Chevrolet S10 Structure Problems
Owners have filed 394 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Chevrolet S10 across 10 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (93). The words owners use most often: “tailgate cables” (18% of reports).
- 394structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 34mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $220typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tailgate cables: mentioned in 72 of 394 complaints (18%)
- Cable broke: mentioned in 31 of 394 complaints (8%)
- Tail gate: mentioned in 23 of 394 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Chevrolet S10 at $220, and half of them between $160 and $440.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2008), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 246 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 394 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 34 an injury.
Chevrolet S10 structure complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists structure for the Chevrolet S10. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The door latch, that holds your door shut.The wells on them broke and the passenger door came open while going down the road.Big concern had to get it rewelded
I never received Safety Recall# 06020 Galvanized Defective Tailgate Cables that snap/break due to corrosion inside the cable causing the tailgate to fall down while opened. Both my cables have been torn/broken caused by the rust thru for quit some time. My son told me recently, that he had received…
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet s10. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a flat tire. The contact was unable to release the spare tire from underneath the vehicle. The contact indicated that the spare tire hoist assembly retainer had malfunctioned. The cause of the failure was not…
The top hinge of the driverside door is worn allowing air and rain to enter the cabin. The small plastic sleeve in the top hinge appears to be broken or worn excessively.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet S10s have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 394 owner complaints about structure for the Chevrolet S10. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet S10 structure?
No recall currently lists structure for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Chevrolet S10?
Owners report a typical cost of $220 (half paid between $160 and $440), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Chevrolet S10?
The most frequent phrase is “tailgate cables”, in 72 of 394 complaints, followed by “cable broke” (31).
Other Chevrolet S10 problems
See all Chevrolet S10 problems.