2003 Chevrolet Ssr 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 Ssr, 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
- Body & structure770.0%
- Electrical220.0%
- Interior & seats110.0%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
HOOD PROP ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SSR IS POORLY DESIGNED IN AN ALREADY BENT CONFIGURATION TO HOLD UP AN EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY HOOD. THE 2005 MODEL YEAR WILL HAVE GAS-FILLED STRUTS TO HOLD UP THE HOOD. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RETROFIT KIT TO PUT THE GAS STRUTS ON THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS. ACCORDING TO THE CONTRIBUTORS TO WWW.SSRFANATIC.COM AS WELL AS MYSELF, THERE HAVE BEEN INJURIES AND MANY NEAR MISSES WITH THE HOOD FALLING AND BENDING THE PROP LIKE A PRETZEL. *AK
2003 CHEVY SSR ENGINE HOOD IS EXTREMELY HEAVY (TWO OR THREE TIMES THE WEIGHT OF A NORMAL HOOD) AND CHEVROLET HAS OUTFITTED THE 2003 AND 2004 CHEVY SSR WITH A SIMPLE METAL HOOD PROP ROD TO SUPPORT THE HOOD WHEN OPEN. 1) THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY MANY OWNERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OR WILL STRUGGLE WITH THE OPENING OF THE HOOD. THIS CAN LEAD TO SITUATIONS WHERE THE HOOD MAY BE DROPPED ON THE PERSON TRYING TO OPEN THE HOOD WITH THE POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE INJURY. MY WIFE CANNOT OPEN THE HOOD BY HERSELF DUE TO THE EXTREME WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. 2) THE 2003/2004 HOOD PROP IS VERY MINIMAL AND BENDS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. CHEVROLET HAS DONE AWAY WITH THE HOOD PROP FOR THE 2005 CHEVY SSR AND HAS INSTALLED GAS STRUTS TO LIFT AND SUPPORT THE HOOD. THE HOOD ITSELF HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 2005, SO CHEVROLET HAS FOUND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EXISTING HOOD PROP SYSTEM. EXISTING 2003 AND 2004 CHEVY SSR TRUCKS ON THE ROAD NEED TO BE UPDATED WITH THE SAME GAS STRUTS AS THE 2005 CHEVY SSR TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY AND/OR DEATH FROM THE HOOD FALLING DOWN ON THE PERSON WHILE TRYING TO LIFT THE HOOD OR WHILE IT IS IN ITS FULLY OPEN POSITION. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH. BRAND NEW BATTERIES CANNOT HOLD A CHARGE. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, ENGINE CUT OUT AND LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO COAST TO SHOULDER IN TRAFFIC CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT HOOD PROP ON THE 2003 CHEVROLET SSR IS VERY INADEQUATE FOR ITS PURPOSE AND REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL DANGER - ESPECIALLY SINCE THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY.
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 .