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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

Service Brakes, Electric complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

MY 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP HAS A DANGEROUS ABS SYSTEM IN THAT IT LOCKS UP UNDER ROUTINE STOPS AND ACTUALLY APPEARS TO PULL VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT HE HAD ANOTHER OWNER OF THE S-10 WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE ADVISED ME TO REMOVE THE FUSE #22 WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE ABS AND RETURN MY VEH…

Read full complaint

MY 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP HAS A DANGEROUS ABS SYSTEM IN THAT IT LOCKS UP UNDER ROUTINE STOPS AND ACTUALLY APPEARS TO PULL VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I TOOK IT INTO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT HE HAD ANOTHER OWNER OF THE S-10 WITH SAME PROBLEM. HE ADVISED ME TO REMOVE THE FUSE #22 WHICH WOULD TURN OFF THE ABS AND RETURN MY VEHICLE TO STANDARD BRAKING. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WAS LOOKING UP INFORMATION ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT SUCCESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319089

36,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Service Brakes, Electric

2003 CHEVROLET S-10. BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. REPLACED THE SWITCH AND IT FIXED IT ONLY A SHORT TIME. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND I KNOW OF ONE OTHER OWNER, OF AN S-10 TRUCK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243128

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.