Most common 2002 Chevrolet S10 problems
Share of the 214 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet S10 complaints by model year
Best S10 years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1997, 2000. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Chevrolet S10:
Tailgate support cable(s) break
Odi is upgrading rq04-012 and opening an ea to investigate the tailgate support cables installed in 1998 - 2004 model year sonoma and s10 model vehicles.general motors is conducting recall campaign 04v-129 to replace the tailgate support cables originally installed in certain model year 2000-2004 sierras and silverados and certain model year 2002-2004 avalanches and escalade exts (c/k models).general motors has…
Tailgate support cables
General motors is conducting a special policy program for 903,464 owners of 2000 - 2003 model s/t vehicles through which owners May, at their option, either (1) periodically inspect the tailgate support cables installed in their vehicle and have the cables replaced if the cable coating exhibits any indications of damage or deterioration or (2) request that the tailgate support cables be replaced free of charge.
What 2002 Chevrolet S10 owners say
Body & structure all 73 →
2002 Chevy S10 ls crew cab the door strikers caved into the frame on both sides drivers side and passenger side.this happened with in one day of each other. On photographed inspection the steel had ripped in the shape of the clip behind the door strikers an obvious engineering flaw in design,I took it to the dealer who acknowledged the obvious design flaw launched a complaint with photos he took as well. Chevy said the truck was to old, evidently the doors can fall off your truck in 8 years and Chevy does not care. I had to weld the steel my self since the doors would not shut. Chevy will be hit with a class action lawsuit eventually when someone falls out of their crappy truck. Unlike Toyota who is taking care of their customers Chevy will just give you the middle finger. …
The door opened fine all day and all of a sudden when I went to open the door it opened only 2 inches. It appears that the front right fender panel has slid back towards the door approx. 1/2 inch and that is what's blocking the door. Upon further inspection the hinge is slightly bent. Dealer is trying to say that the door was sprung. Witnesses that I have including 2 police officers can state that this did not happen. They can state that the door opened fine the first 2 times and then not at all later. Body shop mechanic slid something inside the door hinge and popped it open resulting in the paint on the hinge to be scraped off. This should have been a warranty issue but the dealer refuses to fix it without payment. I feel since this did not happen by cause or fault of me nor was this vehicle hit on the driver side, that it is a defect and needs to be investigated. …
Brakes all 21 →
First incident approximately 2/15/2015, brakes pedal went close to floor when trying to stop vehicle, downshifted transmission to help stop vehicle. It was determined rust had caused a hole to develop in brake line cooler behind radiator of vehicle. Significant loss of brake fluid. Second incident approximately 5/15/2015, brakes became mushy loss of brake fluid. Rust caused pin hole leak in brake line at rear wheel brake cylinder. Third incident approximately 7/26/2015 significant loss of brake fluid. Cause yet undetermined
Brake line failure on 2002 Chevy s-10 crew cab. One brake line began leaking. Dealer suggested replacing two lines. When repair was being completed a third brake line began to leak. The parts are not readily available from GM and the dealer said it could take months to get.waiting to see if a local shop can manufacture the third line. I was told that the lines corroded due to brine used on roads during winter. I saw an article stating that the NHTSA is investigating other GM trucks between 1999 and 2003 for this very same problem but the s-10 is not listed as having an issue. I was fortunate that I caught it early by seeing a puddle of fluid under my truck. The brake light did not come on. I do not feel very confident about the remaining lines that have not been replaced.
Locks & latches all 21 →
2002 Chevy S10 ls crew cab the door strikers caved into the frame on both sides drivers side and passenger side.this happened with in one day of each other. On photographed inspection the steel had ripped in the shape of the clip behind the door strikers an obvious engineering flaw in design,I took it to the dealer who acknowledged the obvious design flaw launched a complaint with photos he took as well. Chevy said the truck was to old, evidently the doors can fall off your truck in 8 years and Chevy does not care. I had to weld the steel my self since the doors would not shut. Chevy will be hit with a class action lawsuit eventually when someone falls out of their crappy truck. Unlike Toyota who is taking care of their customers Chevy will just give you the middle finger. …
I purchased this vehicle in new form from gallucci Chevrolet in medina, oh. While still under warranty, the third door handle used to open the rear third door broke approximately three times. While still under warranty, I took it in the dealership to have it repaired on each occasion. When the vehicle ran out of warranty, the third door handle again broke, and to date has not been repaired due to cost. This incident apparently is widely known to be a problem with Chevy, as the mechanics told me this is common in my vehicle, and upon speaking with others with the same vehicle, nearly every one has had the door handle break. This prohibits a third passenger from entering or exiting the vehicle or for me to open the back seat for groceries, etc.
2002 Chevrolet S10 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet S10 a good car?
Based on 214 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S10 rates better than average: 56% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S10 at the same age. It is one of the best S10 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet S10?
The body & structure — 73 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › tailgate › hinge and attachments. Next are the brakes (21) and locks & latches (21).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet S10 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet S10. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet S10?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1997 and 2000. See the full Chevrolet S10 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet S10 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 49,000 miles; 54% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.