Illustration2002 CHEVROLET S-10 TAILGATE CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. ONE OF THEM BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTION THE OTHER CABLE WAS FAULTY AND LIKELY TO BREAK ALSO. *AK SINCE I WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE AT THE TIME, I WAS LUCKY TO AVOID INJURY WHEN THE CABLE BROKE.
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 TRUCK WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A LARGE TREE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS HIT IN CENTER OF BUMPER WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO PUSH ENGINE INTO BULKHEAD AND DISTORTING DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MY FATHER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORTED HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. OUR CONCERN WAS …
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THE TRUCK WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A LARGE TREE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS HIT IN CENTER OF BUMPER WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO PUSH ENGINE INTO BULKHEAD AND DISTORTING DASHBOARD AND INTERIOR. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MY FATHER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORTED HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. OUR CONCERN WAS WHY WASN'T THE AIR BAD DEPLOYED DURING CRASH. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY BEFORE THE CRASH. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 ZR2. IT HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, IT WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED TO HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND BROKEN WELDS, MOSTLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AT THIS POINT GM HAS OFFERED A 70/30 SPLIT ON REPAIRS, WHICH WE RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. NOW THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN …
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I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 ZR2. IT HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE FRONT END, IT WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED TO HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS AND BROKEN WELDS, MOSTLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AT THIS POINT GM HAS OFFERED A 70/30 SPLIT ON REPAIRS, WHICH WE RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. NOW THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN HAPHAZARDLY REPAIRED BY A DIFFERENT DEALER, BECAUSE THE DEALER THAT WE PURCHASED IT FROM REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT, WE FEEL THAT IT IS STILL A SAFETY HAZARD AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED CORRECTLY. WE WANT PROPER REPAIRS FOR OUR VEHICLE, BUT ,TO ALSO ALERT OTHERS THAT THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS WITH THE ZR2 FRAMES. THE ORIGINAL FRAME IS STILL IN THE POSSESSION OF TURNPIKE CHEVROLET IN NITRO, WV. *JB
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 22,000 . ON FEBRUARY 13, 2007 H THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A DRY DAY WHEN A VEHICLE GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HIT HIM IN THE REAR , CAUSING THE CONTACTS VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. UPON I…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 22,000 . ON FEBRUARY 13, 2007 H THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A DRY DAY WHEN A VEHICLE GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HIT HIM IN THE REAR , CAUSING THE CONTACTS VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE. UPDATED 05/08/07. *JB
THIRD DOOR ON MY 2002 CHEVY S10 PICKUP WILL NOT OPEN, IT WAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, AND ONCE AGAIN I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN THIS DOOR WITHOUT EXTREME DIFFICULTY. SHOULD I NEED EASY ACCESS IT WOULD NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ACCESS QUICKLY. *JB
BROKEN FUEL LINE BELOW DRIVERS SEAT. WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, I REACHED INSIDE AND STARTED THE IGNITION, AFTER WHICH I SAW AN APPROACHING FLUID COMING TOWARD MY FEET. WHILE WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM-UP, I LOADED THE VEHICLE WITH SOME PERSONAL ITEMS (LUNCH BAG, COFFEE) AND THEN GOT INSIDE, CLOSED THE DOOR AND …
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BROKEN FUEL LINE BELOW DRIVERS SEAT. WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, I REACHED INSIDE AND STARTED THE IGNITION, AFTER WHICH I SAW AN APPROACHING FLUID COMING TOWARD MY FEET. WHILE WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM-UP, I LOADED THE VEHICLE WITH SOME PERSONAL ITEMS (LUNCH BAG, COFFEE) AND THEN GOT INSIDE, CLOSED THE DOOR AND CONTINUED TO LET THE ENGINE WARM-UP. I ASKED MY PASSENGER IF THEY TOO COULD SMELL GASOLINE. WE BOTH AGREED THAT THE SMELL WAS EXTREMELY STRONG AT WHICH TIME I OPENED THE DOOR TO CHECK THE SOURCE. I SAW THAT THE APPROACHING FLUID I HAD SEEN ON THE GROUND EARLIER WAS NOW BEING PUMPED OUT AT A GREAT RATE AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND TOLD MY PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO A BROKEN FUEL LINE. THERE HAS BEEN NO WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. NOBODY HAS TOUCHED THE TRUCK AND I AM NOT AWARE OF THIS BEING AN EARLIER PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE CHOSE TO DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS DEFECT!!! THANK GOD WE WEREN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS AS SOON AS I GET HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT. * UPDATE: IN ORDER TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT, I NEEDED THE VIN NUMBER... SO I CALLED MY NEIGHBOR AND HE WENT TO GO GET IT AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING GASOLINE. I WILL PROBABLY BE LEAVING WORK TO SECURE THE SITUATION. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO CORROSION. THE ROTORS WERE FIRST REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE ROTORS FR…
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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2002 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO CORROSION. THE ROTORS WERE FIRST REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WOULD NO LONGER REPLACE THE ROTORS FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENT USE OF SALT ON THE ROADS IN THE CONTACT'S AREA, THE CORROSION WAS TO BE EXPECTED. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB
IN 2003 WITH 17600 MILES THE REACTION SUN SHELL BROKE IN MY 2002 CHEVY S10 PICKUP. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ON JANUARY 27 2007 WITH 56000 MILES THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE PART IS STILL IN THE TRUCK. *NM
3 TIMES MY 3RD DOOR LATCH HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2002 S10 PICKUP. *JB
2002 CHEVROLET S10. 60,480 MILES. MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2WD. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS WORKING NEAR THE TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP, SAME AS WHEN MANUALLY RELEASING THE BRAKE. I LOOKED UP AND THE TRUCK WAS ROLLING. I JUMPED IN A APPLIED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES TO STOP TH…
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2002 CHEVROLET S10. 60,480 MILES. MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2WD. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS WORKING NEAR THE TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP, SAME AS WHEN MANUALLY RELEASING THE BRAKE. I LOOKED UP AND THE TRUCK WAS ROLLING. I JUMPED IN A APPLIED THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES TO STOP THE TRUCK. PARKING BRAKE PEDAL IS TOTALLY WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. SOMETHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. *NM
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.