2002 Chevrolet S10

Typical pattern

14.1% of complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet S10 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (72 complaints), typically at 4.1 yr or about 52,634 miles.

Complaints: 234
Median age at failure: 3.9 yr
Median mileage: 45,500 n=156
Crash / fire / tow: 12.8% of reports
Safety recalls: 3

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11

Exterior lighting:headlights

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 STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E065000 2006-07-17

Exterior lighting

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. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29

Exterior lighting

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. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 6 mo in service

VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR 2 AND GEAR 4 WHILE DRIVING, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER CUT RUBBER BOOT AROUND FLOORSHIFT DOWN TO CORRECT THE DEFECT; BUT, IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Power train mileage not reported 8 mo in service

AT 35MPH AXLE SNAPPED., CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Power train mileage not reported 9 mo in service

AT 90 DEGREES OR ABOVE THE VEHICLE WILL , AT TIMES, LOSE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION MAKING ENTERING TRAFFIC A SAFETY HAZARD. ENGINE RPM'S ARE ADEQUATE BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS AND ACCELERATE. DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN ENTERING HEAFY TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CANNOT ASSIST DEALER IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. DEALER EXPERIANCED THIS PROBLEM IN A TEST DRIVE BUT COULD NOT REPAIR AT THIS TIME.*AK

Structure mileage not reported 4 mo in service

ON PASSENGER SIDE WATER IS LEAKING FROM TOP CORNER OF WINDSHIELD INTO VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Other S10 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2002 Chevrolet S10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other S10 model years

How to read this