2003 Chevrolet S10 Tires & wheels Problems

I WAS PULLING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION WHEN SOMETHING "JOLTED" THE VEHICLE AND MADE A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE TRUCK. LOOKING BACK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS LYING IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT IT. I WENT BACK AND PICKED UP THE TIRE. AFTER RETURNING HOME MY FATHER INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SAID THE CABLE HAD BROKEN WHERE THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT HOLDS THE TIRE UP UNDER THE TRUCK BED. THE TIRE IS CUT IN A COUPLE PLACES ON THE SIDEWALLS AND THE BRACKET THAT SHOULD BE ON THE END OF THE CABLE IS MISSING. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT LYING IN THE ROAD AS I JUST GRABBED MY TIRE IN A HURRY BECAUSE MORE TRAFFIC WAS COMING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643394

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

189,900 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (LUCKILY NOT FAST AND WITHOUT TRAFFIC!!) . I FELT A SLIGHT BUMP. FIRST THOUGHT WAS I HIT A POTHOLE OR RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD IN SPITE OF THE FACT I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. NATURALLY, I CHECKED THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND TO MY SURPRISE, SAW A WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHICH I KNOW I DID NOT RUN OVER- NEXT THOUGHT WAS "ITS FROM MY TRUCK! THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY !!". UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE SPARE TIRE RETAINING CABLE HAD RUSTED THRU AND ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO DROP OFF FROM UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. I CALLED CHEVY TO COMPLAIN BUT WAS MET WITH THE ANTICIPATED RESISTANCE TO WARRANTY REPAIR. I SUGGESTED TO MY WIFE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO DRIVE BEHIND ANY CHEVY S10 TRUCKS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10568294

Incident

Feb 12, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, AN A METALLIC CLANK WAS AUDIBLE. LOOKING BACK THE SPARE TIRE LAY ON THE ROAD. RETURNING TO THE SPARE TIRE, IT THE KEEPER AND THE END OF CABLE WERE RECOVERED. THE CABLE HAD BROKEN AT THE CABLE STOP RESULTING IN A SINGLE PART FAILURE INCIDENT. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SHORTLY BEFORE THIS AS I DROVE TO THIS LOCATION ON THE FREEWAY, SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES WERE PROBABLE. THIS TIRE HOIST MECHANISM WAS ONLY RAISED INTO PLACE WITH BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10531502

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

UPON PERSONAL INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE I DISCOVERED MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND THE CABLE HAD SNAPPED DUE TO CABLE FRAYING OR CORROSION. THE EXACT TIME AND SPEED OF THIS FAILURE IS UNKNOWN BUT THE DANGER COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS A: THE TIRE COULD POSE A HAZARD TO TRAFFIC BEHIND THE VEHICLE. B: THE TIRE COULD ROLL INTO LANES OF TRAFFIC OR PEDESTRIANS. C: THE TIRE COULD FALL AT SUCH AN ANGLE TO LIFT AND DEFLECT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF CONTROL. D: THE OPERATOR COULD FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503416

Incident

Mar 17, 2013

Mileage

137,209 mi

CABLE RUSTED UNDERNEATH TRUCK, SPARE TIRE CAME OFF, CAUSED TRAFFIC TIE-P. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492917

Incident

Jan 11, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S-10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE FRACTURED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DETACH. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE CABLE BY ADDING A CLAMP AND BOLT TO THE CABLE TO HOLD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 05/11/12 *BF UPDATED 06/01/12

NHTSA ID

10454482

Incident

Apr 13, 2009

Mileage

31,000 mi

ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES HAVE HAD LEAKS SINCE NEW. HAD THEM CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I THINK THAT MY TIGER PAWS ARE DEFECTIVE AND MAYBE DANGEROUS TO KEEP USING. I ONLY HAVE 32,000 MILES ON THEM. ALSO THEY HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325593

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY S10 THE ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE DISENGAGED WHEN THE CABLE SNAPPED. THE TIRE BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE REAR BUMPER CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED DESPITE THE TIRE BOUNCING ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DOWN A SIDE STREET WHERE IT CAME TO REST AGAINST A CURB. THE "PRIORITY" DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS IS THE 3RD CASE I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN MY AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236713

Incident

Nov 15, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR ON TOP OF THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED- ACTUATOR IS VACUUM ACTUATED AND WHEN IT FAILED IT ALLOWED TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE VACUUM SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT. BUT THE WORST PROBLEM IS THAT THE FLUID CAUSED THE HEATER CONTROLS, ALSO VACUUM ACTIVATED, NOT TO WORK PROPERLY SO THAT THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFOGGED OR DEFROSTED, WHICH IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT G.M. REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ACTUATORS (5), THE VACUUM TANK, THE VACUUM LINES AND THE HEATER CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207596

Incident

Oct 20, 2007

Mileage

81,370 mi

POINT 1. - EVENTS WERE UN-NOTICED SIDEWALL "DRY-ROTTING" OF THE GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P235/75R15 TIRES FOR 21000 MILES.....THESES TIRES WERE 'ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT' ON A NEW 2003 CHEVY S-10 CREW CAB 4WD TRUCK. THE "FAILED" TIRE WAS ON THE FRONT, DRIVERS SIDE. SIMPLE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 MPH (RT.1 N., DELAWARE), DRY CONDITIONS, 65 - 70 DEGREES TEMPERATURE. TIRES WERE RELIGIOUSLY 'ROTATED' AT 6500 - 7500 MILES. POINT 2. - TIRE LOST AIR, EVENTUAL "FLAT" DURING 60 MPH HIGHWAY DRIVE. THERE WAS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF "PULLING" INVOLVED. ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO ME BY A "PASSING" DRIVER, UPON WHICH TIME I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. POINT 3. - CHANGED THE "FAILED" TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE (SAME MODEL), EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE "SUSPECT" TIRE WITH A NEW SAME MODEL (ERGO, TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT).INSPECTED THE THREE OTHER ORIGINAL TIRES AND NOTICED "DRY ROT" ON ALL TIRES RANGING FROM MEDIUM 'BAD' TO JUST-AS-'BAD' AS THE FAILED TIRE. GOODYEAR PERSONNEL ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME THAT THEY SEE THIS 'DRY-ROTTING' QUITE OFTEN ON THESE TIRES. OLD TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION...THERE IS NO "ROAD HAZARD" INVOLVED...THE 'LEAKS' ARE DEFINITELY FROM THE "DRY ROTTED" SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALL CLOSE TO THE THREAD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS TIRE...I KEEP REMEMBERING BRIDGESTONE AND FORD EXPLORER FROM A FEW YEARS AGO!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10186625

Incident

Mar 22, 2007

Mileage

21,245 mi

2003 CHEVROLET S-10 ZR2'S FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISS. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CRUISE CONTROL AND TRIM. THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED ONCE WHILE DRIVING. THE TAILGATE HAD TO BE ADJUSTED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167969

Incident

Jun 11, 2004

4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH-IN 35 DAYS. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS. CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM WILL NOT DIS-ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE LOW. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T SOLVE IT. THE DEALER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ENCODER ACTUATOR MOTOR AND THE MODULAR 2-3 TIMES ALREADY AND ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE IS BACK IN THE SHOP, NEEDING ANOTHER MODULAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110548

Incident

Feb 11, 2005

Mileage

32,498 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10046351

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10039420

Incident

Aug 28, 2003

Mileage

500 mi

THE VEHICLES ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY AND RESULTED IN "WOBBLING" WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THEM FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS (UNIROYAL P205/75R15, 1,000 MILES ON TIRES). *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015238

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT AT THE SIDEWALL. TIRE INFO: GOODYEAR P235/75R15 DOT NO. MD111TBDR2002 PH

NHTSA ID

10005885

Incident

Jan 23, 2003

Mileage

7,500 mi