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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.

About this comparison →

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

Power Train complaints

17 reports
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84,114 miles · Jan 9, 2011
Power Train

THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR I WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE AT 65MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT ALSO CAUSED THE…

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THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR I WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE AT 65MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT ALSO CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROLS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THE TRUCK NEEDS TO HAVE THE ACTUATORS (5), THE VACUUM TANK, THE VACUUM LINES AND THE HEATER CONTROL. A 1400.00 REPAIR BILL I WILL HAVE TO COVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375259

62,597 miles · Jan 28, 2009
Power Train

WAS DRIVING TO WORK NOTICED WHEN DEPRESSED CLUTCH TO PUT INTO GEAR. IT WASN'T ALLOWING ME TO DO SO. WAS STUCK ON SIDE OF ROAD HAD TOW TRUCK TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. BOUGHT USED VEH. UNDER WARRANTY 1WEEK AND A DAY AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256552

81,370 miles · Nov 1, 2007
Power TrainVisibility

THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR IS VACUUM ACTUATED AND WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. BUT THE WORST PROBLEM IS THAT THE FLUID CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROLS…

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THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR IS VACUUM ACTUATED AND WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. BUT THE WORST PROBLEM IS THAT THE FLUID CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROLS, ALSO VACUUM ACTIVATED, NOT TO WORK PROPERLY SO THAT THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFOGGED OR DEFROSTED, WHICH IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT G.M. REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ACTUATORS (5), THE VACUUM TANK, THE VACUUM LINES AND THE HEATER CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207596

3,000 miles · Jan 8, 2007
Power Train

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10 THAT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 08/02/03 WITH A SPEEDOMETER READING OF 3,271 MILES AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH …

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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10 THAT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 08/02/03 WITH A SPEEDOMETER READING OF 3,271 MILES AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME VIBRATION, BUT EVERY TIME THE CONTACT BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE THEY INSISTED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 10/20/06 WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT F 60-65 MPH THE DRIVESHAFT BECAME LOOSE, GOING UNDERNEATH AN 18TH WHEELER AND ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WOODY FULSON AUTOMOTIVE, AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT AND U RING CAME LOOSE FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT, AS WELL AS SERVICED THE VEHICLE. ON 12/26/06 CONTACT 'S VEHICLE VIBRATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WENT OVER 30 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE HOOD TO POP OPEN AND THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ,AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE BANDING OF THE DRIVESHAFT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10178090

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,…

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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

31,032 miles · May 26, 2005
Power Train

IF THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE AND YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN, LEFT OR RIGHT, THE DRIVETRAIN LOCKS UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TELL ME I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE…

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IF THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE AND YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN, LEFT OR RIGHT, THE DRIVETRAIN LOCKS UP AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TELL ME I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE. THE SERVICE MANAGER DID AGREE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN IN THIS SITUATION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS AND NEVER HAVE I HAD ONE THAT WOULD NOT TURN WILL IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE. THEY MAY SKIP OR HOP A LITTLE BUT THEY ALWAYS TURNED. IF YOU HAPPEN TO TURN LEFT AND THE VEHICLE STOPS YOU WOULD BE PLACING YOURSELF AND THE PASSENGERS IN HARMS WAY WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT MAY BE A GENERIC ISSUE. GM SAYS IT IS CAUSED BY DRIVING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE ON A HIGH TRACTION SURFACE BUT WHEN ASKED WHERE IT STATES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IN THIS SITUATION THEY SAY IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY STATE IT. IF THIS IS A GENERIC ISSUE THEN THERE MAY BE ALOT OF OWNERS THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE OF AN EXTREME SAFTEY CONCERN. IF YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS A LOCAL OFFICE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DEMOSTRATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10122241

32,498 miles · Feb 15, 2005
Power Train

4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH-IN 35 DAYS. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM WILL NOT DIS-ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE LOW. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE IT. …

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4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH-IN 35 DAYS. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM WILL NOT DIS-ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE LOW. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE IT. THE DEALER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENCODER ACTUATOR MOTOR AND THE MODULAR 2-3 TIMES ALREADY AND ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE IS BACK IN THE SHOP, NEEDING ANOTHER MODULAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110548

19,000 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE THREE TIMES BACK TO DEALER DUE TO NOISE AND VIBRATION AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE U-JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087515

640 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Power Train

HAD DRIVELINE HOWL/VIBRATION SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEW BETWEEN 45-70MPH. DEALER HAS PUT IN 2 NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. THIRD TIME I BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM THE SAID NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR THE 03 MODEL YEAR S-10 PICKUPS. I PUT ON NEW RIMS AND TIRES TO SEE IF THAT COULD …

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HAD DRIVELINE HOWL/VIBRATION SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEW BETWEEN 45-70MPH. DEALER HAS PUT IN 2 NEW REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. THIRD TIME I BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM THE SAID NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR THE 03 MODEL YEAR S-10 PICKUPS. I PUT ON NEW RIMS AND TIRES TO SEE IF THAT COULD BE THE CAUSE, PROBLEM STILL THERE. I NOW HAVE 18,000 MILES AND NOISE AND VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT ANOTHER DEALER TO WHOM I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10086495

7,167 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Power Train

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN STOP AND GO SLOW TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR, THE CLUTCH STOPPED OPERATING PROPERLY, THEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WOULD NOT WORK. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THESE CLUTCHES GET HOT AND I SHOULD JUST PULL OFF THE ROAD FOR 10 MINUTES! I ALSO HAD A/C ON. DEALER CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM, AND DENIES IT EXIST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10051246

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.