2003 Chevrolet Silverado Body & structure Problems

BRAKE LINES, GAS LINE, TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES ALL RUSTED/CORRODED BEGINNING AT UNDER 50,000 MILES. * HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS AS THE BRAKE LINES BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND WAS DECELERATING IN AN ATTEMPT TO COME TO A STOP..PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, I CONTINUED ON (FOOT OFF THE GAS) UNTIL THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH ON IT'S OWN, SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR & WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP AND GET TOWED. * SHORTLY AFTER BRAKE LINE INCIDENT, THE SAME THING WITH THE GAS LINE, RUSTED/CORRODED AND LEAKED GASOLINE WHEN IGNITION WAS ON AND PUMP WAS RUNNING... TOWED * A FEW ,MONTHS LATER, I WAS PARKING THE TRUCK AND FLUID STARTED SPEWING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK - AFTER CLOSE EXAMINATION I DETERMINED IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID, THE LINES HAD RUSTED/CORRODED - AGAIN,TOWED. * REAR BUMPER ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY BEFORE HITTING 35,000 MILES- I HAD IT REPLACED, NOW THE WHEELS AND SIDE QUARTER PANELS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN ARE ALSO ROTTING OUT. * CURRENTLY THE DASH LIGHTS/PANEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY BEGIN TO FLASH - THE WHOLE DASH GOES BLANK, LIGHTS OFF, THEN THEY COME BACK ON, WHILE DRIVING! **MY MECHANIC RECENTLY TOLD ME AFTER STATE INSPECTION, THAT THE FRAME IS THE NEXT THING TO GO, IT IS RUSTING OUT MORE THAN EXPECTED FOR A VEHICLE OF IT'S AGE/LOW MILEAGE. PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT INFERIOR PRODUCTS WERE USED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCT WITH TWICE THE MILEAGE AND 6 YEARS OLDER WITH BARELY ANY RUST/ROT/CORROSION.

NHTSA ID

10836694

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR BUG OFTEN DUE TO CORROSION AFTER LESS THAN 1000 MILES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED COVER OVER THE AC LINE AND THAT HAD LITTLE EFFECT. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712809

Incident

Apr 10, 2015

FRAME RUST ENOUGH TO VOID INSPECTION. RUST NOTICED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE NOW FAILS INSPECTION. I HAVE ANOTHER OLDER GM VEHICLE HOUSED IN THE SAME PLACE, DRIVEN IN THE SAME AREA WITH DOUBLE THE MILEAGE AND THREE YEARS OLDER WITHOUT THIS ISSUE. I FEEL IT IS DESIGN/MATERIALS ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10616670

Incident

Jul 24, 2014

WHILE CHANGING MY OIL I NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE BRAKE FLUID LINES RUNNING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE MODULE UNDER THE TRUCK (ALONG TO FRAME RAIL). I BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR PRE-BEND REPLACEMENTS AND FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF ISSUES WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I WANT TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I AM UNABLE TO FIND EXACT REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID LINES. IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE ARE REPLACING THEM WITH STRAIGHT STOCK BRAKE LINES AND GETTING THE CORRECT SHAPE AND LENGTH IS DIFFICULT. THESE THINGS APPEAR TO BE HARD TO REPLACE. I WANT TO REPLACE THESE TO ENSURE THE TRUCK IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT EVEN GM DOES NOT APPEAR TO PROVIDE A DIRECT REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525851

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

81,524 mi

SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID EA11001, BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH ON FRAME BEHIND DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. FRAME/UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE IS VERY RUSTED FOR VEHICLE'S AGE/MILEAGE. CHEVROLET DEALER ESTIMATING $2,700 TO REPLACE WITH STAINLESS STEEL LINES. LUCKILY, NO CARS/PEOPLE WERE IN FRONT OF TRUCK WHEN BRAKE LINES BURST AND GREATLY REDUCED BRAKING POWER/INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419727

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

IN-DASH GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT IS INOPERABLE. LIGHT STOPPED BURNING FOR NO REASON AND DURING THE DAY TIME CAN NOT SEE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE IN PARK AND COULD ROLL AWAY FROM VEHICLE OPERATOR WHEN IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE IN A PARKED POSITION. TO FIX THE LIGHT ONE LARGE PART THAT COVERS MULTIPLE DASH COMPONENTS IS REPLACED NOT JUST A SINGLE COMPONENT AND THIS PART COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EVEN IF OTHER COMPONENTS ARE WORKING FINE. THIS COMPONENT ALSO HAS TO BE INSTALLED BY A DEALERSHIP SINCE IT COVERS THE ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328239

Incident

Apr 30, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 SILVERADO FOR JUST OVER 3 YEARS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS ALREADY: 1) THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT HOT AIR-- HAS BEEN FIXED. 2)VIBRATION NOISE IN REAR END AROUND 30-40 MPH--?? CAN'T BE FIXED/DUPLICATED. 3) SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING--REPLACED AT MY COST; WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED, GO FIGURE; ALSO HAD TO GO TO COURT TO FIGHT SPEEDING TICKET! ( RELATIVE HAS SAME TRUCK, SAME PROBLEM!) 4) WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF, I GET TO PAY FOR THIS ONE TOO, AFTER WARRANTY. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE OUT! NOT VERY SAFE IN CRAZY MI WEATHER!! 5) ALSO HAD TAILGATE CABLES REPLACED UNDER RECALL. 6) BACK SEAT LOOP REPLACED DUE TO RECALL. NO WONDER CHEVY IS NOT DOING WELL, WHO WANTS TO SPEND OVER $30,000 FOR A PIECE OF JUNK! WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152636

Incident

Mar 12, 2006

DT: CONTACT STATED HE AND 2 OTHERS JUMPED ON A TAILGATE TO TRANSPORT A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY. THE CABLES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE BROKE, CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO GO DOWN. THIS , IN TURN, IT CAUSED HIM TO FALL OUT, HITTING THE PAVEMENT. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10144580

Incident

Nov 12, 2005

Mileage

27,575 mi

RECALL FOR SUPPORT CABLES FIXED ON 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 SILVERADO. REFERENCE CONSUMER LETTER 10109434 REGARDING THE OTHER 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 ALSO OWNED BY THE COMPLAINANT. *MR THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PROVIDE THE DEALER WITH THE PARTS . *NM

NHTSA ID

10117776

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

NHTSA RECALL 04V129000 ON THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10106824

Incident

Nov 26, 2004

Mileage

34,500 mi

RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE RECALL THE RECALL (04V-129000) ON THE SUPPORT CABLE FIXED ON HIS TWO TRUCKS. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *NM REFERENCE CONSUMER LETTER 10109434 REGARDING THE OTHER 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 ALSO OWNED BY THE COMPLAINANT. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PROVIDE THE DEALER WITH THE PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109434

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT BACK OF THE FRONT WHEEL SIDE WAS 1/2 INCH LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONDITION CARRIED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK FRAME AND TO THE BACK SPRINGS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109063

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

CONSUMER WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE WHEN CABLES BROKE. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089544

Incident

Aug 23, 2004

Mileage

38,000 mi

WHILE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO HAVE THE TAILGATE RECALL 04V129000 REPAIRS PERFORMED THE RIGHT TAILGATE CABLE BROKE, AND THE TAILGATE FELL ON THE CONSUMER'S HAND. THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING LOADED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079543

Incident

Jun 20, 2004

CONSUMER WAS PULLING DOWN THE TAILGATE AND THE CABLES SNAPPED. CONSUMER PLACED THE CABLES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO CABLES WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10065386

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

PAINT OVER ENTIRE TRUCK IS VERY THIN AND CHIPS AND SCRATCHES DOWN TO THE METAL CAUSED BY SUCH THINGS AS SNOW BETWEEN TAILGATE AND BED. HAVE 3 OLDER CHEVROLET TRUCKS AND NONE OF THE OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10060408

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

Mileage

3,000 mi

TAILGATE CABLES ON 2003 SILVERADO - PREMATURE RUSTING AND POSSIBLE FAILURE. INSPECTED TAILGATE CABLES AND FOUND THEM TO BE RUSTING ALREADY UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC COATING. THE TRUCK IS ONLY 18 MOS OLD. THEY HAVEN'T BROKE YET, BUT I FEAR PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO THE FREQUENT USE OF THE TAILGATE - ESPECIALLY STANDING ON IT LOADING & UNLOADING BOXES AND CARGO. RELUCTANTLY, I MIGHT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SET OF (DEFECTIVE) CABLES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059080

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

Mileage

28,000 mi

CONSTANT WIND NOISE FROM HOOD HINGE FLAPS AND TOP WINDSHIELD SEAL AT 50 AND ABOVE. ALSO DRIVER DOOR SEAL SQUEALS. I REPAIRED THE FLAPPING NOISES MYSELF AFTER THE DEALER TRIED 6 TIMES AND SAID IT WAS MY BUG DEFLECTOR. THE DOOR SEAL WAS REPLACED AFTER 6 TRIPS AND IS WORSE NOW THAN THEN. I REPAIRED THIS AS WELL AS I COULD. THEY REPLACED 1 OF 3 SEALS. AFTER 6 VISITS FOR MY GOODYEAR TIRES (NOTHING FOUND WRONG AGAIN) THEY DECIDE TO REPLACE THEM. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET TIRES AND THEN THEY REPLACED 2. THE TRANS IS CLUNKER AND HAS COMPUTER SOFTWARE ISSUES CAUSING SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. THE COMPUTER THINKS IT IS OK SO NO CODES WILL BE STORED. I ALSO POINTED OUT THE GM TSB'S TO THEM ON THIS PROBLEM. I MAY AS WELL GO TO THE ZOO FOR SERVICE AT LEAST I GET TO EXPECT POOR SERVICE FROM WILD ANIMALS. I WROTE THE VP OF GM AND HE RESPONDED TO ME AND FORWARDED MY LETTER TO VP OF SALES AND SERVICE. WENT BACK FOR REPAIRS AND STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE NEW TIRES WITH 1000 MILES ARE BAD JUST LIKE THE OTHERS. $38,000 PIECE OF JUNK WITH $3.00 HR MONKEYS REPAIRING IT. WHAT A JOKE, THEY CAN HAVE THIS TRUCK BACK SINCE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS ALSO REFUSED SERVICE TWO TIMES BY MY LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT ELSE WHERE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID: "YOU ARE NOT OUR LOYAL CUSTOMER AND IF WE DECIDE TO SERVICE YOU, YOU GO BEHIND OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS, REGUARDLESS OF ORDER". I THINK HE MAY BE LOOKING FOR OTHER EMPLOYMENT NOW THAT THE VP CALLED ME TO DISCUSS MY CONCERNS, BUT THAT IS STILL AGAINST THE LAW AND THE GM CONTRACT. THINK I AM GOING TO JUST GET A HORSE AND WHEN IT STOPS WORKING JUST SHOOT IT.

NHTSA ID

10071175

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

10,140 mi

THE ODOMETER SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILURE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10031946

Mileage

2,000 mi