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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Steering complaints

6 reports
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130,000 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, ALL THE VEHICLE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, ALL THE VEHICLE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10673073

1,100 miles · Feb 27, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 15800 MILES. THE CONTACT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT 1100 MILES WHEN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. IN AUGUST O 2003 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DON HALL CHEVROLET OF ASHLAND KENTUCKY, AND THE SERVICE PERSONNEL DETERMINED THAT TH…

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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10 WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 15800 MILES. THE CONTACT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT 1100 MILES WHEN THE BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. IN AUGUST O 2003 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DON HALL CHEVROLET OF ASHLAND KENTUCKY, AND THE SERVICE PERSONNEL DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE FACTORY ROTORS, THUS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO MAKE A V LOUD NOISE. THE ROTORS WERE TURNED AND NEW BRAKE PADS WERE INSTALLED. THREE DAYS LATER THE NOISE CONTINUED. A MECHANIC INSTALLED WAGNER BRAKE PADS. THE MANUFACTURER'S PADS INSTALLED AT THE DEALER WERE NOT AS EFFICIENT. AT 11, 000 MILES THE BRAKE PEDAL RATTLED WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT MCFARLAND MURRAY CHEVORLET DEALERSHIP OF GRAYSON KENTUCKY REMOVED THE DASHBORAD, AND REPLACED THE BUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ,AND THE BUSHING WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY INSTALLATION. TWO YEARS LATER THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE BUSHING. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THE REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY FROM FACTORY AND IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED. FINALLY POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. THE COOLER LINE WAS LEAKING, THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/30/07. *UB

NHTSA ODI #10183678

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2004
SteeringStructure

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DRIVER 'S SIDE DOOR SHEARED OFF, AND WAS HANGING BY THE TOP BOLT. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE OR TURN ON ITS OWN. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TAILGATE CABLES SH…

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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM FRONT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. DRIVER 'S SIDE DOOR SHEARED OFF, AND WAS HANGING BY THE TOP BOLT. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE OR TURN ON ITS OWN. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TAILGATE CABLES SHEARED OFF WHILE PLACING HEAVY EQUIPMENT ON TOP OF IT. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER 'S SIDE. ALSO, STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TAILGATE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *AK ENGINE WAS BACKFIRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101314

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2004
Steering

LTR FM [XXX] (MO) RE POOR QUALITY ASSURANCE ON THE PART OF GM CHEVROLET DIVISION BOTH HIS 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP & HIS 2004 SILVERADO WERE DEFECTIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE A WEEK WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE IDLE ARM OR ROCKER ARM (THE BAR THAT CONNECTS THE TIRE TO THE AXLE) HAD NOT BEEN CONNECTED AT TH…

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LTR FM [XXX] (MO) RE POOR QUALITY ASSURANCE ON THE PART OF GM CHEVROLET DIVISION BOTH HIS 2003 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP & HIS 2004 SILVERADO WERE DEFECTIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE A WEEK WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE IDLE ARM OR ROCKER ARM (THE BAR THAT CONNECTS THE TIRE TO THE AXLE) HAD NOT BEEN CONNECTED AT THE FACTORY. ONE SIDE WAS CONNECTED TO THE TIRE BUT THE OPPOSITE END WAS JUST SITTING ON THE AXLE, NOT CONNECTED. THE CONSUMER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SO DECIDED TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THE NEW VEHICLE WAS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO FULL SIZE. THIS VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT ABOVE 50 MPH THE PULLING WAS WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT END WAS NOR ALIGNED NOR WAS THE STEERING COLUMN CONNECTED. *NM 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10081444

2,000 miles · Mar 18, 2004
Steering

VEHICLE HAS IMPROPER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL SWAYS, EVEN IF VEHICLE IS GOING STRAIGHT. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE GEAR BOX, AND OTHER STEERING COMPONENTS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063452

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2004
SteeringCrash

ILDLER ARM WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED AT FACTORY. WAS ATTACHED TO WHEEL, BUT NOT ATTACHED TO AXLE--WAS JUST LAYING ON AXLE. I BLAME THE GM FACTORY--QUALITY CONTROL-- NOT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10062131

Official recalls

1

04V132000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.