IllustrationDRIVERS SIDE DOOR LEAKS WATER AND AIR. BAD WIND NOISE. *AK
2002 Chevrolet S10
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S10 years
Owner complaints for the 2002 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
350–25K
3925–50K
3250–75K
1675–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
139 reports with mileage · 75 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 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 21 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.
17 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
214 reportsTHE FRAME IS BENT. THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT A WEEK AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. CHEVROLET, S10, BLAZER EXTREME 2002. *AK
MY FINGERS WERE BURNNED WHEN I TOUCHED THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL OF THE ASH TRAY IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. LATER ON I FIGURED OUT IT'S A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AT NIGHT, THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT INSIDE THE ASH TRAY HEATS THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL TO EXTREMELY HOT, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL…
Read full complaint
MY FINGERS WERE BURNNED WHEN I TOUCHED THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL OF THE ASH TRAY IN MY 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. LATER ON I FIGURED OUT IT'S A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AT NIGHT, THE ILLUMINATING LIGHT INSIDE THE ASH TRAY HEATS THE INSIDE RIGHT-SIDE WALL TO EXTREMELY HOT, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FIRE. TO PREVENT THE BAD THING HAPPENS, I KEEP THE ASH TRAY OPENED TO LET HEAT DISSIPATE OUT.*AK
AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED WHEN MY 2002 CHEVY XTREME S10 WAS HIT ON LEFT FRONT SIDE AND FRONT END. *JB
CAR IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT MISFIRES IN HIGHER SPEED CONDITIONS. CHEVY EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND 2 DEALERS (O'CONNOR & BOB JOHNSON IN NY) REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE AFTER THEIR 4TH ATTEMPT FAILED TO CURE THE PROBLEM. 2 INDEPENDENT SHOPS VERIFIED PROBLEM. CHEVY EXECUTIVE OFFICE (MS. MANN) REFUSED TO CALL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR AN…
Read full complaint
CAR IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT MISFIRES IN HIGHER SPEED CONDITIONS. CHEVY EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND 2 DEALERS (O'CONNOR & BOB JOHNSON IN NY) REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE AFTER THEIR 4TH ATTEMPT FAILED TO CURE THE PROBLEM. 2 INDEPENDENT SHOPS VERIFIED PROBLEM. CHEVY EXECUTIVE OFFICE (MS. MANN) REFUSED TO CALL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR ANY INFORMATION EVEN THOUGH THIS WOULD HAVE HELPED WITH DIAGNOSIS. CAR IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD WITH LESS THAN 4200 MILES. *JB
LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA DURING SUDDEN STOPS OR ACCELERATIONS. ALSO DURING NORMAL STOPS AND NORMAL ACCELERATION. NOISE CONTINUES TO PRESENT TIME. *NLM
IF LARGE TIRES ARE PLACED ON THE REAR AND SMALLER TIRES PLACED ON THE FRONT, THE YELLOW AND RED ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT A WARNING STICKER SHOULD STATE THIS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SERVICE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT PLACED THE TIRES ON REGARDLESS. MR SCC *JB
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE UNTIL PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK-CANNOT DO THAT IF SOMEONE IS IN THE 3RD SEAT. *NLM
THE THIRD LATCH BROKE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB AFTER BEING FIXED THE DOOR OPENED, BUT WILL NOT OPEN OR RELEASE AT THE BOTTOM CATCH. SCC
THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS.*JB. CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN HE TRIED TO GET BACK IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT.*JB *NLM
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables
Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.
RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break
Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.