2003 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck Owner Complaints

I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR LAST WEEK AND BROUGHT THE 2003 SSR FOR SERVICE WEDNESDAY 10-24-12. SERVICE TEAM IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. THE CRACK WAS AT THE FILL AREA WHERE THE PLASTIC NECK CONNECTION GOES INTO THE PLASTIC TANK. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SURPRISING THIS WOULD BE AS A CONSUMER AND CHEVY LOYALIST! MY WIFE AND I ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE WITH GAS POTENTIALLY LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT! I'VE OWNED NUMEROUS CHEVYS AND A COUPLE OF GERMAN VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, NEVER WITH ANY FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS HOLDING THE TANK FOR INSPECTION. IN DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS TO GM. IN FACT, THERE WAS A FIRE SAFETY RECALL OF TRAILBLAZERS IN 2004 WITH THIS EXACT DEFECT. DISAPPOINTLY, THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 SSR WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A TRAILBLAZER FRAME USING A TANK THAT APPEARS A DUPLICATE TO THE TANK ISSUE IN THE TRAILBLAZER RECALL. (FYI, MY SSR WAS DELIVERED LATE 2003, SO I ASSUME 2004 TRAILBLAZER TANKS FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE FIRST SSR PRODUCTION.) ADDITIONAL GM RECALLS OF PLASTIC TANK PARTS ARE ALSO RECENT HISTORY IN WARM-WEATHER STATES ON THE COLBALT, G5, AND THE EQUINOX. MY 2003 'SLINGSHOT' YELLOW SSR HAS 31,000 MILES, ALWAYS SERVICED AT VAN IN SCOTTSDALE. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, ONLY SEEING PAVEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, SHE HAS HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR REPAIRS; JUST SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AT VAN CHEVY IN SCOTTSDALE AZ SINCE SHE WAS BORN. THERE SEEMS TO ME NO REASON THIS FAILURE WOULD OCCUR OTHER THAN A DEFECT IN DESIGN OR WORKMANSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483748

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

31,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT CAUSING THEM TO FAIL IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT USING THIS TYPE OF METAL ON THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477216

Incident

Sep 26, 2012

Mileage

86,000 mi

HOOKED UP MY TRAILER TO THE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND DROVE TO THE GAS STATION AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN ON THE FREEWAY LIKE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN MY WIFE AND I DROVE 20 MILES DOING 70 MPR, WOW WE COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. IM WITHOUT A TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALER WANTS 2000.00 AND ANOTHER WANTS 3000.00 TO FIX IT. THE WAY THE BRAKE LINE ARE DESIGNED MAKES IT VERY HARD TO FIX, BUT FOR THE BRAKES TO GO OUT WITHOUT A SAFETY BACK UP SYSTEM IS NUTS. I HAVE A 1970 CAR THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE NO RUST!! THIS IS A LIFE OR DEAF ISSUE SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. EVEN AFTER I FIX THIS TRUCK I'LL BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464499

Incident

Jul 5, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

BRAKE LINE BURSTED, NO BRAKES, LINES CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395133

Incident

Apr 6, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

2003 CHEVY SS TRUCK, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BRAKES ARE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING HAVE HAD IT TO CHEVY DEALER AND OTHER PLACES. CANNOT FIX. HAVE SPENT $ TRYING. FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CHEVY SAYS NOTHING WRONG. THE BRAKES ARE NOT RIGHT. DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO REPORT THIS. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2003. IT HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348857

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

I PURCHASED CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDER CAB NEW IN JUNE 2003. I HAVE APPROX. 165,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE DISC BRAKES ( ALL 4 WHEELS ) HAVE BEEN CHANGED 1 TIME AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LIFE FOR BRAKE PADS ( THEY WERE STILL NOT WORN COMPLETELY OUT ) I HAVE NOW BEEN EXPERIENCING A BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTER/ SIGNIFICANT PULSATING JUST BEFORE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. EXISTING DEALER PADS ON VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 1/2 LIFE ACCORDING TO SERVICE TECH. GM TECH. "GUESSED" AT CAUSE LISTING 4 DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY'S FROM CORRODED LINES TO BOOSTER PRESSURE TO CALIBER FAILURE. NO INCIDENT AS OF YET. ALSO SIMILAR PROBLEMS LISTED WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES FORTUNATELY MINE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. ALSO STEERING ASSIST CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR DEFECT THEN ISSUE WAS TURNED INTO PERIODIC MAINT. ITEM WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345216

Incident

Jun 10, 2010

Mileage

160,000 mi

SPEED ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGES WILL NOT WORK FUEL GAUGE IS STUCK AT 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL NOT READ PROPER TEMPERATURE. SPEED ODOMETER WILL READ 100MPH OR MORE WHILE STOPPED THIS PROBLEM STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHEN I RECEIVED A SERVICE LETTER FROM GM THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY PASS THE EXTENDED MILE WARRANTY THAT WAS DECIDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I AM THE 1ST OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THAT BASICALLY TOO BAD I AM OVER THE 80K MILEAGE AGREED TO IN THE LAW SUIT WITH THE US GOVERNMENT I HAVE NO WAY OF TELLING HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE ON TRIPS, HOW FAST I AM DRIVING AND IF MY ENGINE IS OVER HEATING AS I AM DRIVING, GM HAS BEEN NO HELP IN FIXING A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY RECEIVED MONEY FROM DELPHI OVER THE BAD AFFECTED PARTS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10297251

Incident

Dec 14, 2009

Mileage

102,358 mi

DEFECTIVE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON A CHEVY TRUCK/CAB ON MY RV. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE A POOR AND WEAK DESIGN. THEY ARE HELD ONTO THE DOORS BY SMALL PLASTIC PINS THAT BROKE OFF EASILY. THEY SHOULD HAVE A METAL SCREW THAT WOULD HOLD THEM MORE SECURELY TO THE DOOR BACK. MY CHEVY IS NOT THAT OLD FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. PART # 12479875 - LEFT DOOR HANDLE PART # 12479876 - RIGHT DOOR HANDLE BOTH HANDLES BROKE OFF THE DOORS HELD ONLY BY SMALL PLASTIC PINS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291309

Incident

May 10, 2009

Mileage

66,128 mi

WHILE DRIVING RT.523 TO FLEMINGTON,NJ ,I NEEDED TO USE THE BRAKES TO DECELERATE AND WHEN I PUSHED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR NO BRAKES [XXX] NEAR REARENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE IS A CHEVROLET 2003 SILVERADO 2500HD EXT.CAB TRUCK SHORTBED. LATER I FOUND THAT ALL 4 BRAKELINES RUSTED,CORRODED GOING TO THE ABS JUNCTION BOX UNDER THE CAB DRIVER'S SIDE.WHY IS THERE NO NATIONAL RECALL FOR THIS? ARE YOU WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED,OR A FIRST RESPONDER GETS INJURED BEFORE TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION? JUST LIKE FORD AND THE ROLLOVERS DUE TO THE TIRES ON THE SUVS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT'S TIME TO STOP THIS BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS!!! *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10283690

Incident

Aug 19, 2009

Mileage

50,500 mi

WHEN I AM PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING AREA, IF THE WHEELS ARE TURNED HARD TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, WHEN STOPPING AND PUTTING THE TRUCK IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND YOU CANNOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE IT OUT OF THE LOCK POSITION, EITHER BY JIGGLING THE KEY OR THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AS A RESULT, I AM FORCED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE KEY LOCK CYLINDER REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS THREE TIMES. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PLACES THAT I HAVE PARKED, WITH THE WHEELS TURNED AND AM UNABLE TO GET IT MOVED UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY TAKEN APART AND THE IGNITION KEY AND CYLINDER ARE REPLACED. IT HAS COST ME OVER 300 TO HAVE THIS DONE. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE, ON OCCASION I HAVE STOPPED IN PLACES TEMPORARILY AND THEN NOT BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE AGAIN. I AM TIRED OF IT. I THOUGHT ORIGINALLY IT WAS A KEY PROBLEM, BUT HAVE FOUND, THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE IGNITIONS ALREADY, I BELIEVE IT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, STEERING LOCK OR WHEEL TURNING PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265997

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH TACHOMETER WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. SPEEDOMETER WOULD STOP AT FASTEST SPEED AND NOT RETURN TO 0 THEN SUBSEQUENTLY GOES HIGHER WITH EACH START. WARNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF. ROLLING AWAY WHEN IN PARK AND NO BRAKES. STILL PERIODIC PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER WHEN COLD OR WET. VEHICLE EXCEEDS MILEAGE THAT DEALER WILL REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. (70000). GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. KNOWN DEFECT *TR

NHTSA ID

10238807

Incident

Oct 6, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

CLUNK NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE ALSO FELT IN STEERING. THIS COMPLAINT IS SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 031803 /; NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10001891. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233808

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

41,233 mi

FLUIDS LEAKING FROM CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230775

Incident

Jun 8, 2008

Mileage

105,686 mi

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE WIRES UNDER THE FRONT SEAT STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I GOT IN TO DRIVE THE TRUCK THE POWER SEAT DID NOT WORK. SO CHECKED THE FUSE AND IT WAS BLOWN. I CHANGED THE FUSE AND AS SOON AS I PUT IN A NEW FUSE IT WOULD BLOW ALSO I CHECKED THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THEY WERE MELTED TOGETHER. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND IF CHEVROLET SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE SAID THE WHOLE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NEXT WEEK I WILL TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230192

Incident

Jun 4, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, NO GAS GAUGE, NO SPEEDOMETER. GM SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING TO REPLACE BUT ONLY IF LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD OR 70,000 MILES. I HAVE MORE THAN 70,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218419

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IN 2003 CHEVY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212898

Incident

Dec 12, 2007

SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING CREATING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER AND TALKS WITH GM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. LETTERS OF NOTIFICATION HAVE STARTED BEING SENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 07. THIS WEB SITE SHOWS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM DATING BACK TO DEC OF 2005. ALL DESCRIBE AN UNSAFE SITUATION. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE 95,000 MILES ON MY 2003. GMC WILL REPAIR IF LESS THAN 70,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS. HOW CAN A SAFETY PROBLEM CREATED IN MY ILLEGAL TRUCK STOP BEING A LIABILITY TO GM AFTER 70,000 MILES. WHY AM I BEING PENALIZED FOR DRIVING MORE THAN 10,000 MILES A YEAR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10210206

Incident

Nov 11, 2007

Mileage

95,000 mi

53,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. NEEDLE IS PASS 120 MPH. VEHICLE IS A 2003 SPORT BED SILVERADO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208739

Incident

Nov 5, 2007

Mileage

53,158 mi

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 TRUCK--SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK READING 10 MPH TO FAST, SOMETIMES. IT VARIES, BUT CURRENTLY MY SPEEDOMETER THINKS 25MPH IS 0. THUS WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS 55MPH, I AM ACTUALLY(I THINK) DRIVING 25MPH. THS STARTING POINT CHANGES ON A DAILY BASIS. MY PROBLEM IS I ACTUALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING. FOR ME THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I TOW TRAILERS AND CARRY A LARGE TRUCK CAMPER. GM WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY ON ANY OF THE GM CARS/TRUCK. IN ADDITION THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH GM CUSTOMERS. GM WILL NOT ADMIT IT BECAUSE THE RECALL WOULD BE SO LARGE AND COSTLY, BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE GRAPEVINE(HIGHWAY5) AND YOU NOT SURE OF YOUR SPEED IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN HAULING 10K POUND IN BACK OF YOU. THIS COULD BECOME AN ACCIDENT JUST LIKE THE ONE A FEW WEEKS AGO. WITH THIS IN MIND GM WILL NOT DO A RECALL ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT IS TIME FOR NHTSA TO STEP IN AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST. BELOW IS LINKS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM--- 617 SIGNATURES--> HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/CHEVY07/ CBS NEWS STORY-->HTTP://CBS5.COM/INVESTIGATES/LOCAL_STORY_087204739.HTML CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT-->LEVY, RAM & OLSON LLP *TR

NHTSA ID

10208612

Incident

Nov 10, 2007

Mileage

100 mi

THUMPING IN STEERING SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE AND SHAKES AND HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVLEY WORSE. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED WHEN NEW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE.AK

NHTSA ID

10188024

Incident

Aug 16, 2004

Mileage

60 mi

I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND .PULLED OUT ON THE STREET....TURNED RIGHT AT THE LIGHT NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT. DROVE 1/8 OF A MILE TO A ROUND-A-BOUT AND NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER WAS SHOWING. THE SPEED WAS LESS THAN WHAT I ACTUALLY GOING. IT WILL DO THIS 2 OUT OF 10 TIMES THAT I DRIVE MY 03' TAHOE. I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR THE START UP AGAIN TO SOMETIMES GET IT TO WORK. I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL GET A SPEEDING TICKET DUE TO THE FACT I HAVE TO DRIVE BY RPM'S TO GUESS MY SPEED. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE FIX IS AROUND $700.00 BUT I HAVE TO SAVE UP FOR THAT AMOUNT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188020

Incident

Feb 28, 2007

Mileage

64,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER ON 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 STUCK AT 60 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183275

Incident

Jan 4, 2007

Mileage

105,000 mi

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS CONSTANTLY. SOMETIMES OFF BY 30-40 MPH, OTHER TIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177835

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY TRUCK LOST POWER WHICH MADE ME PULL OVER QUICKLY ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT..APPARENTLY I RAN OUT OF GAS, WHILE MY FUEL GAUGE WAS STILL SHOWING A QUARTER OF A TANK...ALSO OTHER GAUGES ON MY CLUSTER ARE NOT WORKING LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT IS A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND GM IS CHARGING OVER 600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR, MANY OWNERS ARE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177433

Incident

Dec 28, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO REAR BRAKES ROTTED AND DISINTEGRATED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157201

Incident

May 8, 2006

Mileage

8,690 mi