2003 Chevrolet C/K Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical337.5%
- Body & structure112.5%
- Brakes112.5%
- Powertrain (other)112.5%
- Steering112.5%
- Transmission112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO HAS A SPEEDOMETER ISSUE THAT SAYS I MA GOING 30 WHEN I AM STOPPED. GM PUTS OUT A RECALL BUT WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 70K. MINE WENT OUT AT 72K, HOW CONVENIENT. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. IF NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING THEN WHY DO WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS? *TR
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUITS WORKING, OR PARTS OF IT QUIT WORKING. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS ABOVE 20 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO THE GAUGES START WORKING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO LEARN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003-2003 GM PICKUP TRUCKS. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ACCORDING TO OUR SERVICE MAN AT OUR LOCAL VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER. HE SAID HE HAS HAD SEVERAL OF THESE TRUCKS IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE CONNECTIONS RETRACT AND NO LONGER MAKE CONTACT. HE SAID HE HAS HAD TO SEND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK TO GM AND THEY FIX IT AND RETURN IT AT A COST OF OVER $250.00. WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND DO NOT BELIEVE THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOULD BE FAILING WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. IT IS DANGEROUS, AND VERY ANNOYING. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE AT A 4TH CELEBRATION ON THE TAILGATE OF MY AMERICAN CHEVROLET TRUCK MY WIFE AND 15 MONTH OLD LITTLE BOY, WAS SITTING THERE AND THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2003 DURAMAX BROKE CAUSING MY WIFE AND CHILD TO HIT THE GROUND BUSTING HIS LIP. I ONLY HOPE THE IS NO TEETH DAMAGE. WILL CHEVROLET REPLACE MY BENT TAILGATE KNOWING THERE IS A RECALL, IF THEY CANT MAKE CABLES FAST ENOUGH, GET-R-DONE, WANT MY TAIL GATE FIXED ALSO AND MY KIDS TEETH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
POOR BRAKING POWER. REPLACED ROTORS & REAR BRAKES DUE TO ROTORS RUSTING OUT AT ONLY 23,000 MILES. IN HARD STOP PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR. CHEVY SAYS THIS IS NORMAL...BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NEW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVE TRAIN: CLUNK/CLANK DURING UPSHIFT UNDER LIGHT/EASY ACCELERATION. ALSO DURING DOWNSHIFT SUCH AS WHEN SLOWING FOR STOP LITE. ALSO DDURING SLOWING FOR TURN OR UPON QUICK ACCELERATION. VEHICLE HAS 4193 MILES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH VEHICLE SINCE NEW! OCT '03. VEHICLE ALSO HAS DEAD SPOT IN ACCEL WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. NOTE: WHEN SHIFTING TRANS (AT) FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR TO REVERSE OR ANY COMBINATION THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY IN THE TRANS SHIFTING. THIS COULD BE RELATED TO OVERALL PROBLEM. THE CLUNK/CLANK NOISE IS VERY NOTICEABLE. VERY AUDIBLE,NOT ONLY THAT, YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IT. N MY OPINION THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL IF VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN NEEDED. APPLE CHEVROLET IN RED LION,PA SAID NOISE IS NORMAL. BULL! *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPACKED THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A POPPING NOISE. THEN IT CAME BACK. SO THEY SAID THEY REPLACED IT. AND KNOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVE TRAIN: CLUNK/CLANK DURING UPSHIFT UNDER LIGHT/EASY ACCELERATION. ALSO DURING DOWNSHIFT SUCH AS WHEN SLOWING FOR STOP LITE. ALSO DDURING SLOWING FOR TURN OR UPON QUICK ACCELERATION. VEHICLE HAS 4193 MILES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH VEHICLE SINCE NEW! OCT '03. VEHICLE ALSO HAS DEAD SPOT IN ACCEL WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. NOTE: WHEN SHIFTING TRANS (AT) FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR TO REVERSE OR ANY COMBINATION THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY IN THE TRANS SHIFTING. THIS COULD BE RELATED TO OVERALL PROBLEM. THE CLUNK/CLANK NOISE IS VERY NOTICEABLE. VERY AUDIBLE,NOT ONLY THAT, YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IT. N MY OPINION THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL IF VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN NEEDED. APPLE CHEVROLET IN RED LION,PA SAID NOISE IS NORMAL. BULL! *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .