Total Complaints
13 filings
CHEVROLET S PICKUP · model year
2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP
13 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CHEVROLETS PICKUP carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 S PICKUP is structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments with 7 filings, followed by suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 S PICKUP, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060701STRUCTURE: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. *JB
Mileage: 20,100
20060317SERVICE 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. *NM
Mileage: 34,000
20060310STRUCTURE: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. *NM
Mileage: 75,251
20051229STRUCTURE: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. *JB
Mileage: 128,000
20050922STRUCTURE: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. *NM
20050620LATCHES/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.
Mileage: 125,000
20050615STRUCTURE: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.
Mileage: 51,252
20050217STRUCTURE: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. *JB
Mileage: 49,212
20050130STRUCTURE: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.*AK
20041130STRUCTURE: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. *AK
Mileage: 27,000
20040320EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
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. *JB
Mileage: 31,028
20030331CrashSUSPENSION: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
Mileage: 16,000
20030331CrashSERVICE 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
Mileage: 16,000
Compare 2002CHEVROLETS PICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP have?▼
The 2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP has 13 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP is STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET S PICKUP safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.