2003 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 HD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 101 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 49 | 48.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.0% |
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 | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
Service Brakes: 27; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 20; Electrical System: 16; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Steering: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 4
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 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 9
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2006: 5; 2007: 15; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 15; 2011: 15; 2012: 9; 2013: 11; 2014: 13; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10161507 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
2003 CHEVY K1500 HD HAS HAD CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH KNOCKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN. ALREADY HAVE TAKEN IT IN ONCE AND A "REPAIR" AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS PERFORMED BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT CONSISTED OF...THEY CLAIM THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT IT IS NOT 26,000 MILES LATER AND ITS DOING IT AGAIN WORSE THAN BEFORE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171477 · 2006-10-21 (October 21, 2006)
SPEEDOMETER STOP FUNCTIONING AND DOESN'T ACCURATELY REFLECT THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 120+ MPH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE GM DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT PANEL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $500. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FORUMS IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. SEE THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-SILVERADO-1500/TR5QAB2MN19BL1D2J. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171508 · 2006-10-21 (October 21, 2006)
1. -POOR DESIGN OF STEERING SHAFT THAT ALLOWS LOWER SHAFT TO BECOME VERY LOOSE AND COULD RESULT IN LOOSE OR FAILED STEERING 2.- FAILED STEERING COLLISION 3. -LOWER SHAFT LUBRICATED IT FAILED. SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED EVER YEAR DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS AND NOW GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171652 · 2006-10-23 (October 23, 2006)
MY SPEEDOMETER IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS WAS FIRST POINTED OUT BY AN IDAHO STATE TROOPER WHEN I WAS PULLED OVER WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER. MY SPEEDOMETER READ 60 BUT I WAS CLOCKED AT 79 MPH. THIS LAST WEEKEND ON A TRIP TO DOWN I-5 IN CALIFORNIA, I WAS DOING WHAT THOUGHT WAS 70 MPH BUT I WAS PASSING A LOT OF CARS AND WHEN I REMEMBER THE ISSUE MY TACHOMETER READ 3500 RPM WHICH MEANS I WAS DOING 80 PLUS. THEN YESTERDAY (10/22/2006) MY SPEEDOMETER READ 10 MPH WHEN MY TACH INDICATED 2100 RPM (~62 MPH), WHICH WAS CONFIRM BY BY WIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177409 · 2006-12-30 (December 30, 2006)
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET P/U AND THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS VERY ERRATICALLY. IT USUALLY REGISTERS A MUCH FASTER SPEED THAN I AN TRAVELING. WHEN I AM STOPPED IT WILL SHOW A SPEED OF FORTY OR FIFTY MPH. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO COME AND GO. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO NOT KNOW YOUR SPEED. I KNOW MANY OTHER GM AND CHEVROLET VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178310 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
STEERING WHEEL KNOCK CAUSE BY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 18,013 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 31,000 MILES. GM HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS FLAW SINCE 1999 AND HAS NO KNOWN PERMANENT REPAIR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178875 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 HD WITH APPROX 55,000 MILES ON IT. WITHOUT NOTICE THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO WORK (NEEDLE IS FIXED BETWEEN 60-120 MPH). AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LEVIED (IN AT LEAST AN INFORMAL SETTING). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181979 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)
SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO FUNCTION - WILL BE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT RANGES FROM 0-120 MPH WHEN I ESTIMATE I AM ACTUALLY TRAVELING 35 MPH(ESTIMATED OBVIOUSLY). HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS AND IN NOW NON-FUNCTIONING. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS REPLACING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - AND ADMITS TO A RASH OF THESE REPLACEMENTS ON THESE TRUCKS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 81,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181979 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.