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 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL ON 8/23/05. THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE HIT INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR. HIS AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH HE DID HAVE HIS SEAT BELT ON, HIS HEAD DID BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. GEICO CAR INSURANCE TOTALED THE VE…
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MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL ON 8/23/05. THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE HIT INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR. HIS AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH HE DID HAVE HIS SEAT BELT ON, HIS HEAD DID BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. GEICO CAR INSURANCE TOTALED THE VEHICLE. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10136827
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATE 95 AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I HAD TO KEEP THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL BEFORE I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10136713
54,140 miles · Sep 15, 2005
Structure
TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2003 CHEVY S-10 PICKUP FAILED WHILE LOADING EQUIPMENT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10136648
48,500 miles · Jul 11, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 S-10 PICK-UP TRUCK.ABS BRAKES ENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT 10MPH CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND WHEELS LOCKING.THIS CAUSED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE AND ALMOST BEING REAR ENDED BY THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME.WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS TO THE ENGAGMENT OF THE ABS.
NHTSA ODI #10128288
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages
DT: THE DOOR LATCH KEEPS BREAKING OFF OF THE 3RD DOOR. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10124380
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
100 miles · Apr 26, 2005
Fuel System, Other
GASOLINE SPIT-BACK"WHILE REFUELING. GASOLINE WILL SPIT-BACK FROM THE FILLER NECK BEFORE THE PUMP STOPS OR JUST AFTER THE PUMP STOPS. GASOLINE SPILLS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO THE GROUND ,AND GETS ON THE OPERATORS HANDS AND SHOES. THE FUEL TANK AND ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN SPRING 2004. PROBL…
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GASOLINE SPIT-BACK"WHILE REFUELING. GASOLINE WILL SPIT-BACK FROM THE FILLER NECK BEFORE THE PUMP STOPS OR JUST AFTER THE PUMP STOPS. GASOLINE SPILLS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO THE GROUND ,AND GETS ON THE OPERATORS HANDS AND SHOES. THE FUEL TANK AND ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN SPRING 2004. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE ANTI SPILL VALVE MALFUNCTION. ?SPLIT-BACK RECURRED, AND NOT RELATED TO A SPECIFIC GAS STATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10118522
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 CHEVROLET S-10 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKE LINE.*MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND ON 2 BRAKE LINES THAT WERE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10119170
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2005
Visibility
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT IN HIS 2003 CHEVROLET S10. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAT WAS SO HOT, IT BURNED THROUGH HIS SHOES. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10114916
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUSTAIN MAJOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE…
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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUSTAIN MAJOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
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.
2003 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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