Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chevrolet S10 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Truck has ABS lights on when driving at lower speeds as soon as the fluids are not cold the check gushes light comes on and the oil pressure gauge needle drops until the throttle is again depressed... Also ABS in rear shakes whole truck when going below 50mph and then continues up to 80mph before subsiding. The truck has serious steering issues constant leaks caused I'm sure my rack and pinion are worn down as well as now my tires and supension I have so many problems like the interior is crumbling to pieces the body has giant holes from improper painting options on this model I have over sized tire wells that are rusted completely out it make your company look silly for not making these vehicles better when they last people keep buying them again and again! …
2001 Chevrolet S10 zr2 package .brake lights dont work, fuses blown for door locks and mirrors, smoke was coming from driver side firewall. Took to shop to have them check wires. They said nothing was wrong with wires. Driving lights turn on by themself while car is not running, cannot shut off headlights, had to disconnect headlights. Took to another shop. Has been in shop for over a week now and they said our wiring harness was melted. Some kind of white lubricant or silicone is inside of harness? We have pictures to prove it. And we will get a report from the mechanic shop. I only have 45,000 miles on my truck. I am a very unhappy customer. Please help!
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet S10. The contact was pulled over by a police officer and informed that the brake lights and signal lights were inoperable. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 01V364000 (exterior lighting). Ed bozarth Chevrolet located at 2001 s havana st, aurora, co 80014, was contacted and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The failure mileage was 330,000.
Gas gauge not working properly when gas tank is full of gas the gauge will show empty, half full or full. The defective gas gauge faulty reading have been a problem on numerous models of GMC automobiles. Have a technical service bulletin been issued to the concern dealership. The price to repair this problem range from $250.00 dollars to $500.00 dollars. Driving with a faulty gas gauge can be quite an experience. [redacted]
2004 tail gate ass failed replaced after market parts 2004 back up lights in/op;004 interrior light will not turn off/ over ride botton used to save battery2005 left front hub ass replaced. 004 right front hub ass replaced;005 front end replaced/pittman/tie rods;2004 oil filter leak / tightened 2004 rear emergency brakes in/op 5 left emergency brake drum replaced;005 right emergency brake drum replaced 2005 gas sending unit replaced eradic behavior 2004 left brake shoe replaced ;004 right brake shoe replaced;005 left brake shoe replaced front;005 right brake shoe replaced front 2005 left brake shoe replaced rear;005 right brake shoe replaced rear;005 u joints replaced;04 battery replaced 2005 transmission showing signs of wear;005 rear end {3.42} locker clangs between 1st and revved. …
On July 22, 2005, I paid the dealer $615.74 to replace a shorted air pump. I brought it in since the light gauges were turning on. The "check engine" lighted on and off. One week later, the A/C stopped working. The dealer charged me $105.19 for the diagnosis. On aug. 10, I paid another shop $852.08 to replace the A/C compressor. On aug. 30, my s-10 stalled and hasn't worked since then. A mechanic said the engine has to be replaced (another $3000 +) due to overheating of the radiator. There was no prior indication that the radiator was leaking or heating except when the light gauges were turning on in July. I bought this truck brand new in 2000 and have spent over $7000 in repairs and regular maintenance since then. The battery acid has leaked. Brake pads keep wearing out. Several air injection malfunctions and pumps have been replaced. I've purchased at least 2 sets of tires. …
2001 Chevy s-10 four cylinder automatic appeared to be dead. When key inserted and turned over there were no lights on dash. After it sat a few seconds I attempted to restart engine. All dash lights and gauges appeared to come on. The radio was reset to 1:00 as if all systems had went dead. There was a whining noise coming through into the cab of the truck and all the dash lights seemed to flicker. This has happened three times in the last four days. All instances are for just a few seconds and then everything appears to be okay on the restart except that the clock has always reset to 1:00. The last instance today occurred as I started the truck and left a parking space. I got about 50 feet and the vehicle died and coasted to a stop with all dash lights inoperative. …
Alternator noise feeding through radio on occasion after turning vehicle off and restarting noise appears to go away. Flicking lights on instrument panel and radio, started out of a parking place with this happening and the truck moved 5 feet before losing all power. Truck would not start, no lights or alarms. Left key in the ignition after 20 minutes all alarms and lights returned to normal and truck started with 1 turn of the key. Can not take the truck to the shop until it is making the noise again, because they will tell me that they can't find anything wrong. What would have happened if the truck would have lost power when I was doing 65 miles an hour on my way home from work?
Dt*: the contact stated the battery in the vehicle has been replaced three times within the last five years. The first one exploded and leaked acid inside the vehicle. The dealership replaced the battery with an ac delco battery; the same brand of battery that was sold with the vehicle. This battery failed in less than one year. The third battery also failed within one year of purchase. While driving 40 MPH the vehicle stalled. An independent mechanic tested the battery and found that all of the cells were dead.
Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the engine, it would not start. Upon initial inspection under the hood, the positive post of the battery was completely separated. The contact placed the post back into the battery, but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 10/25/2006 - when the battery connection failed the green light, indicating a good battery, was on. The gauge was reading 14, the same as withthe new battery.
Electrical complaints in other S10 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Chevrolet S10?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Chevrolet S10, 9% of the model year's 308 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chevrolet S10 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Chevrolet S10, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet S10 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.