IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES APPLIED BY THEMSELVES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
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 reportsBOTH WIPER BLADES CHATTER ON WINDSHIELD OF 2003 S-10. THEY DO NOT WIPE WATER OFF OF WINDSHIELD MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN RAIN OR SNOW. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR STANDING STILL BUT MOVING MAKES IT WORSE. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN JULY OF 03. ALSO OWNED A 98 S-10 THAT DID THE SAME THING. DEALERS SAY THAT IS JUST …
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BOTH WIPER BLADES CHATTER ON WINDSHIELD OF 2003 S-10. THEY DO NOT WIPE WATER OFF OF WINDSHIELD MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN RAIN OR SNOW. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR STANDING STILL BUT MOVING MAKES IT WORSE. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN JULY OF 03. ALSO OWNED A 98 S-10 THAT DID THE SAME THING. DEALERS SAY THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. I WORK FOR A TIER 1 WIPER SYSTEMS MANUFACTURER AND TEST THESE THINGS. THAT IS NOT HOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE DEALER'S REACTION. NG, INDIANA. *AK
EXCESSIVE COOLANT (ANTIFREEZE) USAGE AND DISCOLORATION OF COOLANT (RUST) IN A 7 MONTH OLD CHEVROLET, S-10. MILEAGE IS 8500 MILES. COOLANT IS DEX-COOL.*AK
THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. *AK *SC *JB
HOOD RELEASES DURING DRIVING, ONLY SAFETY LATCH KEEPS IT FROM OPENING.*AK
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
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 2 HEADLAMP SYSTEM. AFTER ALIGNING THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BEAM HEADLAMP, THE UPPER BEAM HEADLAMP (WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN A SEPARATE AIMING MECHANISM) APPEARS TO BE AIMED LOWER THAN THE LOWER BEAM. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS CONDITION SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY WHEN US…
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THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 2 HEADLAMP SYSTEM. AFTER ALIGNING THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER BEAM HEADLAMP, THE UPPER BEAM HEADLAMP (WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN A SEPARATE AIMING MECHANISM) APPEARS TO BE AIMED LOWER THAN THE LOWER BEAM. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS CONDITION SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITS THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY WHEN USING UPPER BEAM. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEADLAMP WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE DEALER ALSO DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR ANAMOLY IN THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP ON ANOTHER 2003 S10 THAT IT HAD ON THE DEALER LOT. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO POOR DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. THEN, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT A GUARD RAIL, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PCM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. DEALER TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. *AK
I BOUGHT THE 2003 CHEVROLET [XXX], LS EXT CAB TRUCK ON 11/13/03 LATE EVENING. THE MILEAGE JUST ONLY 23 MILES. THE INDICATE SHOWING NEED SERVICE, I AM VERY SHOT IT IS BRAND NEW 2 DAYS DROVE TO WORK. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND I DO NOT WANT TO GET THE POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME. THANKS [XXX] *L…
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I BOUGHT THE 2003 CHEVROLET [XXX], LS EXT CAB TRUCK ON 11/13/03 LATE EVENING. THE MILEAGE JUST ONLY 23 MILES. THE INDICATE SHOWING NEED SERVICE, I AM VERY SHOT IT IS BRAND NEW 2 DAYS DROVE TO WORK. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND I DO NOT WANT TO GET THE POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME. THANKS [XXX] *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.