IllustrationHEADLIGHTS DIM WITHOUT WARNING. ON 2 OCCASIONS THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED AND FAILED. THIS REDUCES DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND WENT INTO A DITCH. ALSO, UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR ABRUPTLY.*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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE WINDOW DOWN DRIVER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT SIDE TIRE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. FIRESTONE, ATX, P235/70R15, DOT NUMBER UTDOUA. THE DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. BUT THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK …
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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE WINDOW DOWN DRIVER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT SIDE TIRE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. FIRESTONE, ATX, P235/70R15, DOT NUMBER UTDOUA. THE DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. BUT THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK
IVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH EMISSIONS (SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON,)WASNT FIRING (DEALER SAID COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RADIO DOESNT TURN DOWN ANY MORE WHEN VECHILE SLOWS DOWN DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. ALSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH AUTO-TRANSMISSION ROLLS BACK ON HILL AFTER TAKE FOOT OFF BRAKE, DEALER SAYS COULDNT FIND …
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IVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH EMISSIONS (SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON,)WASNT FIRING (DEALER SAID COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RADIO DOESNT TURN DOWN ANY MORE WHEN VECHILE SLOWS DOWN DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. ALSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH AUTO-TRANSMISSION ROLLS BACK ON HILL AFTER TAKE FOOT OFF BRAKE, DEALER SAYS COULDNT FIND ANY PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAD IT. ALSO REAR VENDER MOLDING HAD TO BE REPLACED CAME AWAY FROM BODY TWICE TO FIX THAT. *AK
TAILGATE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ONE SIDE STAYED ATTATCHED CAUSING TAILGATE TO DRAG. ALSO, ENGINE MAKES HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE BETWEEN 4000-4500 RPMS. ALSO 5TH GEAR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT OWN THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ALSO, MOLDING AROUND FRONT WIND…
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TAILGATE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ONE SIDE STAYED ATTATCHED CAUSING TAILGATE TO DRAG. ALSO, ENGINE MAKES HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE BETWEEN 4000-4500 RPMS. ALSO 5TH GEAR WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. HAVE HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT OWN THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. ALSO, MOLDING AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD LIKES TO MELT.
POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, HESITATION FROM A STOP WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR SHIFTS ERADICALLY, 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGES AFTER ENGAGEING, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INADEQUATE ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE CAUSE IS UNDETERMINED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE'S DOOR SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME WHICH CAUSED AIR TO SEEP THROUGH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE BY ITSELF WITHOUT CONSUMER STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION, AND THAT CONSUMER NEEDED TO STEP HARDER ON THE BRAKES.*AK
ROOF AND PILLARS PRODUCE A BLIND SPOT WHICH IMPAIRS VISION. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP ACCELERATION HESITATES SOMETIMES. *MR THE TRANSMISSION WAS DELAYED WHEN SHIFTING, AT TIMES WHEN HOT, THE GEAR FAILED TO SHIFT TO OVER DRIVE. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB
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.