EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2003 Chevrolet S10
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 178 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet S10, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 409 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 88 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 89 |
| Dec 2007 | 2 | 91 |
| Jan 2008 | 2 | 93 |
| Feb 2008 | 2 | 95 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 96 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 97 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 98 |
| Jun 2008 | 2 | 100 |
| Aug 2008 | 3 | 103 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 104 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 105 |
| Jan 2009 | 4 | 109 |
| Apr 2009 | 2 | 111 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 112 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 113 |
| Dec 2009 | 2 | 115 |
| Mar 2010 | 2 | 117 |
| Apr 2010 | 3 | 120 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 121 |
| Jul 2010 | 2 | 123 |
| Aug 2010 | 3 | 126 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 127 |
| Jan 2011 | 5 | 132 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 133 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 134 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 135 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 136 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 137 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 138 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 139 |
| Sep 2012 | 3 | 142 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 143 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 144 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 145 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 146 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 147 |
| Oct 2013 | 2 | 149 |
| Nov 2013 | 1 | 150 |
| Mar 2014 | 2 | 152 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 153 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 154 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 156 |
| Oct 2014 | 2 | 158 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 159 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 160 |
| Mar 2015 | 2 | 162 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 163 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 164 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 165 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 166 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 167 |
| Oct 2017 | 2 | 169 |
| May 2018 | 1 | 170 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 171 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 172 |
| Jun 2019 | 2 | 174 |
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 175 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 176 |
| Oct 2021 | 2 | 178 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes3917.8%
- Body & structure3013.7%
- Engine177.8%
- Tires & wheels167.3%
- Airbags156.8%
- Electrical156.8%
- Visibility156.8%
- Fuel system146.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet S 10. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, another vehicle T-boned his vehicle at a high rate of speed. The contact stated that the air bag did not deploy and the contact hit his head on the windshield. The contact was taken from the scene to a local hospital where they initially ran a test and found no injuries on his body. The contact stated that his head remained in pain and went back to the hospital the next day. The next day, the contact was informed that a blood clot was discovered near his brain, and was transferred to another hospital for surgery. The contact was sent to outpatient rehabilitation once he was released from the hospital. The contact stated that the other driver did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was deemed a total loss and his insurance had taken possession of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11437516
- Incident
- Jun 19, 2021
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
Twice now while lightly applying brakes to come to a stop at an intersection the antilock brake system engaged. Since it was unexpected I almost didn't come to a stop in time before rolling into the intersection into traffic. The ABS warning indicator was illuminated intermittently before this with recorded DTC C0268 (Pump motor circuit shorted). Also the transfer case input shaft seal failed which caused transmission fluid to leak into the transfer case, completely filling it. That caused the transfer case vacuum switch to fail and transmission fluid was sucked into the vacuum lines and eat through them causing a vacuum leak. Because of the vacuum leak, whenever I would accelerate to highway speeds and the engine would use what vacuum it could, the 4WD actuator would lose its vacuum then regain it when the RPM's dropped and try to lock the front axle while at highway speeds which would cause the truck to jerk and the gears to grind. And lastly the Airbag warning indicator is always illuminated for reasons I do not know.
- NHTSA ID
- 11437098
- Incident
- Apr 14, 2021
2003 Chevy S10 has been maintained and taking care of. Brakes in rear were sticking due to factory defective ABS control module. Rear wheel bearing gave out and started leaking axle fluid cause of a sticking drivers side brake from ABS control module malfunctioning. After much cost of replacing calipers and brake pads the culprit from a defectively ABS control module making the brake caliper stick to the rotor.. Next the coolant leaks from the intake manifold gasket and now the heater core leaks… this truck has only 146k miles on it and I always taking care of it keeping up before it’s schedule maintenance. But what I see is poor defective parts from GM. SO I have to make sure I get this work done and keep the coolant filled or there be a motor issue from overheating. This is a SAFETY concern and if the heater core leaks then breathing the toxic coolants isn’t safe at all when the AC is on or no heat in winter!. Now GM discontinued making the S10 in North America but redesigned a front wheel drive diesel version in South America.
- NHTSA ID
- 11430001
- Incident
- Aug 21, 2021
TRUCK WAS PURCHASED 7/7/20. SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT STARTED NOTICING ENGINE TROUBLE ON 9/10/20. HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT ~150 MILES SINCE PURCHASE, NEVER ANY STRENUOUS DRIVING. TOOK IT IN TO GET SERVICED ON 9/21/20, WHERE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE SPOTTED, ONE OF WHICH IS TRACEABLE TO THE DEALER: 1) THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP WAS BEING HELD ON ONLY BY TWO ZIPTIES. THIS IS WHY IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE, BUT CAUSED ENGINE MISFIRES WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF LIGHT USE. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THE DAY BEFORE I PURCHASED IT THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS BEING FIXED, BUT THEY FAILED TO NOTIFY ME THAT IT WASN'T FIXED PROPERLY. TRUCK NOW MISFIRES, HAS AN ARCING WIRE, AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. 2)TRUCK WAS SOLD WITH NO PARKING BRAKE, AND NO WARNING THAT IT WAS NOT INSTALLED. THIS INFORMATION HAS OMITTED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES BEFORE PURCHASING. NEVER NOTICED BECAUSE PHX IS SO FLAT. HAD I NEEDED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE, NOT HAVING ONE INSTALLED IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. 3) AN IMPACT SENSOR WAS LEFT HANGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A LARGE ENOUGH BUMP OR A ROCK COULD SET OFF AIRBAGS WHILE DRIVING, PUTTING MY PASSENGERS, MYSELF, AND OTHER DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS AT SERIOUS RISK. THIS TRUCK IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT MADE IT UNSAFE. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS CAUSED BY A BAD REPAIR MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE OTHER TWO NOTED ISSUES WERE NOT NOTED IN THE CARFAX OR BY THE SALESPERSON WHEN I ASKED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11360475
- Incident
- Sep 21, 2020
- Mileage
- 133,998 mi
THIS IS SECOND VEHICLE OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. WE HAVE TWO 2003 CHEVROLET S-10S WHERE THE WIPERS STOP WORKING DURING RAIN. IN MOST CASES DURING HEAVY RAINS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. VEHICLE HAS TO BE PULLED OVER AND THE HOOD HAS TO BE RAISED TO TAP THE MOTOR TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11221496
- Incident
- Apr 19, 2019
- Mileage
- 167,000 mi
WE OWN 2-2003 S-10S SAME YEAR MODELS AND COLOR. THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT ARE THE MOTORS. BOTH HAVE BEEN HAVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OUT WHILE IN A HEAVY RAINSTORMS AND ON BUSY INTERSTATES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11221490
- Incident
- May 3, 2019
- Mileage
- 187,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT REACHED DOWN TO ACCESS AN ITEM AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE OFFICERS ALSO WONDERED WHY THE AIR BAGS HAD NOT DEPLOYED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BRUISING, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE SEAT BELT MANAGED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER SECURELY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A YARD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY AIR BAG RECALLS FOR THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE AIR BAG TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,048.
- NHTSA ID
- 11176516
- Incident
- Feb 7, 2019
- Mileage
- 100,048 mi
THE TRUCK WAS OCCASIONALLY NOT TURNING OVER. TRIED THINGS LIKE TURNING FAN ON, RADIO, ETC AND IT WOULD START. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON OR WILL BLINK. TRUCK NOW IS NOT TURNING OVER AT ALL. DASH LIGHTS BLINK AND OR COME ON WHEN DOOR OPENS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I'VE SEEN ALL OVER INTERNET, BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. I AM PAYING FOR A DEAD TRUCK NOW. TRUCK WAS STATIONARY-WON'T START.
- NHTSA ID
- 11112131
- Incident
- Jul 17, 2018
- Mileage
- 70,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 2003Viewing | 178 | 4 | 0 | 51.0 |
| 2002 | 213 | 3 | 2 | 59.6 |
| 2001 | 308 | 5 | 3 | 61.9 |
| 2000 | 471 | 9 | 3 | 64.5 |
| 1999 | 231 | 5 | 3 | 63.5 |
| 1998 | 613 | 11 | 3 | 63.9 |
| 1997 | 469 | 8 | 4 | 65.2 |
| 1996 | 668 | 10 | 4 | 66.4 |
| 1995 | 911 | 8 | 6 | 68.8 |
| 1994 | 967 | 8 | 5 | 66.9 |
| 1993 | 233 | 6 | 5 | 69.3 |
| 1992 | 180 | 6 | 5 | 69.5 |
| 1991 | 174 | 9 | 7 | 68.1 |
| 1990 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 63.7 |
| 1989 | 48 | 5 | 5 | 64.0 |
| 1988 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 60.3 |
| 1987 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 61.5 |
| 1986 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 64.3 |
| 1985 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 69.7 |
| 1984 | 8 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.