2002 Chevrolet S-10 ZR2 from North America - Comments

I have a 2003 ZR2 S-10 which has had problems identical to those listed in another review for a Sonoma.

I have had problems with the window on both doors getting stuck on the weather striping and not rolling up completely at speeds over 40 miles per hour.

This was corrected by replacing the tracks in the doors and weather seals as well.

The lower ball joints failed at 30,000 miles. This was discovered when the truck was taken in to get a front end alignment.

During the front end alignment, the idler arm was also found to be faulty, which was then replaced.

After the alignment was done the tires were found to be worn very badly. The Chevrolet dealer, nor the tire manufacturer would replace them under warranty, so I have been driving around on tires that cause the truck to shake at speed above 50 miles per hour. To date, neither company will own up to being responsible for the tires being ruined despite a documented cause.

Since then, the air conditioner controls have failed and have been serviced 4 times and during the 4th repair job, the service department incorrectly reassembled the dash and told me "the dash can only be taken apart so many times and be expected to go back together correctly".

Now they are telling me that the failure has to do with transmission fluid in the vacuum lines. Since I have found other reports of this, I am going to get it repaired one more time.

If this does not fix the problem, I will be selling the truck due to chronic failures that are evidently beyond the service departments ability to repair.

I like the power and handling, as well as the look. The biggest disappointment is that the sticker claimed that it would get 16 miles per gallon in the city and 19 miles per gallon on the highway. The fact is that it gets around 16 miles per gallon on the highway if you drive from the time you get gas until it runs out without stopping. So needless to say, it does not get the mileage claimed by Chevrolet even under ideal driving conditions.

What a shame! You must be so disappointed in this truck. My brother had both the truck and Blazer version of the ZR2 package, and they were both riddled with expensive problems. I hope you do not have the hub/anti-lock brake sensor problems he had at $500 per wheel to repair. I also remember an annoying problem he had with the seat recline lever. It was constantly breaking off. It was a great looking package, but GM should have done more homework on this product line. Time will tell if the Colorado/Canyon line is a step in the right direction for them.

My boyfriend owns a 2005 Colorado and although brand new and with only 20,000 miles on it has treated him well. The gas mileage is decent and it is fun to drive and great to look at!! I love it! We will see if it stands the great test of time and mileage!

Three years ago I bought a 2002 Chevy S10 brand new off the lot. Was pretty happy with my purchase until about 5000 miles. First, the radio went on the fritz which GM fixed sue to warranty. Second, the truck started running funny. I took it in and the dealership claimed bad gas and it would be a 350 dollar injection cleaning. Third, my starter went at 31000 miles, 41000 miles, and 60000 miles. Fourth, my headliner, hinge bushings, weather striping, exhaust and thermostat went. Fifth, the ball joints went at 65000 miles. And most recently my transmission is blown at 81000 miles. I always drove Chevy and proud of it, but after purchasing a brand new truck and having this much problems you won't even riding shotgun in one. In conclusion, My fiance has a 1989 Toyota 4x4 pickup with 320000 miles on it and it needed new tires and a thermostat in the last 200000 miles.

My 2003 zr2 has had a new motor at 11k new a/c controls power steering pump went out fender flare paint came off 3 time had those replaced seat belt driver side rattled so bad had to fix that had 2 oil leaks it now has 17k on body it has a 2in body lift 5 in DBS suspension lift running 35in tires has ken-wood dvd in dash head unit it cost 2200 and lift and tire was 5k so if you want this truck I will take 20k or OBO call 563 349 0992 in Iowa.

I recently purchased a 1998 Chevy s10 ZR2 and am very disappointed in it. One month after the purchase, the transfer case seized resulting in a 2200 dollar replacement, a bolt in the steering assembly was almost seared off, but was caught and fixed in the replacement of my transfer case. The AC control no longer works, of course the fender paint and weather striping is gone, and just recently my CAT has been giving me some funny noises. At just over 80,000 miles it acts like its at a million miles. However, I really like the power, the handling, and the aggressive look.

But, I would sell in it a heartbeat if the right offer were to come along...

I got a 2000 Chevy ZR2 with 90K about 6 months ago. I have to say I'm very pleased with it so far. I have put about 10K on it now. I haven't had to do any repairs and it has plenty of power. It has the most power for its vehicle class. The off-road ability is great also. I plan to do a few more modifications to improve the power and looks. I hope there are other out there like me!

I own a 2001 chevy s10 ZR2. It is a very nice pickup and a great design. I had to fix a bracket on the muffler that held it to the heat shield. My reclining lever is striped and the heating fan rattles. I am one DIEHARD CHEVY FAN! Minor problems don't ever frustrate me. But there was things I didn't like. First gas mileage, right now I'm getting 12.5 in town. This really disappoints me, my dad has a silverado and he gets 15 on a 5.7 vortec, a very nice pickup. I loved it so much that I had to get a mini me of his silverado. Second is the horsepower. Don't get me wrong it has power, but at 190 hp I'm dissappointed. My freind has a 3.8 and it has more horsepower than my 4.3. I'm planning on adding a K&N cold air intake, it claims to get better gas miladge and more power. Overall my s10 is a dream, very nice truck and a mean look.

My s10 had the reclining lever stripped out and the clamp on the air hose came loose, but it's at 60000 and it's running at 19 in town and great I love this chevy s10 2002 zr2 and I hope there are others who are happy with it as well, beats ford any day.

I bought a 98 ZR2 in Sept 06 and love it. It has 130000 miles and gets 19 mpg on the highway. Had a tranny problem, but with the mileage it was understandable. The seat levers were broken when I bought it, but a visit to ebay cured that little problem. I guess I'm in the minority, but I love my truck. Great looks and performance.

My husband and I own an 02 ZR2 also and have had the same prob. with our truck. We too used to be huge Chevy fans, but the purchase of this truck has changed our outlook on Chevy. We bought our truck used with about 50,000 miles on it in the beginning of 04, and also had to replace the upper and lower ball joints, idler arm, stearing arm and pittman arm. Our heater/air switches also started sucking vacuum and would not change between settings correctly. We too had this issue repaired 5 times. Just as the remainder of the warranty ran out on the switch, it failed again. The dealer also told us that it was sucking transmission fluid into the lines, which we found funny because it is an electric transmission, not vac. lines. As far as the replacement of the front end parts, they also would not cover this. We done the work our self's (thank god for my husband having been mechanically inclined) and when we took in in for alignment, the company also suggested new tires, because the ones that were on it (exactly like factory) were too much for the front end. After getting new tires, we have not had much trouble with the front end. As far as gas mileage, we thought that it would be similar to the s-10, boy were we mistaken. It is terrible. We get 16mpg's also and that is awful. We now have a new noise... sounds like water in the dash. No leaks in the floorboard, not using antifreeze, and no water "appearing" anywhere. Who knows, I think it is time to sell it to some sucker that thinks he is getting an awesome Chevy product. Just my 2 cents!

I've had my 2002 S10 ZR2 for about 4 years now and am beginning to question my purchase just now.

There seems to be a problem with the seal/weatherstripping around the top of the windshield, where I have water leaking/dripping down inside the cab onto the dashboard... not every time it rains/snows, but more often than not. I thought replacing the windshield (and thus, getting a touch-up on that seal) would help the problem, but 2 windshield replacements haven't fixed it yet.

The handle for the "3rd door" has snapped off in my hand twice now, and I haven't bothered to fix it a 3rd time.

I've gone through 2 (yes, TWO) fuel pumps in the last year which is expensive every time, in my opinion.

As others have commented as well, my upper and lower ball joints are shot (and thus I chew through tires seemingly constantly), and I suspect once I can afford to get that work done that they'll find other related problems mid-way through the job.

I've got a set of three annoying rattles that have started in the last year, one from the driver's side "3rd door" pop-open window area, one from the driver's side seat belt connection, and the last somewhere behind the dash.

Last oil change I was told the intake manifold is leaking as well.

The first 3 years I had the truck I was pretty happy, love the look of the unit and the ability to get in and out of my hunting spots and questionable boat accesses year round... but in the last year, this truck's getting expensive and less and less impressive. Just my experience and opinion though.

I stumbled upon this page lookin' for tires. I read a bunch of comments and can't let everyone bash my truck. I bought my S-10 brand new with 12 miles on it in 2003. I love my truck!!! I've had no major problems with her. It has 60,000 miles I have replaced 1 lower-ball joint, front left. The 3rd door latch I replaced twice... ($45 bucks and 10 minutes each time)...why make a plastic release leaver?!?!?!?! Cold weather and plastic DON'T GET ALONG!!! I use my truck as a work truck; I'm a carpenter and painter.

I own a 2003 Chevy S-10 ZR2 which I bought used in 2004. In the past five years I have put nearly 100,000 miles on her. Gas mileage is not the greatest, and my seat lever broke the other day. But other than those two small problems she has been running like the day I bought her. Just keep it regularly maintained and the truck stays together great. I am hoping that we see another 100,000.