2003 Chevrolet S10 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
230 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Chevrolet S10, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 16/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 54,252 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2003 Chevrolet S10 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2003 sits among all S10 years
What owners report
“2003 s-10 pick-up truck.abs brakes engage when brakes applied at 10mph causing vehicle to swerve to the right and wheels locking.this caused increased stopping distance and almost being rear ended by the vehicle behind me.was unable to drive the vehicle in traffic conditions to the engagment of the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 S10
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 163 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 54,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 23,000 and 90,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Fix: 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.
Technical service bulletins
409 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2003 Chevrolet S10. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
The 2003 Chevrolet S10 drew 230 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 16/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 2003 Chevrolet S10 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Chevrolet S10 are brakes & stability (39 complaints), body & structure (32), and transmission & drivetrain (19).
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet S10 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Chevrolet S10 problems around 54,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 23,000 and 90,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Chevrolet S10 have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Chevrolet S10. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.