Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 49 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 49, in the owner's own words
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
WE ALL NEED TO CONTACT GM AT WWW.CHEVROLET.COM AND COMPLAIN. I PURCHASED MY 2003 CHEVY 2500 HD IN NOV. 2005. IT HAD 32000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 36000 AND WHEN I HIT 38000 MILES THE PROBLEMS STARTED. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED ACTING UP. I HAD WENT TO LEAVE AND EVERYTHING WAS DEAD NO POWER AT ALL. I WOULD JUMP IT AND THEN IT WAS FINE FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES. THE LAST TIME I JUMPED IT, IT CRANKED BUT I HAD NO POWER IT WOULDN'T MOVE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND ALL THE GAUGES WENT CRAZY. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WAITED A MINUTE AND RECONNECTED IT AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AGAIN. A WEEK LATER THE SPEED ODOMETER WENT CRAZY AND WOULDN'T GO BACK TO ZERO. NOW STARTING A FEW WEEKS AGO THE DRIVE TRAIN IS MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND THE REAR WHEELS ARE WANTING TO LOCK UP WHEN I TRY TO START OFF. THESE PROBLEMS DON'T OCCUR EVERY TIME, BUT THE DRIVE TRAIN NOISE IS GETTING WORSE FROM ALL THE FEEDBACK I SEE ON THIS WEB SITE I FEEL I WOULD WASTE MY TIME CONTACTING GM. ALL OF US CHEVY OWNERS WITH PROBLEMS NEEDS TO CONTACT GM EVERY DAY ABOUT OUR $30,000 AND $40,000 DOLLAR HUNK OF SCRAP METAL. I HOPE MINE WILL BURN AND I WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCT AGAIN. HERE IS THERE WEB SITE WWW.CHEVROLET.COM. I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE PHONE # ON THE WEB SITE, BUT IT JUST STOPS RINGING. YOU CAN SEND THEM E-MAILS AND LETTERS. *JB
FREQUENTLY MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO HESITATES TO PULL OFF AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS FOR THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY STATE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING WHICH HAS THE TRANSMISSION PULLING OFF IN SECOND GEAR INSTEAD OF FIRST AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM, JUST KEEP DRIVING. *JB
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
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING HE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SHIFTING HARD, AND THE RPMS REVVED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DID NOT REMEDY THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE SECOND PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON THE CLUSTER ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED IT, AND IT SEEMED TO WORK WELL AT THIS TIME. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS WITH A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR KIT, TWO GASKETS, CASE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER ASSEMBLY, CARRIER GEARS, AND SHIMS. THE NOISE WAS STILL HEARD. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT INSTALL CARPET TO CUT DOWN ON THE NOISE. THE FINAL PROBLEM WAS WITH A LOSS OF REAR TRACTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN IDENTIFYING THE ROOT OF THE TRACTION PROBLEM.*AK THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. UPDATD 11/29/05. *JB
WHEN COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION, THE TRUCK FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IN DRY CONDITIONS, WITH AMPLE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE TRUCK WAS REVVING AT A HIGH RPM, AND CONTINUED TO PUSH FORWARD WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS RESULTED IN A ROLLING COLLISION. VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK. IMMEDIATELY CALLED DEALERSHIP, AND GM. AFTER 2 DAYS IN THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED NOTHING IS WRONG, AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE ANY FURTHER. I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER AFTER THIS SCARY INCIDENT.*JB
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY (ACC) POSITION, AND MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER HIT THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK, AND THE TRUCK ROLLED DOWN THE STREET AND HIT A U-HAUL TRUCK, SHE WAS NOT INJURED, HER MOTHER WAS IN THE TRUCK WITH HER BUT COULD NOT SHIFT IT BACK INTO PARK, OR HIT THE BRAKE. *JB
GENERAL MOTORS HAVE A FAULTY NEUTRAL SAFETY SHIFT SWITCH ON THEIR SILVERADO 1500 1/2 TON PICKUPS THAT MAY LEAD TO FAILURE AND CAUSE THE TRUCK TO BURN. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF GENERAL MOTORS BUT THEY IGNORED ME. MY TRUCK BURNED AND WE PUT IT OUT. I SEE OTHERS THAT HAVE BURNED AND I BET THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH IS WHAT STARTED IT. IF YOU WERE TO INVESTIGATE HOW MANY 03 (MAYBE NEWER MAYBE OLDER) HAVE BURNED YOU WILL FIND THE CAUSE IN THIS SWITCH.
I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB SHORT BOX Z71 4X4 PICK UP TRUCK. IT HAS THE 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A CONSISTANT SHIFTING DRIVELINE CLUNK THAT ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND THEN DOWNSHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER THREE TIMES SO FAR CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. ALL I GET IS THE USUAL GM RUNAROUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED ACCORDING TO THE TSB RELATED TO THIS CONDITION. I HAVE OWNED OTHER GM VEHICLES IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD OF ANY OF THEM BANG OR CLUNK FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AUTOMATICALLY. THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS SOME TYPE OF A MOMENTARY TORQUE REVERSAL PROBLEM WHEN THAT PARTICULAR SHIFT OCCURS THAT CAUSES THE CLUNKING AND OR BANGING CONDITION IN THEIR TRANSMISSION. A MOMENTARY TORQUE REVERSAL IN THEIR DRIVETRAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING IN FORWARD GEARS IS A NORMAL CONDITION? NOT TO ME. THEY ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SUDDENLY LOCK UP...AND SOMEONE GETS HURT IN THE PROCESS....THEN I'M SURE THAT IT WILL BE FIXED PROPERLY. WHY IS IT THAT THE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS TODAY WILL NOT REPAIR THEIR ENGINEERED SCREWUPS AT THEIR EXPENSE, LIKE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO DO? WHY IS IT THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THEIR PROBLEMS UNLESS THAT COMPONET IN QUESTION FAILS COMPLETELY?
UPON PARKING, HAD SLIGHT DIFFICULTY PLACING VEHICLE INTO PARK GEAR POSITION ON VERY SLIGHT INCLINE IN DRIVEWAY OF HOME. STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE, RETURNED A FEW MINUTES LATER TO FIND VEHICLE HAD ROLLED INTO POLE. ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, BUT WOULD NOT START, TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND COLUMN SHIFT WAS VERY LOOSE. APPLIED PARKING BRAKE AND CONTACTED DEALER FOR TOW NEXT MORNING. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SHIFT CABLE HAD BROKEN, REPLACED WITH NEW SHIFT CABLE. ONLY EXPLANATION OFFERED WAS PLASTIC SHEATH HAD CRACKED ALLOWING CABLE TO KINK, THEY STATED INITIALLY IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS, BUT THEY DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF VEHICLE WERE PARKED ON STREET ON A SLIGHT GRADE IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED DOWNHILL POSSIBLE CAUSING DAMAGE OR INJURING SOMEONE.
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
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
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL THING GO WRONG WITH OUR TRUCK. WE HAVE HAD THE EXPANDABLE MIRRORS REPLACED ONCE AND FIXED SEVERAL TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND THE MEMORY DOES NOT RECALL THE DRIVER OR SEAT POSITION. *AK
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WOULD BE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ABS DISPLAYED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED ON INCLINES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE ODOMETER FAILED AND ADDED EXTRA MILEAGE. THE TIRES STARTED SEPARATING AFTER 300 MILES. THE RADIO BECAME HOT AND SHORTED OUT. THE AIR CONDITIONER SHORTED OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE NEW VEHICLE CHECKLIST WAS NOT FILLED OUT NOR REVIEWED WITH HIM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE KNOCKS. THE CONSUMERS FINGERS WERE BURNED BY THE RADIO AFTER IT GOT HOT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HEARD A GROWLING NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER HEARD A BUZZING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE COMING DOWN A HILL. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND TURNED BLACK. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED WITH THE WRONG HIGH BEAM LIGHT. THE CD PLAYER WILL NOT TAKE THE CD. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL ONLY GO TO 20 MPH AT TIMES. *TC
WHEN SHIFTING FROM THE SECOND TO THIRD GEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. DEALER HAS REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. C URRENTLY, WHEN SHIFTING FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR A LOUD NOISE IS PRODUCED. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *AK
VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD AND MAKES CLUNKING SOUND IN ALL GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AND SLAMS INTO SECOND GEAR. ALSO HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH TRUCK SLIPPING IN FIRST GEAR FROM A DEAD STOP. THERE IS A CONSTANT "KNOCKING" FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING. DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER FOR YEARS AND AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED.*AK
PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFT FROM 1 TO 2ND AND AT TIMES WON'T SHIFT UNTIL YOU RELEASE GAS AND STEP ON GAS AGAIN. SOMETIMES WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP TRANSMISSION SLIPS, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE, THEN ENGAGES WHEN RPMS IS HIGH CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK INTO GEAR. *JB
THE FRONT END WAS REPLACED TWICE FROM A CLANKING NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED NO LESS THAN TWENTY TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION BOLTS WERE LOOSE. THE CLANKING SOUND WAS GONE.*AK
TRANSMISSION CLUNKING IN 2-3 UP SHIFT OR 3-2 DOWNSHIFT, MUSH LOUDER WHEN TOWING MY TRAILER IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO EXPLOYED BRAKES: BRAKE PEDAL IS ON THE FLOOR VERY VERY WEAK CANNOT STOP TRUCK ON A QUICK BRAKE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 XCAB. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THIS MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON ICY ROADS.
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE IN FIRST GEAR. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
2003 2500 SILVARADO WITH 36,000 MILES. SO FAR THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING MODULE (DROPPED ITSELF INOT 4 LOW AT 70 MPH), TRANSMISSION (BECAME SO SLOPPY THAT IT SLAMMED PASSENGERS AROUND HAD TO BE REBUILT), AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (QUIT WORKING AND THE NEW ONE WORKS POORLY), FUEL PUMP (DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF UTAH AND TOOK 4 DAYS TO GET THE PART), RADIO (HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER 4 VISITS), KEYLESS REMOTE FAILURES, AND 4 RECALLS. *AK
I AM COMPLAINING OF A CLUNKING SOUND AND A HARD SHIFT COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN A 2-3 UPSHIFT IN A 03 SILVERADO AUTOMATIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THAT GM SAYS THE NOISE AND SHIFTING IS NORMAL. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS AND NOTHING I HAVE DRIVEN SHIFTS LIKE THAT. I WISH GM WOULD HAVE TO DO A RECALL AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH WHEN VEHICLE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO THIRD/FOURTH/FIFTH, AND SIXTH GEARS, FLOWING VEHICLE AD ENGINE IDLED HIGH. CONSUMER ONLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE TOW BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. *AK
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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