Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chevrolet S10 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My dad purchased my truck from the church secretary where he attended in March of 2015. At the time of purchase it only had 66,000 miles on it. The secretary's father owned it and used it from new until 6 months before we purchased it and only used it to help feed his cows. 1. Window washer motor circuit 2. Seatbelt need's stitched 3. The overload sticker is wrong Came in after we purchased the truck but my dad was sick and he passed away 3/8/2016 Coated brake rotor & hub assembly (86757CR)x2 Tie rod end (NCD 2693017)x2 Ball joint front lower (NCD 2601130)x2 Tie rod end control arm front left (NCD 2605330) Tie rod end control arm and ball joint front right upper (NCP 2605329) Tie rod adjusting sleeve front (NCD 2691109)x2 Idler arm assembly (NCD 2683654) Tie rod End outer (NCD 2683267)x2 Steering center link (NCD 2721591) TOO MUCH NOISE AND WHEN MAKING A PARKING LOT TURN IT FELT AND …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet S10. While driving 26 MPH around an s curve, the brakes pedal was applied, but seized. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment and creek. The air bags did not deploy. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and sustained neck, nose, and eye injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The cause of the failures was not determined. The failure mileage was 230,000.
Driving normally, pressed the brake pedal and it went to the floor; fortunately, I was close to home and no traffic that I managed to roll slowly home. Rusty brake lines causing brake fluid to leak by driver side door. Tried brakes again- totally not functional. Ironically read article about GM's problem with rusty break lines in their older model trucks. Making it a point to notify NHTSA that this problem affects s-10s as well as the bigger models. Conversations with friends indicate to me that this effects a lot of drivers. All GM truck owners should be alerted to problem. Under different conditions with higher speeds or traffic or pedestrians, this could have turned into a catastrophe.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 MPH and applying the brakes, the pedal became locked by the ABS system. This caused the pedal to pulsate as if it was sliding on ice, but the roads were dry. The defect also created an increased stopping distance. The vehicle ended up crashing into guardrails which caused damage to the front side of the truck. A police report was taken. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that there was a defect in the ABS system causing the pedal to lock. There was a recall #05V379000 regarding the service brakes:hydraulic:antilock, however the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet S10. While driving various speeds, the brake warning indicator illuminated. Also, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was oil leaking between the brake hose and front passenger wheel. The technician replaced the washer for the brake hose, but the failure recurred. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 99V220000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.
The brake lines burst while driving down the road under normal driving conditions and the brakes failed resulting in no braking power. Inspection by a mechanic determined that the brake lines had suddenly failed during braking and the fluid had drained out resulting in an immediate loss of braking power during my braking. Was driving at about 30 MPH on a city street when I started to brake and they failed, was able to stop without injury due to manual transmission engine braking and a very bad parking brake.
When brakes applied at low speed they did not work. The pedal went to the floor with no stopping . The system was inspected by medved Chevrolet and nothing was found wrong. This has happen once . The incident is very similar to the silverado recall 05V379000. I also own a silverado.
Brake line failed at an intersection, total loss of brake pressure. Chevrolet notified, dealer could not find problem, part took a week to arrive, and we just fixed it at home out of exaspiration for the dealer, Chevy was great though, line found worn right through. Many failures with this vehicle. Went through 3 batteries and 2 alternators. Upper ball joint failed on the highway, parts department tried to say because it wasnt greased, but I keep it greased, the ball broke right out the side, all ball joints replaced. Idler arm found broken when vehicle taken for re-alignment before that. Various electrical failures (suspected short somewhere as battery sparks when reconnected). Fuel pump failure at 65,000 miles, preceeding fuel guage malfunction about 6 mo's before, replaced fuel pump. …
My ABS and emergency brake lights have been on ever sense I have bought the truck (mid 2014) and I can't seem to figure out why. I have read several places that say that some of the solder points in the ABS module have probably cracked and need to be repaired if it throws a certain code (and mine does). Haven't had the time or money to fix the problem as my truck is my daily driver. Have noticed some slight pulsing in the brakes when stopping, but not enough to annoy you. The lights on the dash will annoy you though. I have also been chasing several vacuum leaks. One was by the brake master cylinder and another (from inside the cab) sounds like it's right above the transmission housing at the back of the engine (where you can't see). …
My 2000 Chevrolet started to activate the ABS when stopping, but only within the last 5 MPH before stopping, I did some research and found that this was a known issue and there is currently a TSB, 020525006, open for the issue. Is followed the TSB as I am mechanically inclined, test drove the truck and nearly ran into the wall on the back side of my garage. I pulled the fuse to the ABS module and the truck stops without any issue. I also found a recall for all of the Chevrolet full size trucks, model year 1999-2002. The description of the issue is the exact same as the issue I am dealing with. I also found out that the brake configuration is the same as the full size trucks. There are S10's with a different configuration, but mine is the same as the full size trucks. I am currently driving with the ABS disconnected. …
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (ABS) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. If misalignment occurs, eventually the ABS would be non-functional.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake pressure module valve assembly.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle description: s -trucks equipped with 2 wheel drive. These vehicles May have had the right-hand antilock brake system (ABS) module feed pipe and/or brake crossover pipe tube nuts tightened without seating the pipe-flared-ends enough to withstand normal assembly and vehicle inputs without partially unseating.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake pipe union for signs of brake fluid, and if necessary, install a new brake pipe union.
Brake complaints in other S10 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Chevrolet S10?
NHTSA has 105 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Chevrolet S10, 22% of the model year's 471 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (74 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet S10 brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-055 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Feb 28, 2000); NHTSA recall 99V-220 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Aug 11, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet S10 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.