2003 Chevrolet Silverado Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10263532

Incident

Oct 27, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10215759

Incident

Jan 18, 2008

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES-WAS SO BAD THE WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF ACCORDING TO MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED FOR ME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199614

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

Mileage

49,000 mi

AT 74,500 MILES A RUMBLING NOISE INITIALLY OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS THE RUMBLE OCCURRED MOST OF THE TIME AND WAS MOST NOTICED AROUND 45 MPH. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS FOUND TO WORN AND REPLACED AT 75,500 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183087

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

Mileage

75,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND BELOW, THE STEERING ALLOWED TOO MUCH PLAY AND MANEUVERED LOOSELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE RACK AND PINION HAD A SLIGHT LEAK. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENTS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS WHEEL BEARINGS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, STEERING GEAR, SHOCKS, STEERING LINKAGES, COILS SPRINGS, WHEEL HUBS STEERING COLUMN AND THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND LUBRICATED THE LAST TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE STEERING DESIGN WAS FLAWED, WHICH CONTAINS A LOOSENESS THAT CAN'T SEEM TO BE CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THE CLUTCHES WERE BURNT AND GLAZED. THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING PREMATURE WEAR. UPDATED 08/02/06. *JB UPDATED 04/16/08

NHTSA ID

10153881

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

14,301 mi

FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB BEARINGS. RESULTED IN SEVERE WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY NOTED IN TURNING TO THE LEFT. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN WHEEL FAILURE OR FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATING. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 42,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150314

Incident

Feb 14, 2006

Mileage

41,300 mi

CONSUMER'S 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE FRONT SHOCKS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR WHEN MAKING TURNS OR HITTING BUMPS, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE MORE THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE LOUDER IT WOULD GET. *SC

NHTSA ID

10134518

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

DT: BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED AND GREASE WAS COMING OUT AND GETTING ON THE END OF THE AXLES AND ON THE REAR ROTOR DISC BRAKES. WHEN BRAKING HEAVY ON HILLS SMOKE EMINATED, MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. MECHANIC WAS ON VACATION AND CONSUMER WAS WAITING MECHANIC'S RETURN FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER DID CONTACT GM, WHO SAID THEY HAD NO REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE REAR BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD AN APPOINTMENT, AND DEALER STATED THEY WOULD LOOK INTO AXLES WHEN REPAIRING THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131688

Incident

Jul 30, 2005

Mileage

54,583 mi

4X4 NOT WORKING, CHARCOAL CANISTER, CD-PLAYER 3 TIMES, COMPLETE NEW BRAKE SYSTEM FROM ROTORS,SEALS,CALIPERES ETC. THAT I PAID FOR $1,000., WINDOW REGULATOR, DOOR LATCHES, NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING AREA, DASH PEELING APART, CHAPMAN CHEVY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES TWICE WITHIN 50,000 MILES-I FINALLY WENT AND SPENT $1,200 ON NEW TIRES TO MAKE SURE MY FAMILY AND I OUR SAFE

NHTSA ID

10126360

Incident

Dec 20, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi

UNDER WARRANTY, REAR DRIVER'S SPRING SAGS 3/4 INCH AND MORE. JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, (40,000) SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO READ ACCURATELY, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. REAR VEW MIRROR DISPLAY SHOWS BACKWARD "F" FOR SEVENTIES, CAN NOT ISOLATE TEMP FROM COMPUS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN IT RAINS OR CAR IS WASHED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10103026

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

17,000 mi

WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER CAN HEAR A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE IS CONTROLLABLE WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS. AT THE DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD NEED TO ORDER PARTS TO CORRECT IT. CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR PARTS TO COME IN. *AK........DEALERSHIP LNDICATED THAT THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF REPAIR PARTS ON ORDER, BUT RECEIVED NON E AS OF 12/28/2004.

NHTSA ID

10103270

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER COULD FEEL VIBRATION IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END. AFTER REPAIRS CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097771

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

21,000 mi

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097396

Incident

Aug 15, 2004

Mileage

10,000 mi

BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT AXLE FAILED ON OUR 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD 4X4 4-DOOR PICKUP. IT HAS 39,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN USED IN LIGHT DUTY SITUATIONS ONLY (PRIMARILY HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH LIGHT TOWING). A LARGE SQUEAK DEVELOPED OVER A THREE WEEK PERIOD WHEN TURNING RIGHT CORNERS. OUR LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT WHEELS, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE, WERE CLOSE TO FALLING OFF THE TRUCK. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED BOTH FAILED MECHANISIMS WITHOUT QUESTION WITH IN STOCK PARTS. A LITTLE ODD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE SETS OF FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES IN STOCK ON LAST YEAR'S MODEL, DON'T YOU THINK?*AK

NHTSA ID

10090635

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

29,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD BROKE. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE COLLISION CAUSED THE TIE ROD TO BREAK. CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED IN THE COLLISION, AND NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED.*AK FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10079978

Incident

Jun 12, 2004

Mileage

9,002 mi

BOUGHT A NEW 2003 Z-71 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IN SEPT 03'. HAD A BOUNCING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I PROBABLY NEEDED A TIRE BALANCE. SO I WENT TO THEIR TIRE SHOP. I DID THIS FIVE(5) SEPARATE TIMES. SO THEN THEY THOUGHT MAYBE A BAD TIRE. SO, I HAD ALL TIRES CHANGED. I HAVE NOW HAD THREE(3) DIFFERANT SETS OF TIRES PUT ONTO THIS VEHICLE. SO THEN I E-MAILED CHEVROLET WITH NO RESPONSE. ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER I E-MAILED THEM AGAIN. THIS TIME I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM CHEVROLET. THEY HAD ME SET UP A RIDE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. JUST LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE TEST DRIVE, THE SERVICE MANAGER COMMENTED ON THE VIBRATION IN HIS REAR THROUGH THE SEAT. 20 MINUTES LATER HIS COMMENT WAS "THIS WOULD DRIVE ME CRAZY!". AT THAT POINT THEY CHANGED THE REAR SHOCKS. NO HELP. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT WAS THEIR NEXT COARSE OF ACTION AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WAS MEETING WITH HIS REP. AND A ENGINEER AND WANTED THE TRUCK BACK AGAIN THREE WEEKS LATER. SO AFTER I DROPPED IT OFF, LATER I GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE ARE TWO SETTING ON THE FRONT END THAT THEY WANTED TO TRY. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK WITHOUT ANY EXPLAINATION FROM ANYONE ABOUT WHAT WAS DONE NOW. I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE IT BUT WAS TOLD THAT LEAVING IT THERE WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE IF THIS DID NOT WORK THAT PRETTY MUCH TOO BAD. NO ONE HAD A SOLUTION FOR ME I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IT WAS DRIVIN' BE THE ENGINEER AND COMPARED TO SEVERAL OTHERS. THEY THEN SAID IT'S PROBABLY A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT GIVIN A CHANCE TO DRIVE ANY OTHER AT ANY TIME NOR DID I SEE ANY 2003 Z-71'S ON THEIR LOT. SO WHAT DID THEY COMPARE IT TO AND WHY WASN'T I GIVIN AN OPORTUNITY TO DRIVE ANOTHER?? I ALSO WORK ON A USED CAR LOT MYSELF AND HAVE DRIVEN 2 OTHER 2003 Z-71'S WHICH WE HAD AND ONE WAS LIFTED. NEITHER HAD THE BOUNCE MINE HAS. SOME ROADS BOUNCE SO MUCH THAT THE TRUCK STARTS TO HOP CONSTANTLY. NOT TO MENTION THE BACK PAIN AFTER LONG DRIVES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082899

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

597 mi

THE VEHICLE'S LOWER IDLE ARM AND BALL JOINT HAS FAILED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10082099

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LEAF COIL SPRING AND TWO SPACE BARS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL RECURRED. MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM ,BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081967

Incident

Jul 14, 2004

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN TURNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071492

Incident

Jan 21, 2004

Mileage

17,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE REAR END STARTED SHAKING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED, ' THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES BEFORE RESTING ON ITS SIDE'. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059894

Incident

Jan 11, 2004

Mileage

6,000 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

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR MORE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED POOR STABILITY AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10051681

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

Mileage

11,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, WHO HAD DONE FOUR ALIGNMENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053492

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

Mileage

1,000 mi

TRUCK LEANS TO LEFT. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED NEW LEAF SPRING WAS ORDERED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052373

Incident

Dec 27, 2003

CONSUMER STATES SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPAIRED THREE TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032258

Incident

Jun 27, 2003

Mileage

8 mi