYSELF AND TWO FRIENDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD GASONLINE CAPS AT APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS OF VEHICLE LIFE. THE WEAR AND TEAR OVER 10 YEARS HAS DIMINISHED THE SEAL CAPACITY OF THE GASOLINE CAP. THE GASOLINE CAP DEFECT OR NORMAL WEAR/TEAR SEEMS TO RESULT IN EVAP CANNISTERS BECOMING SATURATED, WHICH RESULTS IN AN IDENTIFIED SMALL LEAK IN THE SYSTEM DURING SMOG CHECK IN CA. PERHAPS, THE COINCIDENCE OF GAS CAPS SEALS WORN AND EVAP CANNISTER NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT THE SAME TIME WITH A FEW PEOPLE IS STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT, BUT THE COST TO REPLACE A GAS CAP ~$30.00 AND EVAP CANNISTER ~$300.00 IS SIGNIFICANT. WHAT ADVISORIES OR IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE MADE IN THIS AREA? I RECOMMEND THREE SOLUTIONS: 1. REPLACEMENT GASOLINE CAP SCHEDULE BY MANUFACTURER; 2. NOTIFICATION TO CAR OWNER TO REGULARLY CHECK GASOLINE CAP SEALS AFTER 7 YEARS BY MANUFACTURER; AND/OR 3. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF GASOLINE CAPS TO LAST LONGER. *JS
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
2EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables
Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.
RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break
Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT 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 CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.