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

What owners actually said

214 reports

27,088 miles · Feb 25, 2005

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHEN I TEST DROVE THIS VEHICLE, I "PUNCHED" THE THROTTLE TO CHECK RESPONSE, ENGINE-MISFIRE, SMOKE, ETC. THE THROTTLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. REPEATED PUNCHING OF THE ACCELERATOR RELEASED THE THROTTLE AND I WAS ABLE TO REDUCE ENGINE SPEED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY CARPETING SNAGGING THE THROTTLE CABLE. (WRONG). THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, DECLARED THE PROBLEM CURED, AND I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SINCE THAT TIME, THE THROTTLE HAS STUCK MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE THROTTLE STUCK ONCE WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO A DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT. IN ALL THESE CASES, HAD I NOT KNOWN WHAT TO EXPECT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. NO PARTS HAVE EVER BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 21, 2004 AND ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED TODAY (FEBRUARY 25, 2005). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10112178

39,600 miles · Feb 8, 2005

Structure

BOTH SUPPORT CABLES ON THE TAILGATE BROKE WHILE LOADING. THIS CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO DROP WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH CABLES SHOWED SIGN OF CORROSION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10111072

52,000 miles · Feb 3, 2005

Power Train

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THIS 2002 CHEVY S-10 CREW CAB 4X4 IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC IN DASH BUTTONS FOR 2 WHEEL HIGH, 4 WHEEL HIGH AND 4 WHEEL LOW. A VACUUM (RUBBER) HOSE CONNECTS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO THE VACUUM SOLENOID AND ENGAGES THE FRONT TRANS AXLE TO ENGAGED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND BACK TO REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THIS VACUUM TUBE IS MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND HAS DRYROTTED IN TWO YEARS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS HOSE EITHER NEEDS TO BE SHIELDED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT OR SHOULD BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO THE HEAT WILL NOT DETERIORATE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATE YOU ARE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN YOU ARE NOT AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IF THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND HIT SOME ICE OR SNOW, LOSE CONTROL AND COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAREEN OFF A MOUNTAIN. THIS ELECTRONIC DEVICE IS A MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE OF A MAJOR CONCERN TO THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE VACUUM HOSE AND ABOVE ALL REPLACE THE INDICATOR LIGHT!*

NHTSA ODI #10108500

34,000 miles · Jan 10, 2005

Structure

OPENED TAILGATE AND SAW THAT RIGHT TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE. TRUCK NOT USED FOR HEAVY HAULING. NO WEAR INDICATION. REPLACEMENT OF CABLES REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE LATCH ASSEMBLY. 34000 MILES, 38 MONTHS. ORDERED NEW LATCH/CABLE THROUGH DEALER. HAVE NOT YET INSTALLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106088

45,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005

StructureInjury

2002 CHEVROLET S-10 CREW CAB, TAILGATE CABLES BROKE. BF THE CONSUMER WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115696

19,900 miles · Jan 5, 2005

Seat Belts

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CENTER BUTTON STICKS, AND THE LATCH DOESN'T GO INTO THE BUCKLE. *AK *TC

NHTSA ODI #10063216

55,000 miles · Jan 2, 2005

Structure

1. USE OF THE TAILGATE IN ORDER TO PUT CARGO IN PICKUP BOX. 2. THE TAILGATE CABLES BROKE, MADE FROM POOR MATERIAL, ALSO SAME AS THE RECALLED SILVERADO TAILGATE CABLES 3. DEALER GAVE ME THE OPTION OF PAYING 5 TIMES MORE THAN AFTERMAKET FOR THE CABLE OR WAIT UNTIL ENOUGH COMPLAINT ARE RECEIVED IN ORDER FOR RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104940

40,000 miles · Dec 21, 2004

Structure

ONE OF THE TWO TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 HAS PREMATURELY BROKEN. LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND UNDER 40000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104235

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2004

Structure

THE TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE OFF, KEEPING THE TAILGATE FROM MAINTAINING UPWARD POSITION. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103668

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2004

Structure

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY S-10 PICK UP (ZR2) AND THE DRIVERS DOOR HINGE IS SEPARATING FROM THE WELD CAUSING THE DOOR TO BE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND GETTING WORSE. I CURRENTLY HAVE 41,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10102650

Official recalls

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

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.