2003 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
805 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,317 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 725 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 273 of 805 complaints (33.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 439 | 54.5% |
| Steering behavior | 59 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 3.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 273 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 105 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 102 |
| Electrical System | 85 |
| Steering | 39 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 19 |
Service Brakes: 273; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 105; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 102; Electrical System: 85; Steering: 39; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 56 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 110 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 154 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 152 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 175 |
| 150,000 and above | 78 |
Under 25,000: 56; 25,000 to 49,999: 110; 50,000 to 74,999: 154; 75,000 to 99,999: 152; 100,000 to 149,999: 175; 150,000 and above: 78
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (175). 80 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 | 10 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 49 |
| 2007 | 88 |
| 2008 | 66 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 80 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 69 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2014 | 127 |
| 2015 | 51 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 10; 2004: 9; 2005: 13; 2006: 49; 2007: 88; 2008: 66; 2009: 45; 2010: 80; 2011: 44; 2012: 69; 2013: 69; 2014: 127; 2015: 51; 2016: 34; 2017: 19; 2018: 10; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 439 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 31 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 10039861 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE DRIVER WOULD ALSO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FOWARD. THE OWNER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *PH *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052762 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
FIVE TIMES TRUCK (17 MONTHS OLD AND 21000 MILES) HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS FOR "SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE" MESSAGE CENTER INDICATOR, ABS LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT, ALARMS, AND INOPERABLE. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH CLANKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERY TIME TRUCK WAS "FIXED" BY REPLACING/REPROGRAMMING THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE, AND LUBING OF STEERING COLUMN (WHICH MANUFACTURE INDICATES WAS A POOR LUBE JOB AT CONSTRUCTION). PROBLEM RECURRED. NOW DEALERSHIP INFORMS THAT THE MANUFACTURE ISSUED A TSB THAT INSTRUCTS DEALERSHIPS TO NOT REPLACE MODULES A…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045359 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
WE HAD AN ELECTRIC MALFUNCTION IN OUR STEERING COLUMN. THE STARTER HAD THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE WAS RUBBED THROUGH ENOUGH TOO SHORT OUT AND CAUSE IT TO BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE ENTIRE TRUCK SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WAS HOT TO TOUCH WHEN WE TOUCH IT TO TAKE IT OUT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 15,664 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114161 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES THIS FIRST OCCURRED AND I CALLED A NEARBY DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD RESET THE COMPUTER THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. AT THE TIME THEY COULDN'T FIT ME IN AND ASKED THAT I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH A CO-WORKER AND HIS 2004 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS IN THE SHOP. APPARENTLY IT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM IT WAS 4-7 WEEKS TO GET NEW PARTS OR THEY COULD SEND OUT HIS EXISTING PARTS TO BE REWORKED. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163271 · 2006-07-24 (July 24, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, ON JULY 14, 2006 THE BATTERY FAILED AND LEAKED SULFURIC ACID ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005874 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
DRIVETRAIN NOISE; RANGING FROM CLUNK TO METALLIC CLANK; PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE NEW. 1-2 UPSHIFT CAUSES CLUNK AT DRIVER SIDE FRONT. (4 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL) AND CLANK IAT DIFFERENTIAL. SITUATIONS WITH VERY LIGHT THROTTLE (1-2 SHIFT) RESULT AT TIMES WITH IMPACT/CLANK (W/ VERY AUDIBLE METALLIC SOUND);SUFFICIENT TO "SHUDDER" VEHICLE. SHIFTING IN 4W LOW (MANUFCTURER INSTRUCTIONS) ALSO RESULTS IN CLANK/SHUDDER; NOT UNLIKE BEING STRUCK BY A HAMMER. SLOWING DOWN/RELASING THROTTLE TO NEGOTIATE 90 DEG. TURNS; THROTTLE GOES "DEAD" - NO RESPONSE - THEN RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090655 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET PICKUP WITH APPROX. 26,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS LOUDLY WHEN UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING AND GETS WORSE BY THE WEEK. IT IS NOW SLAMMING INTO GEAR AND I AM AFRFAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT MIGHT FAIL AT SPEED OR IN TRAFFIC AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BOTH SAY IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE BUT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY BE TRYING TO COVER UP AN APPARENT DEFECT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392701 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)
BRAKE FAILURE,RUSTED CORRODED LINE IN BRAKE LINE ABOVE GAS TANK LED TO A LEAK,CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING LIGHT. STEERED AWAY TO AVOID CRASH. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. REPAIRED AT GM DEALERSHIP ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550410 · 2013-10-31 (October 31, 2013)
FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL LINE NEAR FRONT OF GAS TANK. UPON INSPECTION, FUEL LINE WAS ROTTED THROUGH. FURTHER INSPECTION BY MECHANIC FOUND FUEL AND VAPOR RETURN LINES WERE ALL CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LEAKING FUEL LINE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. ALL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO DUE TO CORROSION AND FAILURE OF A BRAKE LINE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE CORROSION. CHEVY DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BROKEN LINE, INSISTING THAT ALL BRAKE LINES MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CORROSION. REAR BRAKE SHIELDS HAVE ALSO ROTTED AWAY, AND THE DIFFERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,993 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042424 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR FLOW CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424422 · 2011-09-09 (September 9, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PEDAL ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PEDAL WAS REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL, AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424422 at NHTSA ↗