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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
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110,000 miles · Apr 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 2002 CHEVY S-10 CREW CAB. ONE BRAKE LINE BEGAN LEAKING. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING TWO LINES. WHEN REPAIR WAS BEING COMPLETED A THIRD BRAKE LINE BEGAN TO LEAK. THE PARTS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE FROM GM AND THE DEALER SAID IT COULD TAKE MONTHS TO GET.WAITING TO SEE IF A LOCAL SHOP CAN MANUFACTURE THE THIRD…

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BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON 2002 CHEVY S-10 CREW CAB. ONE BRAKE LINE BEGAN LEAKING. DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING TWO LINES. WHEN REPAIR WAS BEING COMPLETED A THIRD BRAKE LINE BEGAN TO LEAK. THE PARTS ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE FROM GM AND THE DEALER SAID IT COULD TAKE MONTHS TO GET.WAITING TO SEE IF A LOCAL SHOP CAN MANUFACTURE THE THIRD LINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LINES CORRODED DUE TO BRINE USED ON ROADS DURING WINTER. I SAW AN ARTICLE STATING THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING OTHER GM TRUCKS BETWEEN 1999 AND 2003 FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM BUT THE S-10 IS NOT LISTED AS HAVING AN ISSUE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I CAUGHT IT EARLY BY SEEING A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER MY TRUCK. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I DO NOT FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE REMAINING LINES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327244

16,973 miles · May 5, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET S10. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 16,973 MILES AND REOCCURRED AT 38,000 MILES. A TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL TOGETHER WAS CUTTING THROUGH THE BRAKES AND RUBBING THE WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET S10. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 16,973 MILES AND REOCCURRED AT 38,000 MILES. A TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL TOGETHER WAS CUTTING THROUGH THE BRAKES AND RUBBING THE WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALERS INVOICE INDICATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,555. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF THE BRAKE LINES ALSO FAILED. UPDATED 05/21/08

NHTSA ODI #10226729

6,000 miles · Feb 8, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO CORROSION. THE ROTORS WERE FIRST REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE ROTORS FR…

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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO CORROSION. THE ROTORS WERE FIRST REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE ROTORS FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENT USE OF SALT ON THE ROADS IN THE CONTACT'S AREA, THE CORROSION WAS TO BE EXPECTED. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182008

40,000 miles · Oct 16, 2006
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE HAND BRAKE WAS ALSO APPLIED BUT FAILED TO ENGAGED OR SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS ALERTED AND ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. THE HAND BRAKE WAS ALSO APPLIED BUT FAILED TO ENGAGED OR SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS ALERTED AND ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ANALYZE THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10170968

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BRAKE PROBLEM IN WHICH THE ABS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN USED OR DRIVEN ON GRAVEL AND ON WET PAVEMENT. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED GM. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS S…

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DT: THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BRAKE PROBLEM IN WHICH THE ABS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN USED OR DRIVEN ON GRAVEL AND ON WET PAVEMENT. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE DEALER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED GM. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATES. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10138411

33,800 miles · Oct 21, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A HIGH SPEED THE BRAKES WILL CHATTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR AND IT WILL PULSATE. THE BRAKES WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, BUT HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. A RECALL FOR OTHER…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A HIGH SPEED THE BRAKES WILL CHATTER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR AND IT WILL PULSATE. THE BRAKES WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP, BUT HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. A RECALL FOR OTHER GENERAL MOTOR VEHICLES REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM, WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE SERVICE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS, REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND THE BRAKE SHOES. THIS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL HAVE TO CHECK THE ABS TO DETERMINE IF THE SPEED SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140433

42,000 miles · Jun 10, 2005
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTATORS WERE BAD, PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND THERE WAS UNUSUAL FLAKING. THE ROTORS WERE WORN SMOOTH AND NOT PITTED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALL OF THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE PITTING BEING SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD NOT BE USED. THE DEALER SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE…

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THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROTATORS WERE BAD, PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND THERE WAS UNUSUAL FLAKING. THE ROTORS WERE WORN SMOOTH AND NOT PITTED. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. ALL OF THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE PITTING BEING SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD NOT BE USED. THE DEALER SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. *AK THERE WAS EXCESSIVE NOISE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AND MORNING BRAKE NOISE AS IF THE PARKING BRAKES WERE STICKING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR NOISE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY BLAMED ON AGGRESSIVE TIRE TREAD. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10122218

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SITUATION WITH THE ABS BRAKES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 CREW CAB PICK-UP TRUCK AS DESCRIBED BELOW: FEDS PROBE GM BRAKES TUESDAY, MAY 03, 2005 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SAID MONDAY THAT STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF U…

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I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SITUATION WITH THE ABS BRAKES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 CREW CAB PICK-UP TRUCK AS DESCRIBED BELOW: FEDS PROBE GM BRAKES TUESDAY, MAY 03, 2005 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SAID MONDAY THAT STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 10 MPH BECAUSE OF THE BUILDUP OF CORROSION. IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, THE CORROSION OF SALT AND OTHER COLD-WEATHER ROAD SUBSTANCES LED TO UNWANTED ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AT LOW SPEEDS AND INCREASED THE STOPPING DISTANCE. REGARDS, JIM ZELASNY

NHTSA ODI #10119619

22,860 miles · Mar 4, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED ABS FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10113412

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND PEDAL TOUCHED THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081350

Official recalls

0

No 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

2

EA05008 · 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.