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

64,800 miles · Sep 20, 2006

Structure

I WAS LOADING A STORAGE TRUNK ONTO THE BED OF MY 2002 S10 WHEN BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES SNAPPED AND DROPPED THE TRUNK OFF OF THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. LUCKILY I WAS NOT STANDING BEHIND IT. I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL ON TAILGATE STRAPS FOR FULL SIZE CHEVROLET TRUCKS, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RECALL EXPANDED TO MY MODEL TRUCK AL…

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NHTSA ODI #10168801

42,360 miles · Sep 9, 2006

Structure

TAILGATE CABLE BROKE WITH LESS THAN 75 LBS (MY 7YR OLD DAUGHTER) SITTING ON TAILGATE. CABLES APPEARED TO BE CORRODED DUE TO A COATING ON THEM THAT ALLOWED MOISTURE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH CABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167734

41,500 miles · Sep 5, 2006

StructureInjury

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THE CABLE THAT RETAINS THE TAILGATE HAS BROKEN. IT IS ENCASED IN A VINYL COVERING THAT HIDES THE RUST THAT APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CABLE HAS RUSTED OUT IN THE MIDDLE CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN LOADING/UNLOADING. WHEN UNLOADING THE TRUCK, THE UNSTABLE TAILGATE CAUSED A FALL. THE VINYL CASING PREVENTS VISUAL INSPECTION FOR RUST, AND PROBABLY LEADS TO RUST SINCE IT RETAINS MOISTURE. THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF THE CABLES PREVENTS READY REPLACEMENT AS THE ENTIRE LATCH MUST BE REMOVED/REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167365

60,000 miles · Aug 2, 2006

Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE CABLE CORRODED AND FRACTURED IN HALF. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 04V129000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: BODY: TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164160

37,179 miles · Jul 6, 2006

Structure

2002 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. 37,179 MILES ON VEHICLE. TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE WITH ONE PERSON SITTING ON THE TAILGATE. PLASTIC COATING RIPPED AWAY REVEALING THAT THE STEEL CABLE WAS VERY RUSTED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161629

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2006

Structure

BOTH TAILGATE CABLES BROKE ON MY 02 S-10 UNDER MY WEIGHT(170LBS). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161357

65,000 miles · Jun 20, 2006

Seat Belts

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT 9 MONTHS AGO THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THE FEMALE PORTION OF THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT REMAINED LATCHED TO THE MALE PORTION OF THE BUCKLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT NOT INTERMITTENT. THE PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE PART WILL BE SHIPPED WITHIN 7 TO 10 DAYS TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE EXACT NAME OF THE PART REQUIRED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS FREE OF DIRT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS.

NHTSA ODI #10160283

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2006

Structure

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(1) I OWN AN 02 S-10 SPORTS SIDE PICKUP WHICH I RARELY USE THE TAIL GATE. (2) MY 250 LB 6'3" FATHER PUT THE TAILGATE DOWN, SAT ON IT, AND THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES SNAPPED. HE DIDN'T JUMP, HOP, OR SIT DOWN EXCESSIVELY HARD AND THEY BROKE. (3) UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE TAILGATE IT WASN'T CREASED SO I WAS OKAY. MY UNCLE (WHO WORKS FOR A DEALERSHIP) SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FULL SIZES AND HE WOULD CHECK FOR MINE. HE CALLS BACK NO RECALL BUT THE CABLES ARE $10 A PIECE. I'M THINKING OK NO PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY HE SAID THOSE CABLES WERE DISCONTINUED AND THE NEW ONES/ NEW ASSEMBLY COST $35 A PIECE. SO I'M GOING FROM A $20 FIX TO $70. THAT'S INSANE. WHY SHOULD THEY MAKE MORE MONEY OFF ME FROM THEIR MISTAKE? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160126

54,595 miles · Jun 16, 2006

Structure

BOTH CABLES SECURING THE TAIL GATE ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 BROKE. WHILE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN IF MY WIFE HAD NOT BEEN ALERT AND PREVENTED THE TAILGATE FROM DROPPING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS CURRENT A PRODUCT SAFETY MEMO FOR THE 1999-2000 CHEV SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160021

79,006 miles · Jun 6, 2006

Structure

WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE ON MY TRUCK BOTH CABLES BROKE IN THE MIDDLE DUE TO CORROSION. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM GM HAS ON THEIR LARGER TRUCKS WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159140

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.