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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

Structure complaints

73 reports
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51,437 miles · Jan 31, 2009
Structure

THIS IS THE THIRD VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A DOOR HINGE, BUSHINGS AND/OR HINGE PINS REPAIRED ON. 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER FOUR DOOR (ODI NUMBER) 10255992. 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER TWO DOOR (ODI NUMBER) 10256634. THE DOOR IS DROPPING CAUSING A PROBLEM TO EITHER OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR. DOOR STARTED CREAKING ABOUT…

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THIS IS THE THIRD VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE THAT I HAVE HAD TO HAVE A DOOR HINGE, BUSHINGS AND/OR HINGE PINS REPAIRED ON. 2004 CHEVROLET BLAZER FOUR DOOR (ODI NUMBER) 10255992. 2003 CHEVROLET BLAZER TWO DOOR (ODI NUMBER) 10256634. THE DOOR IS DROPPING CAUSING A PROBLEM TO EITHER OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR. DOOR STARTED CREAKING ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME A SAFETY PROBLEM TO CLOSE IT PROPERLY. IT WAS RUBBING ON THE LOCK STRIKE. DOOR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER THE OTHER TWO WERE FOUND TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS. I PRESUME THAT THE SAME REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THIS AS IT IS STILL IN THE DEALERS SHOP AS OF TODAY. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE IT WILL HAVE COST FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS PLUS TO REPAIR THESE DOORS AND MAKE THEM SAFE. IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM FOR GM AS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN VARIOUS MODELS SINCE THE 80'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257057

65,000 miles · Jan 26, 2009
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE STRAPS FAILED AND WERE RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA WOULD BE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES, BUT NOT THE CONTACT'S MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10256351

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

TAILGATE OF S10 FLEW OFF BACK OF TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252576

20,000 miles · Sep 29, 2008
Structure

TAIL GATE CABLES ON 2 YEAR OLD S-10 TRUCK FAILED. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT. TWO YEARS LATER COMPANY HAD A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT AND DEALER STILL WOULD NOT REIMBURSE COST OF REPLACEMENT. CALLED GM AND FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS TO SEND IN RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, CALLS NOT RETURN…

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TAIL GATE CABLES ON 2 YEAR OLD S-10 TRUCK FAILED. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT. TWO YEARS LATER COMPANY HAD A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT AND DEALER STILL WOULD NOT REIMBURSE COST OF REPLACEMENT. CALLED GM AND FOLLOWED THEIR INSTRUCTIONS TO SEND IN RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, CALLS NOT RETURNED. COMPANY AND DEALER WERE LONG ON TALK, VERY SHORT ON SERVICE. THIS IS ONE OF THREE SERIOUS S-10 DEFECTS, SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243938

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2008
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF MY S-10 ZR2, THE 3RD DOOR HAS BEEN UNUSABLE WITH SUBSTANTIAL COSTS PUT INTO IT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS FIXED. IT WOULD BE NICE IF CHEVROLET WOULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE IT BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE SOMEONE RIDE IN THE THIRD SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235494

55,000 miles · Jul 17, 2008
Structure

TAILGATE CABLE SNAPPED WHILE TAILGATE WAS DOWN. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS CORROSION INSIDE THE CABLE. NO UNUSUAL WEIGHT WAS PLACED ON TAILGATE. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE WHICH WAS RECALLED IN THE SILVERADO LINE SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IN THE S-10 LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234744

54,543 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Structure

TAILGATE HINGE AND CABLE ASSEMBLY RUSTED AND FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230257

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2007
Structure

THIRD DOOR HANDLE/LATCH KEEPS BREAKING MAKING THIS DOOR UNUSABLE. THIS HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN. ANYONE USING THE JUMPSEAT WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND/OR HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209027

72,000 miles · Jun 20, 2007
Structure

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH 72,000 MILES. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE DOORS FALLING OUT OF ALIGHMENT AND OPENING WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP, AND GM, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGEING THE DESIGN FLAW HAVE FAILED TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE IN…

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I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH 72,000 MILES. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HINGE PIN BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE DOORS FALLING OUT OF ALIGHMENT AND OPENING WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP, AND GM, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGEING THE DESIGN FLAW HAVE FAILED TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND IN TO BE A WIDE SPEAD SITUATION WITH ALL GM MEDIUM DUTY DOOR HINGES. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WELDED DOOR HINGES RATHER THAT THE BOLT ON TYPE. THIS SEEM TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO ME, AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10193802

84,509 miles · May 13, 2007
Structure

2002 CHEVROLET S-10 TAILGATE CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. ONE OF THEM BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTION THE OTHER CABLE WAS FAULTY AND LIKELY TO BREAK ALSO. *AK SINCE I WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE AT THE TIME, I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID INJURY WHEN THE CABLE BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #10190591

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.