IllustrationTHIRD DOOR HANDLE KEEPS BREAKING. LUCKY NOT IN AN EMERGENCY. REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S10 years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
What owners actually said
178 reportsTHE 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
I HAVE A S10 CHEVROLET TRUCK AN THE HVAC SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. I HAVE LITTLE OR NO DEFROST SYSTEM. *JB
TAILGATE 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 WHILE ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE HOOD LATCH CATCHES THE CONTACT'S SHOESTRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION.
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
DT: CONTACT STATES HE TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. HE HAD IT TOWED AND FOUND THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE ,AND CHARGED CONTACT FOR LABOR. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP, AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR FUEL PUMP. *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
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.