Is the 2000 Chevrolet S10 a bad year?
470 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S10 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Chevrolet S10 are in line with other S10 years. Brakes, body structure and seats stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 S10 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 70,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 103 (22%) | 36k–90k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 93 (20%) | 46k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SeatsSTANDS OUT | 55 (12%) | 28k–71k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 46 (10%) | 30k–78k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 29 (6%) | 41k–100k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 28 (6%) | 45k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 26 (6%) | 42k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Latches and locks | 14 (3%) | 40k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 19 (4%) | 31k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 29 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 17 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 70,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 470 complaints: 52 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 38 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2000 Chevrolet S10: 9
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles were built with incorrect payload information on the vehicle certification label. The payload shown on the label is greater than the maximum validated payload. This could result in a loss of control of the vehicle or an inability to stop the vehicle within expected stopping distances.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-WHEEL disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (ABS) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. The base brakes would remain fully functional, but the dynamic rear proportioning (Drp) system, which optimizes front to rear brake balance, would become inoperative.
Vehicle description: s -trucks equipped with 2 wheel drive. These vehicles may have had the right-hand antilock brake system (ABS) module feed pipe and/or brake crossover pipe tube nuts tightened without seating the pipe-flared-ends enough to withstand normal assembly and vehicle inputs without partially unseating. If this occurred, the seating seal could be broken during vehicle assembly, or from early road inputs or brake fluid cycling, and a leak could occur increasing the brake stopping distance.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 89
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Chevrolet S10. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Tailgate support cables
Tailgate support cable(S) break
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Neighbouring years
2001 S10: 308 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet S10 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2006 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · All S10 years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2000 Chevrolet S10 a bad year?
470 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S10 years. At 70,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Chevrolet S10?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (103), body structure (93), seats (55), transmission and drivetrain (46), fuel system (29).
How many recalls does the 2000 Chevrolet S10 have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06E065000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.