Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 42 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. 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 42 · page 1 of 2
DRIVING THROUGH A RURAL TOWN GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE VERY SOFT, BRAKE PEDAL WENT NEAR THE FLOOR, EASED IT HOME ON FRONT BRAKES (AS REAR LINE HAD RUPTURED). UPON INSPECTION BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED IN TWO JUST BEHIND THE FUEL TANK (LONG SECTION HAD RUSTED AWAY). REPLACED LINE GOING TO REAR BRAKES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE CLUTCH PANEL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED INTO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PANEL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,337.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,444.
WAS DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR WHEN TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AND I HAD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD INTO DITCH. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON 9/23/14 AND WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN WHILE DOWN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION AND NARROWLY MISSING HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I PURCHASED A LARGE BOTTLE OF BRAKE FLUID FROM A GAS STATION AND CONTINUED TO FILL THE BRAKE RESERVOIR UNTIL I MADE IT BACK TO MY LOCAL AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. DURING THE SHOP'S INVESTIGATION, THEY DISCOVERED THAT A STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD BURST DUE TO RUST. IN FURTHER INVESTIGATION THEY NOTICED THAT ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000.00. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES THAT WERE MUCH OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK THAT NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH BRAKE LINE RUST OR FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE SUDDEN NATURE OF THE FAILURE. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY, BUT IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS LINE OF GM TRUCKS SOMEONE COULD SERIOUSLY GET HURT OR WORSE. *TR
THANK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME AND KNEW WHAT TO DO. I WAS DRIVING. AS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WE HEAR A NOISE NOT HAVING A CLUE IN THE WORLD. HE SAID WE NEED TO FIND A PULL OFF AND SEE WHAT THAT COULD BE. AS I WENT TO EXIT OFF I DISCOVERED I HAD NO BRAKES. NONE WHATSOEVER. AS MY HUSBAND GETS IT TO A STOP WE DISCOVER BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT FROM BEHIND THE FUEL TANK AND BETWEEN THE CAB. I WAS PANICKING. MY HUSBAND CRAWLS UP UNDER IT TO DISCOVER ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT AND BUSTED. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE FIRST OF MARCH 2014 FROM JERRY (TODD) HUNT AUTO SALE IN LEXINGTON NC. HOW COULD HE EVEN BE ALLOWED TO SELL SUCH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE? THAT WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. HOW CAN CHEVROLET EVEN PUT SUCH BRAKE LINES ON AS THAT? AS I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. I CALLED TODD HUNTS TO HAVE THE LADY YELLING AT ME! RUDE! THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT...I SEEN DEATH BEFORE MY EYES THAT DAY. I FOUND ON CONSUMER AGENCY WHERE OUT OF 473 COMPLAINTS 101 WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE THE SAME TRUCKS THE YEARS 1999-2003. I ALSO FOUND IN NEW YORK TIMES WHERE GM ISN'T WANTING TO DO A RECALL CAUSE IT WAS GOING TO COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO NOW WHAT? WE ALL JUST GET KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,938.
FIRST COMPLAINT FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON 10/21/10. COMPLAINT #10361641. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DTR LIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE OUT,SMELLED BURNING WIRE SAW THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WIRES LEADING TO LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED AND ALSO MELTED THE SOCKET AGAIN. I THINK THIS COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I FIXED THE PROBLEM MYSELF THE FIRST TIME AND WILL DO SO THIS TIME. *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RESET THE COMPUTER AND REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ALONG WITH THE FUEL TRANSFER PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
FIRST FAILURE WAS THE DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM I WAS HOOKED UP TO A TRAILER AND STARTED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 0.4MILE LONG) AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. THERE WAS NO STOPPING EFFORT FROM THE BRAKES. I USED THE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BOTH BRAKE LINES UNDER THE CAB AREA HAD RUSTED OUT AND RUPTURED AT THE SAME TIME. HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD AT SPEED THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A CRASH. THE DEALER WHO PICKED UP THE TRUCK COMMENTED THAT THIS HAPPENS "SOMETIMES". HE REPLECED THE LINES WITH NON-GM ONES SO THEY WOULD LAST LONGER. THIS WINTER I WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE TRUCK IN COLD WEATHER AND NOTED THAT I NEEDED TO OPERATE THE MANUAL FUEL PRIMING PUMP TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED. (TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL DIESEL ENGINE. THE DEALER WHEN WORKING ON THIS NOTED THAT THE LINES WERE VERY RUSTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MY SAFETY CONCERN THIS TIME WAS THE SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WEEPING OUT OF THE RUSTED AREAS UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE EXHAUST. AND ONTO THE GROUND. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF RUST OCCURRING ON THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THIS WORRIES ME AS THE TRUCK ONLY HAS ABOUT 36,000 MILES ON IT AND I LIVE IN A STATE (VERMONT) THAT USES SAND AND NOT SALT ON THE ROADS AND TRAVEL ONLY MINIMALLY IN SNOW WITH THE TRUCK. WHEN I WAS HAVING THE FUEL LINES REPLACED AND WHILE THERE THE OTHER TWO CUSTOMERS IN LINE WERE ALSO HAVING RUSTED BRAKE LINES REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE. I HAVE REQUESTED THE RUSTED FUEL LINES FROM THE DEALER AND STILL HAVE THEM IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME WITH CAUTION. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUPTURED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. KJ
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TRUCK JUST STARTS STALLING OUT. GOT IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO SAYS THERE IS RUST IN THE TANK AND THE FUEL FILTER IS FULL OF IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD. THESE TRUCKS NEED TO BE RECALLED FOR THE FUEL TANKS. I'VE HAD VEHICLES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE RUST. THEY AT LEAST NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT. *TR
GM HAD A INJECTOR PROBLEM (RECALL ) IN 2006. THEY REPLACED MINE ON SEPT,27 2006. ON MAY 21 20013 I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN WHICH GM CONVEYS THEY CAN'T FIX IT AGAIN. THE MILEAGE ON MAY, 21 WAS 84362, JUST ABOUT HOW LONG THE OTHERS LASTED. I WAS TOLD FROM MY LOCAL GM DEALER THAT THEY ARE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM (THOUSANDS). I JUST WAITED TO PASS MY GRIEF ALONG TO LET SOMEONE ELSE KNOW HOW YOU ARE TREATED BY ONE OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE BAILED OUT WITH OUR MONIES. *TR
WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WENT TO STOP AND PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR,BLOWING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER ROAD.I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES ON THIS PROBLEM,WITH CHEVY PRODUCTS.THANK HEAVENS I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED. ENOUGH SAID SHOULD BE A RECALL,OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS ALL READY FINISHED ON THESE CORRODED LINES. *TR
BRAKE LINES HAD EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CORROSION/RUSTED CAUSING A LEAK(S). LINES GOING FROM THE ABS MODULE TO THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. LINES GOING FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE RESERVOIR WERE ALSO RUSTED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. LINES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN LEAKING A WEEK LATER. *TR
BRAKE LINES ARE ALL RUSTED AS ARE FUEL LINES, BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED LEAK AFTER HARD STOP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, REPAIR SHOP IS NOW REPLACING BRAKE LINES. *TR
HAD CORRODED FUEL LINES REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED THAT BRAKE LINES LOOKED IN BAD SHAPE AND SUGGESTED THEY BE REPLACED ALSO. HAD LIMITED USAGE OF MY TRUCK WHILE I LOOKED INTO HAVING THEM REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WITH MY WIFE IN TRUCK, AS I WENT TO STOP, LINE RUPTURED, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND I CAME CLOSE TO GOING THROUGH STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING CAR. I REPLACE THE LINE SINCE IT WAS EASY, AND NOW ON 7/8/2003 TWO MORE LINES HAVE RUPTURED. *TR
WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT WENT TO STOP AND LOST BRAKES. I GOT IT BACK HOME AND INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT IT BLEW A REAR AND FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED SO BAD WE REPLACED THEM ALL. UPON REPLACING BRAKE LINES I NOTICED THAT FUEL LINES WERE ALSO ROTTED SEVERELY AND ONE WAS WET WITH DIESEL. THE TRUCK IS USED EVERYDAY AND DOESN'T SIT. THESE LINES SHOULD NOT ROT THIS BAD THIS FAST. SOME THING GM SHOULD ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THANK YOU *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT AFTER HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
ON THE ABOVE LISTED DATE THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN HILL NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE, THIS WAS NOT A COMPLETE FAILURE AS I WAS ABLE TO STOP, GET TURNED AROUND AND GO HOME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND A BRAKE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH. WHILE LOOKING ON LINE FOR PARTS AND GUIDANCE I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE WHICH PROMPTED ME TO FURTHER INSPECT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK. I MUST SAY THAT I TOTALLY AGREE ALL THE COMMENTS MADE REGARDING RUST ON THESE VEHICLES, IT IS QUITE EXCESSIVE. AS I LOOKED CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF RUST ON ALL COMPONENTS OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE, IE CAB MOUNTS, BED MOUNTS ALL BRAKE LINES, SPRINGS, SPRING SHACKLES, THE ENTIRE FRAME AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH HAS BEEN IN UPSTATE NEW YORK SINCE NEW. THE UNDER CARRIAGE LOOKS NEW COMPARED TO THE CHEVY. I FEEL G.M. MUST HAVE USED A VERY POOR GRADE OF UNDER COATING ON THESE VEHICLES AND TO LEAVE SOMETHING LIKE BRAKE LINES UNPROTECTED LIKE THAT IS JUST WRONG. I'M JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE TOWING THE FIFTH WHEEL. I ALSO FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
2003 CHEVY SILVERADO LAST YEAR BRAKE LINES BROKE WHILE ON ROAD DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION LINES . WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT REPLACED ALL LINES ON VEHICLE. NOW ALL ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THEM . POOR QUALITY OF ROTORS AND CALIBERS ON VEHICLE . WE ONLY HAVE 38,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
FULL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. DURING A PANIC STOP TO AVOID A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ALL THE METAL BRAKE LINES BETWEEN THE ABS MODULE AND THE WHEEL ENDS BURST DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION BUILD UP. ALL THE METAL LINES MUST BE REPLACED WITH NEW. *TR
VEHICLE IS A CHEVY 2003 4X4 3500 DUALLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 87,000 MILES. SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE LEAK I SINCE HAD FIXED. WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL SLAMS TO THE FLOOR AND IN REVERSE THERE IS ALSO A LOUD CLUNK THAT SHAKES THE TRUCK. *TR
WHILE DRIVING HOME AROUND 10 PM WITH SMALL CHILDREN; MY TRUCK STARTED TO SURGE, BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND THE GAUGES DID NOT REGISTER ANYTHING ( ALL AT 0). THIS ROAD WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND OUTSIDE A BAD AREA, SO I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME FOLLOW ME HOME AND I DROVE HOME SLOWLY ALL THE WHILE ENDURING A CHUGGING MOTION. WHAT IS NORMALLY A 20 MINUTE TRIP BECAME AN HOUR AND A HALF TRIP. WHEN I GOT HOME AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT THINKING THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS COULD BE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAD JUST BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START WHEN HE WENT TO RESTART IT AND THE DASH SAID 'UNKNOWN DRIVER". THROUGH SOME RESEARCH WE DISCOVERED IT IS A FAULTY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. WE WENT THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WAS FIXED. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN TODAY AUGUST 18, 2011 WHILE DRIVING AND I NOW CAN NOT START MY VEHICLE OR HAVE IT TOWED BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE PUT ON A TRUCK BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP TIGHT AND CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. WE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE KEY FOBS TO NO AVAIL. THE WINDOWS ARE STUCK OPEN AND IT IS RAINY SEASON HERE. THEY LIGHTS COME ON AND THE INFORMATION CENTER KEEPS SAYS 'UNKNOWN DRIVER." I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK FOR FEAR THAT THE NEXT TIME I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I HAVE AN 18 YEAR OLD THAT DRIVES MY TRUCK TO COLLEGE AND I LIVE IN GREAT FEAR THAT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IF IT DOES THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR
GM PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STRANDED . THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *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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