2003 Chevrolet Silverado Electrical 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

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEATER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING AND I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC OR INSULATION. I PULLED OVER AND FIGURED OUT IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. LOGICALLY I PULLED THE BOTTOM COVER OFF FROM BELOW THE BLOWER ASSY.(FORMER MECHANIC). SMELL WAS COMING FROM PLUG HARNESS AND RELAY. MELTED WIRE INSULATION AND MELTED PLASTIC FROM PLUG HARNESS(OBVIOUS SHORT). I WAS NEAR AN AUTO PARTS STORE AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY HAD THIS WIRING PLUG ASSY. AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT GM HAD AND THERE HAD BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS. IT'S WINTER AND I NEEDED A DEFROSTER! ROADSIDE FIX, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. CONTACTED GM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER WASN'T PART OF THEIR RECALL. GM CASE # 8-174060432. NOT DROPPING THIS, THIS COULD HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.

NHTSA ID

10817711

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

126,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND OF THREE FATAL COLLISIONS INVESTIGATED THIS YEAR BY MY OFFICE INVOLVING CHEVROLET PICKUPS THAT CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISIONS. THIS WAS AN OFF SET HEAD ON, PASSENGER SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. PASSENGER IN PICKUP WAS PINNED IN VEHICLE DUE TO CRUSH AND CONSUMED BY FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10759204

Incident

May 21, 2015

THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS ALWAYS DRAWING POWER. BATTERY GOES DEAD IF I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICAL FOR ONE DAY.

NHTSA ID

10721298

Incident

May 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM READING ANY OF THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL CONNECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,289.

NHTSA ID

10714475

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

154,289 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 227,792.

NHTSA ID

10706588

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

227,792 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10693233

Incident

Mar 8, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH RESISTORS, DEFECTIVE FROM FACTORY. RESISTORS GET SO HOT THEY MELT AND MELT THE END OFF THE FACTORY WIRING HARNESS. THE WIRES AND BLOWER MOTOR ARE SUPPOSE TO BE PROTECTED BY A FUSE BUT THE FUSE NEVER BLOWS. REPLACED RESISTORS IN 2013 BUT IT DID NOT LAST 1 YEAR AND BURNED UP AGAIN IN 2014! GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS BUT DOES NOT CARE IF THE WIRES OVER HEAT AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595660

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

62,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO LT MANUFACTURED IN NOV 2002, FOR THE PAST YR AND A HALF THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MY OUTSIDE TEMP AND DIRECTION INDICATOR LOCATED ON THE REAR VIEW, THE HEATED SEATS, THE REMOTE ENTRY HAVE ALL STOPPED WORKING AND SOMETIMES THE STEREO WILL COME ON AND WORK PROPERLY BUT WITH NO SOUND, CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET A JUMP START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED WHILE PARKED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS AT DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS I FOUND OUT THAT THOSE ITEMS I JUST LISTED ARE CONTROLLED BY THE BODY CONTROL MODULE OR (BCM). ALSO THAT IT WILL DRAW POWER OFF OF THE BATTERY. THAT IS THE SAME PROBLEM RECALLED ON THE OTHER GM VEHICLES, WHY IS THE RECALL NOT BEING ADDED TO THE CHEVY TRUCKS AS WELL. MY TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED VERY CLOSE TO THE SAME TIME AS THE MALIBU'S AND OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588895

Incident

Sep 17, 2012

I PURCHASED MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK IN 2003 NEW OFF THE LOT AT [XXX] IN ROSEVILLE CALIFORNIA. WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND LOST POWER. I NEARLY HIT A HOMELESS MAN WITH A SHOPPING CART, AS I CAME UP OVER A SIDEWALK. I CALLED CHEVY AND GOT TOWED BACK IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SOLENOID? THEY FIXED IT AND THAT WAS THAT. A YEAR LATER, I AM DRIVING DOWN A BUSY MAJOR STREET AND MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS TURNING I LOSE POWER AND MY TRUCK DIES. CARS BEHIND ME HONKING. LIGHT CHANGES TO RED AND CARS STILL BEHIND ME. NOW OTHER LIGHTS ARE GREEN. I TURN MY KEY AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON AND I GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE 4 TEENAGERS IN MY TRUCK WITH ME SCREAMING. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX] AND THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING HAPPENS. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. COULDN'T GET IT TO DIE ON THEM. A YEAR LATER, MAKE A U TURN ON BUSY STREET. IT DIES AND LOSES POWER. I HAVE NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. CARS HONKING. AGAIN TAKE IT TO [XXX]. NOTHING. A YEAR LATER, TAKING A CAR LOAD OF WOMEN OUT TO DINNER AND DRINKS. ALL HARD WORKING MOTHERS. I AM THE ONLY NON DRINKER. AT MIDNIGHT I AM TAKING THE WOMEN HOME. U-TURN AT INTERSECTION, AND TRUCK DIES. AGAIN. NO BRAKES OR STEERING. SCARED WOMEN. TURN IT OVER AND IT GOES. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX]. THEY HAVE JUST MOVED TO ANOTHER BUILDING DOWN THE STREET. ALL MY RECORDS OF IGNITION PROBLEMS GONE. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ANY OF THEM WENT. THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING. THEY HAVE YET TO FIX ANYTHING ON IT. IT HASN'T DONE IT IN OVER A YEAR. BUT NO TELLING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. IT JUST HAPPENS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10569184

Incident

Mar 10, 2012

Mileage

99,201 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON US19 IN NEW PORT RICHEY, FL, WHEN TRAFFIC SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT AND I LOST ALL BRAKES HAD TO VEER OFF THE ROAD ALMOST GOT INTO A HEAD ON ACCIDENT, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES, COULD NOT CHANGE THE GEARS, EVERYTHING JUST FROZE. WE JUST MOVED FROM CONNECTICUT A YEAR AGO. NOW THE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER PANEL IS NOT WORKING, RPM, SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING AT ALL, IT JUST STATES ON 0, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567587

Incident

Oct 2, 2013

Mileage

181,433 mi

2003 SILVERADO STARTED BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS PUTTING GAS IN . KEY WAS IN IGNITION BUT WAS NOT TURNED ON. IT STARTED IN REDUCED POWER MODE. I DO NOT HAVE A REMOTE START INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562541

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

207,345 mi

AIR CONDITIONER SHORTS OUT. WE HAVE HAD EVERY PANEL REPLACED TRYING TO FIX IT, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCKS BRAKES ROTTING OUT AND BRAKE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED 2/2013. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT AND SEATBELT. BOTH HAVE COMPLETELY BROKEN IN THE TRUCK 5/2013. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532902

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

I HAVE READ IN THE INTERNET THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS. IT IS SORT OF RIDICULOUS TO TAKE OFF A BATTERY TO CLEAN IT . PUT BACK ON AND NOTHING BUT HOT AIR ON PASSENGER. MY WIFE IS PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THIS, SHE WILL NOT EVEN DRIVE IN MY TRUCK ANYMORE. WHAT A CRYING SHAME! *TR

NHTSA ID

10504838

Incident

Jan 12, 2011

OVERHEATED CONNECTOR IN DASH, POSSIBLY LOOSE AT ASSEMBLY. ORIGIN BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL, DRIVER SIDE OF DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501405

Incident

Feb 21, 2013

Mileage

129,000 mi

AFTER A 3 MILE RIDE, BACKING UP TRUCK NOTICED SMOKE THEN FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE MELTED ALL ELECTICAL LINES, DESTROYED HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. WEATHER WAS PERFECT, AIR CONDITIONING MAY HAVE BEEN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464589

Incident

Jun 7, 2010

Mileage

84,000 mi

MY SPEEDOMETER READS 125+ MPH WHEN I'M ONLY DRIVING 55MPH ACCORDING TO MY GPS. MY OIL PRESSURES GAUGE AND AMMETER ALSO INDICATE READINGS IN EXCESS OF MECHANICAL LIMITS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436308

Incident

Nov 27, 2008

TRUCK HAS 82,000 MILES. SPEEDOMETER BEEN ACTING UP LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.SITTING PARK IT READS 40MPH.I SEE WHERE EVERYONE WHO OWNS A SILVERADO HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CLUSTERS. ARE ALL MY GAUGES GONNA GO OUT NOW?....HOW BAD ARE THE ALL GONNA BE OFF?.....THIS IS BAD.....AND EVERYONE KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM TOO...THATS THE WORST PART. MY NEXT TRUCK WILL BE A TOYOTA! *TR

NHTSA ID

10436013

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GUAGES ARE ALL FAILING. I DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR SPEEDING AND FOUND OUT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *TT

NHTSA ID

10432842

Incident

Oct 14, 2011

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING INACCURATELY. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,900.

NHTSA ID

10409173

Incident

Jul 28, 2009

Mileage

43,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO. I'VE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ELECTRONIC DASH. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO IT SOMETIMES CAME ON THEN OFF, BUT NOW IT JUST STAYS OFF. NOTHING SHOWS UP. I HAVE NO CLUE HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE, HOW FAST I AM GOING, HOW MANY MILES ON THE TRUCK ETC... NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT WITH CHEVY'S. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT FIXED IS TO BRING IT IN AND TAKEN APART THEN HAS TO GET SENT OUT SO THEN CAN COMPUTERIZE IT TO THAT TRUCK. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, AND THAT WILL TAKE BETWEEN A WEEK OR TWO. CRAZY!!!! NOW I HAVE TO RENT A CAR IN THE MEAN TIME. CHEVY NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404328

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

MY HUSBAND HAS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. AT FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE GAS AND THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN SPEED. THEN AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF THAT GOING ON THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A FEW OWNERS OF CHEVROLETS TRUCKS OR SUV'S AND I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR ALOT OF THEM HAD TO PAY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THEIR SPEEDOMETER DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381350

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

I HAVE AN 03 CHEVY SILVERADO. MY SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY IF AT ALL. WHEN IT DOES WORK IT IS USUALLY OFF BY A GOOD BIT (HIGH AND LOW). IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS A ONE OWNER. I GOOGLED "SILVERADO SPEEDOMETER BAD" AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS MINE. IT IS A REGULARLY OCCURRING PROBLEM FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS AS WELL. DEALER SAYS IT IS A $500 REPAIR. I NOW RELY ON MY GPS WHICH HAS A SPEEDOMETER FEATURE ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342840

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

100,000 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