MYRModel Year Report

2003 Chevrolet S10

▲ Better than typical
2003 Chevrolet S10
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:54:08.939Z

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
178
Recalls
4

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Service brakes

22% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2003 178 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1987 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1991 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1995 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 1999 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2003 178 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 11 complaints 1985 1986: 22 complaints 1987: 27 complaints 1987 1988: 38 complaints 1989: 49 complaints 1989 1990: 29 complaints 1991: 174 complaints 1991 1992: 180 complaints 1993: 233 complaints 1993 1994: 963 complaints 1995: 910 complaints 1995 1996: 665 complaints 1997: 469 complaints 1997 1998: 613 complaints 1999: 231 complaints 1999 2000: 471 complaints 2001: 308 complaints 2001 2002: 214 complaints 2003: 178 complaints 2003 178 2004: 21 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 1 complaint 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2016: 1 complaint 2017: 1 complaint 2017 2018: 3 complaints

2003: 178 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19822
19837
19848
198511
198622
198727
198838
198949
199029
1991174
1992180
1993233
1994963
1995910
1996665
1997469
1998613
1999231
2000471
2001308
2002214
2003178
200421
20050
20061
20070
20161
20171
20183

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

22% · 39 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet S10. The contact was approaching a traffic stop when he applied the brakes and the vehicle failed to respond.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-10-17

Structure

18% · 32 reports

Most commonly citing hinge and attachments and door.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

11% · 19 reports

Most commonly citing transfer case (4-wheel drive) and automatic transmission.

CRASH

Electrical system

8% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing wiring and instrument cluster/panel.

CRASH

Air bags

8% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-10-20

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-02-12

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-06-27

Also filed under Seat belts

Safety timeline

4 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2004-06-04Equipment04V132000 Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant crash protection."

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Chevrolet S10 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 39 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 32 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 19 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V132000 · Equipment
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Chevrolet S10 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Chevrolet S10 is rated "better than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet S10?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet S10 have?
4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.