Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 Chevrolet S Pickup
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
861.5%
Median failure at 50,232 miles
Brakes
215.4%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 25,000 mi
Equipment & Accessories
17.7%
Median failure at 31,028 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
17.7%
Median failure at 125,000 miles
Suspension
17.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 16,000 mi
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
327.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
436.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
19.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
19.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
218.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2003peak 2Jul 2006
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 75,251 milesWaldorf, MD1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LOWERED TAILGATE TO CLIMB INTO BED OF TRUCK. AFTER STEPPING UP ONTO TAILGATE, BOTH RESTRAINING CABLES BROKE, THROWING ME TO THE GROUND. MINOR BRUISING AND SCRATCHING ONLY CABLES NOT REPLACED TO DATE BECAUSE DEALER CHARGING EXCESSIVE MONEY.
NHTSA complaint #10152427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesGalloway, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
REAR BRAKE FAILURE AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AT THE FRONT SHACKLE WHICH CAUSE TO SEND MY TRUCK IN A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE TREES. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesGalloway, NJCrash
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
REAR BRAKE FAILURE AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AT THE FRONT SHACKLE WHICH CAUSE TO SEND MY TRUCK IN A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE TREES. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 20,100 milesLondon, KY
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAIL GATE CABLE IS CUT AND HAS STRETCHED TO WHERE IS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TAIL GATE.
NHTSA complaint #10161207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesFranklin, NH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED TO FAIL IN NOVEMBER, WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLES ABS SYSTEM WOULD FAIL AND LOCK THE POWER STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. I DID CONTACT THE DEALER AND MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. BECAUSE OF ITS AGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS WORST DURING A STORM WHEN THE ROADS ARE COVERED WITH SNOW AND DURING RAIN STORMS.
NHTSA complaint #10152929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,251 milesWaldorf, MD1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
LOWERED TAILGATE TO CLIMB INTO BED OF TRUCK. AFTER STEPPING UP ONTO TAILGATE, BOTH RESTRAINING CABLES BROKE, THROWING ME TO THE GROUND. MINOR BRUISING AND SCRATCHING ONLY CABLES NOT REPLACED TO DATE BECAUSE DEALER CHARGING EXCESSIVE MONEY.
NHTSA complaint #10152427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 128,000 milesSalisbury, NC
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
#2 (RIGHT SIDE) TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE FAILURE. NO EXCESSIVE STRESS PLACED ON TAILGATE; I LOWERED IT TO LOAD SOME LIGHTWEIGHT ITEMS IN BED (BY HAND, NO RAMPS OR LOADING EQUIPMENT) AND HEARD POP WHEN TAILGATE WENT FULL DOWN. NOTICED CABLE BROKEN. NO REPAIR YET; CONTACTING LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER NEXT WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10146340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bossier City, LA
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE CABLES ON 02 S10 PICK UP DUE TO CORROSION. SHRINK PLASTIC NOT PROTECTING FROM MOISTURE AND CAUSED CABLE TO RUST AND SNAP SENDING TAILGATE ONTO HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10137368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesPaola, KS
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
FAILURE OF TAIL GATE SUPPORTING CABLES ON A 2002 MODEL YEAR S-10 PICK-UP AS THE DIRECT RESULT OF CORROSION/OXIDATION.
NHTSA complaint #10125905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,252 milesReidville, SC
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHEN I OPENED THE TAIL GATE TO MY 2002 S-10 BOTH CABLES SNAPED-IN-TWO AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CABLE FAILURE HAS DAMAGED THE TAIL GATE WHEN IT HIT THE BUMPER. WHEN I WENT TO THE PART STORE TO GET A REPLACEMENT CABLE FOR BOTH SIDES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CABLE DID NOT MATCH WHAT WAS LISTED IN HIS BOOK AS A REPLACEMENT AND WOULD NEED TO SEE A DEALER ABOUT THE REPAIR..... ODD THING BUT I ALSO HAVE A 1991 FORD F-150 WITH 215,000 MILES ON IT AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME TAIL GATE CABLES FROM WHEN IT WAS NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10125437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,212 milesBrownsburg, IN
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET S-10 PICKUP. THE CABLE THAT ATTACHES THE TAILGATE TO THE TRUCK HAS CORRODED AWAY. THIS RESULTS IN THE TAILGATE FALLING FROM HORIZONTAL POSITION AND POSSIBLE FALLING OFF. A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GM SILVERADO PICKUP. THE SAME RECALL SHOULD APPLY TO THE S-10, AS IT IS THE SAME DEFECT AS IN THE SILVERADO.
NHTSA complaint #10110671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walpole, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE CABLES ON 02 S_10 PICKUP HAVE SAME FALIURE AS LARGER TRUCKS THAT ALL HAVE RECALLS.THE CABLES ARE MANUFACTURED BY SAME COMPANY AS RECALLED TRUCKS.CABLES SNAP AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND ALSO POSE RISK OF INJURY.DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS YET NO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10108251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,000 milesTewksbury, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ME AND MY WIFE WERE SITTING ON MY TAILGATE OF MY 2002 CHEVY S10 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CABLES SNAPPED. AND MY WHOLE TAILGATE FOLED OVER MY BUMPER. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO GO TO THE JUNKYARD AND BUY AN USED TAILGATE. CUZ CHEVY SAID THEY WERNT COVERD UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10100789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE JACK COLLAPSED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I READ AND FOLLOWED ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE IN THE S10 PICKUP OWNER'S MANUAL.
NHTSA complaint #10062687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesGalloway, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
REAR BRAKE FAILURE AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AT THE FRONT SHACKLE WHICH CAUSE TO SEND MY TRUCK IN A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE TREES. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesGalloway, NJCrash
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
REAR BRAKE FAILURE AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AT THE FRONT SHACKLE WHICH CAUSE TO SEND MY TRUCK IN A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP MY VEHICLE IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE TREES. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.