2003 Chevrolet Silverado Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes25732.2%
- Electrical11814.8%
- Steering8010.0%
- Transmission496.1%
- Tires & wheels475.9%
- Engine334.1%
- Driver assistance303.8%
- Suspension283.5%
- Fuel system263.3%
- Airbags212.6%
- Visibility202.5%
- Body & structure192.4%
- Other / unspecified162.0%
- Interior & seats151.9%
- Powertrain (other)141.8%
- Seat belts111.4%
- Exterior lighting81.0%
- Heating & air conditioning60.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING MY 03 CHEV SILVERADO TRUCK, THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE, I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WHICH HAD FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. AS A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER, I HAVE EXCELLENT DRIVING SKILLS WHICH HELPED ME TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED!
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.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD TO REPLACE A FLEXPLAT TWICE ON 2003 CHEVROLET 1500HD (4X4). FIRST ONE AT 43,000 MILES, THE SECOND ONE WAS AT 78,000 MILES. CHEVROLET WOULD NOT HELP ON EITHER ONE. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN STATING TO USE A NEW SPACER IF YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER OF 60,000 MILES. ON 5-13-04 THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ON 10-17-04 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAULING ITEMS, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A HITCH TO HAUL ANYTHING. *AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NOT FUNCTION ON LOW SETTINGS AND THERE WERE STRONG FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VENTS. THERE WAS VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR CORROSION ON THE WIRING CONNECTOR AND HVAC BLOWER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE MILEAGE INDICATED IN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, TIRE SIZE 265/75/16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY SECONDS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WHERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND IMPACTED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BED, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,717. UPDATED 06/03/11 *BF THE REMAINING TIRES WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/13/11
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CAN PRODUCE A VEHICLE WITH STAINLESS EXHAUST THAT LASTS AS LONG AS THE TRUCK BUT STILL ASSEMBLE VEHICLE WITH STEEL BRAKE LINES THAT RUST THROUGH CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. THERE ARE BETTER MATERIALS TO MAKE BRAKE LINES FROM AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE FORCED TO USE THEM. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PILE OF DEBRIS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF ANY SILVERADO'S ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 05/16/12*LJ
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT 2003 SILVERADO 3500 4X4 USED IN 2006. IT HAD 125,000 MILES AND RAN GREAT. IN OCTOBER 2006, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING INACCURATELY THE OIL AND BATTERY CHARGE GAUGE ARE NOT ACCURATE EITHER. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE MILEAGE. IT IS OVER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER. I HAVE OVER 200,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. THE TRUCK RUNS GREAT AND I WOULD NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT TAKING LONG TRIPS(OVER 2,000 MILES) AS I DO BECAUSE OF MY WORK. I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE A MILEAGE LIMIT AT ALL. THERE IS CLEARLY A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE CLUSTER. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL PERIOD, NOT JUST A LETTER STATING THERE IS JUST A PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AGAIN. THANKS D.H *TR
WHEN DRIVING FRIDAY MORNING JAN. 18, 2008 THERE WAS A SMALL NOISE IN THE TRUCK. LATER AT NIGHT WHEN I PICKED UP MY WIFE I WENT TO BREAK AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME AND THAN WHEN WE STARTING GOING AGAIN THE WHOLE HUB ASSEMBLY CAME RIGHT OFF OF OUR TRUCK MAKING THE TRUCK COLLAPSE DOWN ON THAT SIDE. *TR
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF THE FUEL (GASOLINE) LINES CAUSING LEAK AND POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD (FIRE). SEVERAL FORUMS REPORT BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION. GM NOT ADDRESSING THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.
ON OCTOBER 22,2015 WHILE DRIVEING ON INTERSTATE 75 THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND RESULTING IN A NEAR DISASTEROUS SITUATION.RESULTS $751.81 REPAIR COST PLUS TOW. THEN ONE WEEK LATER,OCTOBER 29 2015 AT WILMINGTON PIKE AND INERTSTATE 675 RED LIGHT MY BRAKE LINES BURST AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A WRECK. REPAIR COST $870.17 .I WAS NOT NOTEAFIDE OF ANY RECALL. SO BE FAIR WARNING IF I HAD KNOWN OR BEEN I WOULD HAVE FIXED IT
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TRUCK COLIDED WITH GUARD RAIL. BOUNCED OFF, HIT VEHICLE 1, THEN INTO VEHICLE 2 THEN STOPPED AFTER HITTING VEHICLE 3 A SEMI TRUCK. ALL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO FRONT OF THE CHEVY SILVERADO. AT NO TIME DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. SILVERADO WAS DETERMINED TO BE TOTALED DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE DAMAGE ON THE FRONT. AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED DURING ONE OF THE IMPACTS. *JS
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
MY TRUCK HAS BEEN BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN ON COOL. WHEN IT STARTED DOING IT, I NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE MY AC UNIT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT MY ACTUATOR BLEND DOORS NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE. *TR
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM START GOING OUT LAST WEEK. TOOK IT TO MY GMC DEALER , WHERE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM. THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE ISSUE IS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THEY CANNOT DO WORK TO IT. I NEED TO FIND AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I PURCHASE A PREMIUM WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE TRUCK FOR THE LAST 1 1/2 YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO SS. THE HITCH RECEIVER STARTED TO BEND. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HE WAS REFERRED TO A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. THE RECEIVER HITCH WAS REPLACED WITH A BIGGER AND HEAVIER HITCH . THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15000 . THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30000.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEATS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGE AND BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SEATS COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT BURNED BY THE SEATS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
OVERHEATED CONNECTOR IN DASH, POSSIBLY LOOSE AT ASSEMBLY. ORIGIN BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL, DRIVER SIDE OF DASH. *TR
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO GOES INTO GEAR WITH OUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKE, ALSO THE TRUCK WILL GO INTO GEAR WITH OUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE E-BRAKE IS ALSO DEFECTIVE, THE E-BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD THE TRUCK. MY 2 YRS OLD SON WAS SITTING IN THE TRUCK ON 9/20/2011 WHEN THE TRUCK WENT INTO GEAR. I LIVE ON A INCLINE MY TRUCK ROLLED DOWN THE HILL WHILE I WAS CHASING THE TRUCK ON FOOT, THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT A 98 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY ACROSS THE STREET. THE E-BRAKE WAS SET , THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK WAS NOT RUNNING! MY SON COULD HAVE KILLED HIMSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE DUE TO THE FACT THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE! *TR
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM AN EXPERIENCED CPST IN BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA. ON 7-30-08 I ASSISTED A MOTHER WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW BRITAX MARATHON (CAMO PATTERN COVER) USING THE LATCH SYSTEM. MOTHER INDICATED SHE HAD JUST RECEIVED THE SEAT AND IT HAD BEEN BACK-ORDERED FOR SOME TIME. WHEN I PULLED BACK THE SEAT COVER TO ACCESS THE STORED LATCH ATTACHMENTS....I NOTED THAT THE ATTACHMENTS WERE STORED IN A MANNER THAT MIGHT LEAD TO MISUSE. THE ATTACHMENTS WERE ROUTED TO THE INSIDE OF THE HARNESS BEFORE BEING PLACED IN THE RECESSED STORAGE COMPARTMENT (IN THE SHELL TOWARD THE BACK OF THE SEAT). THE PROBLEM....UNLESS A PARENT LIFTS THE SEAT COVER ALL THE WAY TO VISUALIZE THE ? MISROUTING OF THE STORED CONNECTORS ...ENTANGLEMENT OF THE HARNESS COULD EASILY OCCUR WHEN THE ATTACHMENTS ARE REMOVED FROM THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND PULLED THROUGH THE RF BELT PATH PATH OPENINGS IN THE SHELL. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CLIENT TO ASK FOR BATCH NUMBER AND SERIAL # ON THE PRODUCT BUT THE HOME PHONE SEEMS CONNECTED TO A FAX. INFORMATION I DO HAVE: BRITAX MARATHON MODEL # E9L0668 MFG 07/09/2008 FABRIC COVER...CAMO PATTERN I DID SPEAK WITH A BRITAX REPRESENTATIVE (CHRIS) ON 8-6-08 TO REPORT MY CONCERNS. I GAVE HIM THE MODEL # AND MFG DATE. HE DID NOT REQUEST ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OR CONTACT INFORMATION FROM ME FOR FOLLOW-UP. I AM ALWAYS SOMEWHAT CONCERNED WHEN NO FOLLOW-UP NAME / NUMBER IS REQUESTED ON A CONCERN I HAVE REGISTERED WITH A MANUFACTURER. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2003, MAKE=CHEVY , MODEL=SILVERADO). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BEAT TIGHTENED. THE PASSENGER FELT DISCOMFORT AND DISCONNECTED THE SEAT BELT, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE DONE WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE TAILGATE OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE FAILED DUE TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE OVERHEATING OF THE LAMP SOCKETS. WHEN YOU GO TO REPLACE THE LAMP' THE SOCKETS APPEARS TO BE BURNT AND BRITTLE AND ARE MISSING THE LITTLE METAL TABS USED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE LAMP BASE. YOU CANT REPLACE THE LAMP. THEREFORE I ONLY HAVE 1 DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT AND AM WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD WITH THE OTHER ONE. THE ONE THAT WORKS LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT FAR FROM FAILING AND VERY SOON WONT BE WORKING EITHER. THE MORE I SEE THE AMOUNT OF GM VEHICLES (TRUCKS, SILVERADO, TAHOE, TRAILBLAZER, SIERRA, YUKON & ENVOY'S) WITHOUT TWO DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, I REALLY DO WONDER IF GM HAS A REAL PROBLEM. I SEE SEVERAL EACH AND EVERY DAY WITHOUT ONE OR BOTH. I HAVE SPOKE TO OTHER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
FAULTY SIGNAL FLASHERS IN GM VEHICLES. *JB
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SEAT HEATER ELEMENT BURNED OUT. REPAIR SHOWED SIGNIFICANT CHARRING OF THE ELEMENT FABRIC AND SEAT FOAM. *NM
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .