What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Chevrolet Silverado

Typical pattern

13.8% of complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is service brakes, hydraulic (141 complaints), typically at 3.4 yr or about 41,000 miles.

Complaints
824
Median age at failure
3.2 yr
Median mileage
40,000 n=678
Crash / fire / tow
8.1% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes, hydraulic
141 reports · 41,000 mi
3.4 yr
3.5%
Service brakes
124 reports · 93,185 mi
10.9 yr
4.8%
Electrical system
120 reports · 54,000 mi
4.3 yr
7.5%
Power train
81 reports · 8,000 mi
1.2 yr
8.6%
Steering
81 reports · 20,000 mi
2.5 yr
7.4%
Suspension
29 reports · 15,000 mi
1.8 yr
6.9%
Speed control
28 reports · 40,000 mi
2.3 yr
10.7%
Engine cooling
26 reports · 19,765 mi
1.9 yr
7.7%
Tires
26 reports · 22,000 mi
2.1 yr
3.8%
Visibility
22 reports · 37,000 mi
2.7 yr
9.1%
Air bags
18 reports · 19,000 mi
1.9 yr
77.8%
Structure
17 reports · 34,500 mi
2.3 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E106000 2007-12-17
Wheels:hub

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28
Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E023000 2006-03-13
Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

05V163000 2005-04-22
Seat belts:rear/other

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE S

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

05V161000 2005-04-22
Parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

04V225000 2004-05-11
Seat belts:front:anchorage

CERTAIN EXTENDED AND REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND CARGO VANS CONVERTED TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' THESE VEHICLES HAVE ONE SEATING POSITION, THE CENTER REAR SEAT, EQUIPPED WITH CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORAGES.

THE STANDARD REQUIRES CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN TWO SEATING POSITIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH THREE REAR SEATING POSITIONS. THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES, WHICH ONLY HAVE FRONT SEATING POSITIONS, HAVE AN AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DO NOT HAVE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE STANDARD REQUIRES PASSENGER SEAT CHILD SEAT LOWER A

04E022000 2004-03-23
Equipment

AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO THE TRUCK BED IS NOT ENGAGING FULLY IN THE STAKE POCKET OF THE PICKUP TRUCK.

THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN EITHER STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS. YOU CAN FEEL THE TRUCK THEN JERK INTO GEAR WHEN ENGAGED. NOTE: THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND DOES NOT DO IT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. IT SEEMS THAT TEMPERATURE OR ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NOT A FACTOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO A CHEVROLET DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. DT
Power train mileage not reported 3 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK
Power train 11,523 mi 4 mo in service
TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO SECOND GEAR AND A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND IS HEARD,TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERS 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE AND NO REPAIRS ARE TO BE MADE ALSO THAT THE NOISE IS WORSE ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS. TS
Engine cooling mileage not reported 2 mo in service
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. SOME DAYS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO ALL DAY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF. CONSUMER STATES SO FAR THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN 8 TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Other Silverado model years

2017201420122011200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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