2003 Chevrolet S10 Airbags Problems

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

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

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

LIGHT FOR AIR BAGS READS THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING. MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS TO GO INTO THE COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. IT IS A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON WHILE VEHICLE RUNNING.

NHTSA ID

11092239

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HOMETOWN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC INC, 2009 BARNES ST, REIDSVILLE, NC, 27320) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT COULD BE ONE OUT OF TWO FAILURES: AN AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR OR SOMETHING BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS INCOMPLETE UNTIL THE VEHICLE COULD BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11031513

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S-10. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND PRODUCED CODE B0036 (AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR). THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10860057

Incident

Apr 17, 2016

Mileage

124,000 mi

I WAS GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION,WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT AT A HIGH SPEED. THE VEHICLE HIT THE FRONT CENTER OF MY BUMPER AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. I WAS HEADED SOUTH,AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS HEADED WEST,WHEN IT HIT ME. IT TURNED ME INTO THE WESTWARD DIRECTION. WHEN I CAME TO, MY HEAD WAS HANGING OUT THE WINDOW AND MY SON(WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT )WAS ON TOP OF ME. HE WAS THROWN ACROSS THE CONSOLE,OUR SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ER BY AMBULANCE. IF NEED BE I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE...UPDATED 09-03-14 *BF UPDATED 09/10/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10606586

Incident

Oct 13, 2013

Mileage

130,267 mi

AT 37000 MILES MY S-10 PICKUP STARTED DISPLAYING A AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE LIGHT IS NOT CONSTANT AND APPEARS MORE ON WARM DAYS. BEING CONCERNED I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM OM THE INTERNET. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF GM VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM TO SEE IF THIS WAS A WARRANTY OR RECALL ISSUE AND THEY STATED NO. WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AS LONG AS THE WARNING LIGHT IS BEING DISPLAYED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. ANOTHER PROBLEM GM JUST IGNORES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593848

Incident

Feb 16, 2011

Mileage

37,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A PATCH OF WET GRASS AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, STRUCK A TREE, AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN RIBS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 07/22/08 *BF UPDATED 07/24/08

NHTSA ID

10232485

Incident

Jun 25, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S-10. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE CRASH DID NOT OCCUR ON AN AIR BAG SENSOR; HOWEVER, THEY FELT THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE STILL DEPLOYED DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A STRAINED NECK, BRUISED AND SWOLLEN LARYNX, BRUISED MUSCLES, AND A HERNIATED DISK DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10207262

Incident

Oct 25, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2005 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NEITHER THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER NOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACTS VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23672. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED A POLICE REPORT FROM THE ACCIDENT AND THE INVOICES FOR THE DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. UPDATE 4/23/07*TR

NHTSA ID

10184860

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

23,672 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN THE BROOKLYN BATTERY TUNNEL ON 8/23/05. THE FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE HIT INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR. HIS AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH HE DID HAVE HIS SEAT BELT ON, HIS HEAD DID BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. GEICO CAR INSURANCE TOTALED THE VEHICLE. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136827

Incident

Aug 23, 2005

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP TRUCK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 75 GOING SOUTH AROUND EXIT FOR 9 MILE ROAD. HE MET WITH AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT A JEEP CHEROKEE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED BY MICHIGAN STATE POLICE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TOTALED IT. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS VERY BADLY DAMAGED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT BOTH THE AIRBAGS OF THE TRUCK DID NOT ENGAGE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE OFFICER AND MY INSURANCE INSPECTOR SAID THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED. I CALLED GM AND FILED A COMPLAINT ON 07-14-2003. COMPLAINT NUMBER 1-118887130. WAS CALLED BY MIKE DIMARE OF THE GM CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS CENTER. HE REQUESTED ME TO FAX THE REPAIR ESTIMATE AND THE PHOTOS TO HIM WHICH WAS DONE ON 07-17-2003. JUST WANTED TO LET YOUR OFFICES KNOW THAT THIS INCIDENCE HAS SCARED MY 16 YEAR SON SO MUCH THAT HE DOES NOT WANT TO GET IN A GM VEHICLE AT ALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10028566

Incident

Jul 12, 2003

Mileage

36,442 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION. CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026724

Incident

Jun 15, 2003