Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2003 Chevrolet S10: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Chevrolet S10, most recently filed March 2004. Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Chevrolet S10. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2003 Chevrolet S10. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 04V132000 Filed Mar 18, 2004

GM/FMVSS 208/SIR CAUTION LABEL

Equipment · other · labels
Official NHTSA text
Summary
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
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.
Repair progress not yet reported183,922 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 04V132000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (178)

178 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.

16involved a crash
1involved a fire
12injuries reported
1deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet S10, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 178.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2003 compares with other S10 years

Best and worst S10 years →
1999200020012002200320042006201620172018
This year (2003)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2003 S10 for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All S10 years

Where to next

2003 Chevrolet S10 FAQ

How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet S10 have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 04V132000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2003 Chevrolet S10 problems?

Owners filed 178 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (37), Structure (30), Power train (17) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

How does the 2003 S10 compare with other years?

Among the 1999–2018 Chevrolet S10 model years at least five years old, the 2006 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2000 the most (471). The 2003 drew 178. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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