Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 101 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hd. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 101 · page 1 of 5
1) BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2) A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED ONLY TO BE TOTALLY DEAD WITHIN 1 WEEK 3) ALTERNATOR REPLACED AS THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM 4) FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND IT IS THE ABS SYSTEM AS THE MODULATOR / PUMP FOR THIS SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUALLY RUN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WILL STOP WORKING. NO GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, OR TACHOMETER. USUALLY OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING/HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL. SOMETIMES THE CLUSTER WILL BECOME ACTIVE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, BUT USUALLY DOESN'T.
BRIGHT LITE INDICATOR LITE COMES ON DASH WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION, KILLS BATTERY OVER NITE. GAS GAUGE IN DASH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, TRUCK HAS TO GET MOVING, SOMETIMES RIGHT AWAY AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE LONGER. HAD TO REPLACE MY THROTTLE BODY CONTROL A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR
SEVERAL OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE SNAPPED/SHEARED CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS BETWEEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PORT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. I'M LEARNING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT HAS GONE UNADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IS CLEARLY AN EMISSIONS AND FUNCTIONALITY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP IN HOLDING THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS APPARENT MECHANICAL DEFECT. AS OF NOW, THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE ISSUE.
MY WHOLE DASHBOARD STOPS WORKING THE GAUGES LIGHTS EVERYTHING JUST STOPPED WORKING. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE AND EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING BUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT ALL CAME BACK ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND IT ALL SHUT OFF AGAIN AND NEVER CAME BACK ON I MADE IT HOME AND TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND WENT INSIDE. I GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING TO GO TO WORK AND CRANKED THE TRUCK AND NO GAUGES OR LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING STILL. I SLAMMED MY HAND DOWN ON TOP OF THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING CAME ON AND WAS WORKING BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF AGAIN.
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS AND A CRASH. THE LINES FAILED AT A POINT DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. IT WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ALSO DAMAGING THAT.
265/65/16 MICHELIN LTX M/S2 TIRE, THESE TIRES WERE NEW AND PURCHASED ON 6/21/16, ON 7/11/16 LESS THEN ONE MONTH I HAD TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE 3 ROWS OF TREADS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL FOUR TIRES BECAME SEVERELY SEPARATED AND WORN RENDERING ALL FOUR TIRES AS JUNK CAUSING THE PICKUP TO SHAKE BADLY WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MICHELIN DIDN'T WANT HONOR ANY WARRANTIES, CLAIMS, ETC., INCLUDING THE MICHELIN PLUS GUARANTY. THIS IS WHERE IF YOU ARE NOT 100% SATISFIED WITHIN 30 DAYS YOU CAN GET A REPLACEMENT FREE. AFTER ONE BRAKING INCIDENT ALL THE TIRES WAS JUNK. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THESE TIRES TO ANYONE. THE TREAD PATTERN OF THESE TIRES IS THE DIRECT CAUSE. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES.
JAN. 2014 IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS I WENT TO APPLY BRAKES FOR A RED LIGHT AND PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, AND WAS NOT HIT AS I COASTED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE FOR STOPPING WHILE I MANEUVERED TO MY HOME. UPON INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE TRUCK FRAME AND FEEDS BRAKE FLUID TO THE FRONT BRAKES HAD RUPTURED. I WAS ASTOUND WHEN I SAW THE CONDITION OF THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT THE LINES WERE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL OR SOME OTHER MATERIAL THAT WOULD NOT RUST WHEN EXPOSED TO THE ROAD SALT THAT USED HEAVILY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. I'M ALSO CONCERN ABOUT THE FUEL LINES BECAUSE THEIR CONDITION IS THE SAME AS THE BRAKE LINES AND APPEAR TO MADE OUT OF A FERROUS MATERIAL ALSO.
THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED DURING THE FOLLOWING YRS AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR NOW FOR EACH YR FROM 2005 TILL 2015 COMING HOME FROM DAUGHTERS AND LOST ALL HEAD LAMPS AND DRIVING LIGHTS SO WAS DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS WITH NO LIGHTS , THANKFULLY WE MADE IT HOME THE LAST 2 MILES NEXT DAY TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE LAMPS , TWO WEEKS LATER GOT PULLED OVER DUE TO RUNNING LIGHTS ONE WAS OUT AND GOT WARNING ABOUT THAT .......................THIS HAS HAPPENED 12 TIMES SINCE WE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE 2005 AND WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BUT NOW AFTER 6 MONTHS LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN AND GET PULLED OVER DUE TO ONLY ONE HEADLAMP IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING? MOSTLY THIS IS JUST ON DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP AND RUNNING LIGHT IT KEEPS BLOWING THE LAMPS OUT OCCASIONALLY IT BLOWS BOTH SIDES AND FRONT RUNNING LAMPS. *TR
THE BRAKE LINES BASICALLY RUSTED OFF THE TRUCK, THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I WENT TO USE THE TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I STARTED SMELLING BRAKE FLUID. HAD IT TOWED TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE (06/04/2011) THE LINES THAT SHOWED THE MAIN PROBLEM WERE CHANGED FOR NEW. EXACTLY 2 YEARS I HAD MY BIG CAR TRAILER HOOKED UP LOADED WITH MY TRACTOR. ANOTHER LINE GOING TO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK RUPTURED IN THE YARD. GOING BACK TO THE SHOP AGAIN, I HAD A COMPANY OUT WEST MAKE ALL NEW STAINLESS STEAL LINES FOR IT.(06/20/2014) AND NOW I'M AGAIN BROKEN DOWN AGAIN (03/07/2015). THIS HAS COST ME A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND I'M NOT THROUGH I FEAR. THIS TIME THE ABS SYSTEM WANTS TO CONTINUE TO RUN AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. GM SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THIS. *TR
3 OF THE 6 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF ON LEFT SIDE ,2 ON THE RIGHT SIDE . I NOW HAVE THE EXHAUST TICKING SOUND AND ON OCCASION GET EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE CAB.I NOTICED THE FIRST BROKEN BOLT AT APPROX 55000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 112000 MILES. *TR
WHILE USING THE TRUCK TO REMOVE A ROOT BALL WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKE OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OUR MECHANIC REPLACED FOUR BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST, CORROSION AND LEAKS. WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED WHILE WORKING IN THE BACK YARD AND NOT WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE TOWING OUR 3000 POUND BOAT! AFTER SEEING ALL THE REPORTED PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS. *TR
BRAKE LINES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING - NO LIGHT SHOWING COMPRESSION OR FLUID LEAKING. STILL NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, WE COULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE KNEW HOW TO REACT BY DOWN SHIFTING TO SAVE US. THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALL RUSTED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WE FEEL THAT GM USED CHEAP METAL FOR THESE LINES AND COULD HAVE COMPROMISED OUR LIVES. *TR
YES,I WAS BUYING A NEW TRAILER WHEN I WAS GOING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION,THE BRAKE PEDAL, WENT TO FLOOR,LUCKILY USING TRAILER BRAKES,I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOP,NOTICE LINE BROKE DUE TO RUST,I REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL FROM A COMPANY WHO PRE-BEND NEW PIECES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THIS TRUCK,DUE TO COST,NOW FUEL LINE LEAKING CAUSING BRAKING DOWN ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY,UNTIL AAA CAME BUT HAD TRAILER ON THAT MADE THE SITUATION HARDER,SO AFTER INCONVENIENCE,HAVE TO PUT NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINES.THANKS FOR THE TIME TO READ[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
OK THE PROBLEM I'M ABOUT TO STATE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 1500 HDS SINCE THEY WHERE NEW AND CHEVY HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS WITH A REFUSAL TO REPAIR. THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL IS WHAT THE PEDAL SENSOR TELLS TO MOVE THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERY SO OFTEN (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY) THIS MODULE WEIRDS OUT AND PUTS THE TRUCK IN TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER (LIMP MODE) AND WON'T DO OVER 25 MPH WHICH IS VERY HAZARDOUS WHEN TRAVELING FREEWAYS AND TURN PIKES WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS HIGH.I MYSELF HAVE BEEN ALMOST RAN OVER BY BIG RIGS BECAUSE MY TRUCK DECIDED TO GO INTO THIS REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I MYSELF HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH CHEVROLET CORPORATE WITH THEM TELLING ME THAT I'M SCREWED AND TO GET OVER IT. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I JUST WISH CHEVY WOULD STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF BLOWING US OFF. *TR
I WAS PULLING INTO MY CIRCLE COMING DOWN THE HILL AND MY BRAKES STARTED TO FEEL VERY SOFT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL JUST BELOW THE CURB. I WAS JUST GRATEFUL THAT THERE WERE NO CARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THIS TIME. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A TRAIL OF FLUID ON THE STREET COMING DOWN THE HILL UNDER MY TRUCK. I GOT DOWN AND LOOKED UNDER AND THERE WAS A HUGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID. I TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID ALL MY BRAKE LINES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FROM A 40 YR. OLD CAR, ALL RUSTED OUT. COST ME A BOAT LOAD TO REPLACE, THAT IS AFTER THEY TRACKED DOWN REPLACEMENT LINES (TOOK THEM OVER A WEEK). THANKS CHEVY, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAW IN THE LINES ON THIS TRUCK. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING MY LIFE INTO CONSIDERATION AND RECALLING THESE BRAKE LINES. O WAIT, YOU DIDN'T? THAT'S RIGHT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SLAMMED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE I HAD ZERO BRAKING FROM THE PEDAL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND SAW A RUSTED BRAKE LINE DRIPPING FLUID. IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE BECAUSE I LOST ALL BRAKING FUNCTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT FOUR OF THE EXHAUST HEADER MANIFOLD BOLT HEADS WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE AIR VENT DUCT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,403 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
RADIO SPEAKERS WENT OUT WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER TINKERED WITH BUT NEVER FOUND EXACT PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE. THEN LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 4 YEARS AGO STILL DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. FUEL GAUGE INOP. 2 YRS AGO. THEN SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. AND SINCE OCT 2013 VEHICLE JUST DIES AT LOW RPMS OR IDLES ERRATIC. ONE OUT OF 53 DAYS MOST EVERYTHING. WORKS FINE EXCEPT FUEL GAUGE. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN ALL THE PROBLEMS COME BACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ALL PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT WITH THE IT BEING OVER THE MILEAGE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTHING CAN BE DONE AND SINCE JUST SWAPPING OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MAY NOT FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH IT. *JS
BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED. LEFT REAR LINE BUSTED WHILE GOING 60 MPH AND LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR
THIS WAS NOT A WRECK BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON MY TRUCK. LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. GOOGLED THIS AND HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS. CHEVY DOES NOT MAKE THE LINES ANYMORE AND HAVE REDESIGNED THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2004 UP TRUCKS. $3100 TO REPLACE IF YOU CAN FIND THEM. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A TRUCK THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER. THANK GOD IT WAS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. HAD TO SLAM IT INTO 4WD AND PUT TRANS IN LOW THEN NEUTRAL AND THEN RAN OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILERADO/K1500...IN NOVEMEBER 2012 A BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED INTO THE CHEVY DEALER IN PARAMUS WHERE I LIVE...OVER THE HOLIDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT BRAKE LINE...THE DEALER TOLD ME HE WAS DOIDN A SINILAR JOB ON A CAR FROM THAT YEAR OF VEHICLES....IT APPEARS THE BRAKE LINES CAN RUPTURE LEVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT BRAKESTHE DEALER IS ORDERING ME A STAINLESS STEEL KIT ...NOT FROM CHEVY OR GM BUT THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS HE EXPECTS THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES WILL ALSO FAIL SOON.... CHEVY NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THESE FAULTY BRAKE LINESBEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. *TR
PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL GOING OVER A HILL AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PUMPING PEDAL DID NOT HELP TO BUILD ANY PRESSURE. PULLED OFF THE ROAD BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND FLUID WAS ALL UNDER LEFT REAR OF TRUCK. MECHANIC INSPECTED RUPTURE IN FACTORY STEEL LINE AND ALL OTHER LINES RUSTED. *TR
WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO CREEP FORWARD TOWARD PEOPLE IN THE CROSSWALK. DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL FURTHER RESULTED IN IT FADING, ENDING IN A FULLY DEPRESSED POSITION WITH NO MORE PEDAL TRAVEL AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD INTO THE CROSSWALK. PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL STOPPED VEHICLE MOVEMENT. AFTER STOPPING AND INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHOWED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM ONE OF THE METALLIC BRAKE LINES SERVING THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND PLACING IT ON THE SERVICE RACK, INSPECTION SHOWED THAT ALL THE METALLIC BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED OVER THE MAJORITY OF THE LINE SURFACE. THE RIGHT FRONT LINE DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LINE SEPARATED WHILE CHECKING THE CONDITION OF THE LINE. THE OTHER BRAKES LINES ARE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE FAILURE IS IMMINENT. ALL THE METALLIC BRAKE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, DOWN TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THEN OUT TO EACH BRAKE CALIPER MUST BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM CREATED A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN BODILY INJURY TO THE PEDESTRIANS IN THE CROSSWALK. WITHOUT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL IT WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LINES, THE FUEL LINES SHOW EXCESSIVE RUST AS WELL. THE DEALER DOES NOT RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES AT THIS TIME, BUT REPLACEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR
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.
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