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2003 Chevrolet S10

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most S10 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet S10 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
178Owner complaints

Model-year median: 42.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Chevrolet S10

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 178 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 30 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 22 reports
  • Power Train: 17 reports
  • Air Bags: 15 reports
  • Electrical System: 15 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
471
2000308
2001214
2002178
200321
20041
2006
Compare all S10 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
30Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Power Train
17Air Bags
15Electrical System
15
All reported categories
Service Brakes
12Tires
12Visibility
12Engine And Engine Cooling
11Latches/locks/linkages
11Fuel System, Gasoline
10Engine
6Steering
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Wheels
5Equipment
4Exterior Lighting
4Suspension
4Unknown Or Other
4Visibility/wiper
3Fuel System, Other
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Parking Brake
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes, Electric
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

132 reports with mileage · 46 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 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 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.

16 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
28,000 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A 2003 S-10 WITH 28,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CO2 SENSORS AND NOW IT WON'T START. IT JUST STARTED JERKING AND THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WORK FINE. ITS GETTING GAS AND HAS A NEW BATTERY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT WANTS TO START BUT IT DOESN'T. ALSO THE RADIO COMES ON WHEN I TURN IT OFF. WHAT GIVES? THIS I…

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I HAVE A 2003 S-10 WITH 28,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CO2 SENSORS AND NOW IT WON'T START. IT JUST STARTED JERKING AND THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WORK FINE. ITS GETTING GAS AND HAS A NEW BATTERY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT WANTS TO START BUT IT DOESN'T. ALSO THE RADIO COMES ON WHEN I TURN IT OFF. WHAT GIVES? THIS IS MY 3RD S-10.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263928

5,100 miles · Sep 6, 2007
Electrical System

INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER AND GO OFF AND ON FOR PERIODS OF TIME. THE SHIFT INDICATOR AND ODOMETER MILAGE GIGHTS ARE EFFECTED THE MOST AND IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS.

NHTSA ODI #10202037

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainCrash

2003 CHEVROLET S-10 ZR2'S FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISS. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS,…

Read full complaint

2003 CHEVROLET S-10 ZR2'S FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISS. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CRUISE CONTROL AND TRIM. THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ONCE WHILE DRIVING. THE TAILGATE HAD TO BE ADJUSTED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167969

9,000 miles · Aug 11, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE'S WIRE HARNESS MELTED AGAINST THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AS A RESULT, THE FUSES BLEW OUT AND THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087713

6,000 miles · Jan 9, 2004
Electrical System

THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10050294

Recall campaigns

1

04V132000 · Equipment:other:labels

Mar 18, 2004

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.