2003 Chevrolet CHEVROLET TRUCK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
51,829 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 40 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 30.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 9 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 9; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Steering: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 2; Structure: 2; Structure:Body: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 8; 2008: 5; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008149 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THE GROWING NUMBER OF SUV LIKE VEHICLES ON THE ROADS IS THAT YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THEM. VERY OFTEN ACCIDENTS BETWEEN NON-SUV CARS ARE CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T SEE THROUGH AN SUV. THOSE CENTRAL-RAISED BRAKE LIGHTS ON CARS - YOU CAN'T SEE THOSE IF THERE IS AN SUV IN FRONT OF YOU.*JB IS THIS ON ANYBODY'S RADAR SCREENS?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044165 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
SEVERAL DEFECTS IN 2003 CHEVROLET DURAMAX TRUCK.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. EACH TIME THERE WERE ACCELERATED THE GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126855 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 TAHOE AND I HAVE HAD TH TRUCK FOR 6 MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END STEERING. I HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD WHEN HITTING BUMBS ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN NUMUROUS TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES THEY LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT AND SAID IT SHOULD BE OK. THEN ON THE FOURTH OR FITH TIME THEY CHANGED THE PTIMAN ARM, AND CHANGED THE ARM KIT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE FIXED 90% OF THE WANDERING ON THE ROAD. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXCISTS. I FEEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188024 · 2007-04-16 (April 16, 2007)
THUMPING IN STEERING SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE AND SHAKES AND HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVLEY WORSE. THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED WHEN NEW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE.AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100134 · 2004-11-18 (November 18, 2004)
MY HUSBAND PULLED INTO TRAFFIC TODAY AND HIS 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO STALLED. NO ONE WAS HURT, TRAFFIC STOPPED. HE LEARNED A CABLE RUNNING TO THE GAS LINE SNAPPED IN TWO FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS BEING FIXED NOW. THE ONLY REASON I'M FILING THIS IS TO SEE IF IT A PROBLEM FOR OTHERS. OUR TRUCK IS ALREADY BEING REPURCHASED LATER THIS MONTH FOR A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE PROBLEM AND WILL NO LONGER BE OF OUR CONCERN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. I JUST HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT AM CONCERNED THAT GM HAS A DEFINITE QUALITY ISSUE WHEN MANUF…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123698 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
ENGINE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME....SERVICE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 TRUCK IDLES ROUGH, CHOKES AND STALLS DURING LEFT TURNS.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118134 · 2005-04-19 (April 19, 2005)
ON 6/26/2003 WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK, DROVE IT HOME, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT, AFFECTING CD/AIR CONDITIONER AND ABS. BRAKES DISPLAYED BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON THE ODOMETER, ORANGE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT POWERING UP AS THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO. FAULTY BRAKES/MOTOR STILL KNOCKED SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE. SLAP AND THEN THE MAIN BEARINGS AND CAM BEARINGS RATTLED BACK WHEN GIVING A LITTLE GAS. IT RATTLED AND KNOCKED AT START UP. THE CLUSTER WAS STILL OUT SINCE DECEMBER 8 2004. TRUCK IS STILL ON THE DEALERS LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146284 · 2005-12-28 (December 28, 2005)
FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS INCLUDING TACHOMETER AND OIL PRESSURE GAUGES. RECEIVED A CITATION FOR SPEEDING ON 12\16\05. CALLED MECHANIC ON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION AND WAS TOLD I HAD AN "ELECTRICAL GLITCH" WAS TOLD BY THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP ON 12/27/05 THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE SUSPECT AS TO ACCURACY INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483748 · 2012-11-08 (November 8, 2012)
I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR LAST WEEK AND BROUGHT THE 2003 SSR FOR SERVICE WEDNESDAY 10-24-12. SERVICE TEAM IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. THE CRACK WAS AT THE FILL AREA WHERE THE PLASTIC NECK CONNECTION GOES INTO THE PLASTIC TANK. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SURPRISING THIS WOULD BE AS A CONSUMER AND CHEVY LOYALIST! MY WIFE AND I ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A VEHICLE WITH GAS POTENTIALLY LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT! I'VE OWNED NUMEROUS CHEVYS AND A COUPLE OF GERMAN VEHICLES OVER TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483748 at NHTSA ↗