IllustrationTHE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE CLIMATE AND ROAD CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NEW YORK. *JB
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 campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView 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
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
400–25K
3025–50K
2250–75K
1575–100K
20100–150K
5150K+
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
Structure complaints
30 reportsTAILGATE CABLES. ONE HAS BROKEN & ONE IS FRAYED BAD. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STEPPING ON THE TAILGATE THE PASSENGER SIDE CABLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRACTURE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF RUST ON THE CABLE WIRES. THE CONTACT ATTACHED WIRES TO THE TAILGATE AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN OPENING THE TAILGATE HE NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE CABLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. *AK
DT: CONTACT PURCHASED A VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO THAT WAS TO LOW TO THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE HIGHER. THE DEALERSHIP RAN THE VIN, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO RECORD SHOWING IT HAD BEEN LOWERED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP WAITING TO …
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DT: CONTACT PURCHASED A VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO THAT WAS TO LOW TO THE GROUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE HIGHER. THE DEALERSHIP RAN THE VIN, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO RECORD SHOWING IT HAD BEEN LOWERED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP WAITING TO BE REPAIRED.*AK
WENT TO OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICK-UP, AND BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE. COST $10.00 EACH FOR THE CABLES, BUT THEY NEED TO BE RIVETED TO THE BRACKET ON THE TAILGATE GUIDE. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 PICK-UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE CABLES TWICE ON …
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WENT TO OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICK-UP, AND BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE. COST $10.00 EACH FOR THE CABLES, BUT THEY NEED TO BE RIVETED TO THE BRACKET ON THE TAILGATE GUIDE. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET S-10 PICK-UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE CABLES TWICE ON THAT TRUCK BY WELDING THE RIVET. *NM
TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2003 CHEVY S-10 PICKUP FAILED WHILE LOADING EQUIPMENT.*JB
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DRIVER 'S SIDE DOOR SHEARED OFF, AND WAS HANGING BY THE TOP BOLT. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE OR TURN ON ITS OWN. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TAILGATE CABLES SH…
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DRIVER 'S SIDE DOOR SHEARED OFF, AND WAS HANGING BY THE TOP BOLT. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE OR TURN ON ITS OWN. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TAILGATE CABLES SHEARED OFF WHILE PLACING HEAVY EQUIPMENT ON TOP OF IT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER 'S SIDE. ALSO, STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TAILGATE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *AK ENGINE WAS BACKFIRING. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S DOOR SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME WHICH CAUSED AIR TO SEEP THROUGH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
ROOF AND PILLARS PRODUCE A BLIND SPOT WHICH IMPAIRS VISION. *AK
Recall campaigns
104V132000 · 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
0No 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.