CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK · model year

2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK

48 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 CHEVROLET TRUCK is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 9 filings, followed by electrical system (6) and service brakes, hydraulic (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2003 CHEVROLET TRUCK, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

48
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

48 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
STEERING4
STRUCTURE:BODY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
STRUCTURE2
SERVICE BRAKES2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recent Complaints

20121108FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 THE YEARS, NEVER WITH ANY FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS HOLDING THE TANK FOR INSPECTION. IN DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS TO GM. IN FACT, THERE WAS A FIRE SAFETY RECALL OF TRAILBLAZERS IN 2004 WITH THIS EXACT DEFECT. DISAPPOINTLY, THIS RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 SSR WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A TRAILBLAZER FRAME USING A TANK THAT APPEARS A DUPLICATE TO THE TANK ISSUE IN THE TRAILBLAZER RECALL. (FYI,

Mileage: 31,000

20120926SERVICE BRAKES

THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT CAUSING THEM TO FAIL IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT USING THIS TYPE OF METAL ON THIS PART. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

20120706SERVICE BRAKES

HOOKED UP MY TRAILER TO THE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND DROVE TO THE GAS STATION AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN ON THE FREEWAY LIKE THE DAY BEFORE WHEN MY WIFE AND I DROVE 20 MILES DOING 70 MPR, WOW WE COULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. IM WITHOUT A TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEALER WANTS 2000.00 AND ANOTHER WANTS 3000.00 TO FIX IT. THE WAY THE BRAKE LINE ARE DESIGNED MAKES IT VERY HARD TO FIX, BUT FOR THE BRAKES TO GO OUT WITHOUT A SAFETY BACK UP SYSTEM IS NUTS. I HAVE A 1970 CAR THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAVE NO RUST!! THIS IS A LIFE OR DEAF ISSUE SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. EVEN AFTER I FIX THIS TRUCK I'LL BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20110407SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE BURSTED, NO BRAKES, LINES CORRODED. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

20100811SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2003 CHEVY SS TRUCK, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BRAKES ARE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING HAVE HAD IT TO CHEVY DEALER AND OTHER PLACES. CANNOT FIX. HAVE SPENT $ TRYING. FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CHEVY SAYS NOTHING WRONG. THE BRAKES ARE NOT RIGHT. DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO REPORT THIS. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2003. IT HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20100726SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I PURCHASED CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDER CAB NEW IN JUNE 2003. I HAVE APPROX. 165,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE DISC BRAKES ( ALL 4 WHEELS ) HAVE BEEN CHANGED 1 TIME AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LIFE FOR BRAKE PADS ( THEY WERE STILL NOT WORN COMPLETELY OUT ) I HAVE NOW BEEN EXPERIENCING A BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTER/ SIGNIFICANT PULSATING JUST BEFORE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. EXISTING DEALER PADS ON VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 1/2 LIFE ACCORDING TO SERVICE TECH. GM TECH. "GUESSED" AT CAUSE LISTING 4 DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY'S FROM CORRODED LINES TO BOOSTER PRESSURE TO CALIBER FAILURE. NO INCIDENT AS OF YET. ALSO SIMILAR PROBLEMS LISTED WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES FORTUNATELY MINE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. ALSO STEERING ASSIST CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR DEFECT THEN ISSUE WAS TURNED INTO PERIODIC MAINT. ITEM WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20100726STEERING

I PURCHASED CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDER CAB NEW IN JUNE 2003. I HAVE APPROX. 165,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE DISC BRAKES ( ALL 4 WHEELS ) HAVE BEEN CHANGED 1 TIME AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LIFE FOR BRAKE PADS ( THEY WERE STILL NOT WORN COMPLETELY OUT ) I HAVE NOW BEEN EXPERIENCING A BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTER/ SIGNIFICANT PULSATING JUST BEFORE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. EXISTING DEALER PADS ON VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 1/2 LIFE ACCORDING TO SERVICE TECH. GM TECH. "GUESSED" AT CAUSE LISTING 4 DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY'S FROM CORRODED LINES TO BOOSTER PRESSURE TO CALIBER FAILURE. NO INCIDENT AS OF YET. ALSO SIMILAR PROBLEMS LISTED WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES FORTUNATELY MINE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. ALSO STEERING ASSIST CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR DEFECT THEN ISSUE WAS TURNED INTO PERIODIC MAINT. ITEM WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20100726ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDER CAB NEW IN JUNE 2003. I HAVE APPROX. 165,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THE DISC BRAKES ( ALL 4 WHEELS ) HAVE BEEN CHANGED 1 TIME AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LIFE FOR BRAKE PADS ( THEY WERE STILL NOT WORN COMPLETELY OUT ) I HAVE NOW BEEN EXPERIENCING A BRAKE PEDAL FLUTTER/ SIGNIFICANT PULSATING JUST BEFORE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. EXISTING DEALER PADS ON VEHICLE ARE ABOUT 1/2 LIFE ACCORDING TO SERVICE TECH. GM TECH. "GUESSED" AT CAUSE LISTING 4 DIFFERENT POSSIBILITY'S FROM CORRODED LINES TO BOOSTER PRESSURE TO CALIBER FAILURE. NO INCIDENT AS OF YET. ALSO SIMILAR PROBLEMS LISTED WITH SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES FORTUNATELY MINE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. ALSO STEERING ASSIST CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER FOR DEFECT THEN ISSUE WAS TURNED INTO PERIODIC MAINT. ITEM WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20091228ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEED ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGES WILL NOT WORK FUEL GAUGE IS STUCK AT 1/2 A TANK OF FUEL, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL NOT READ PROPER TEMPERATURE. SPEED ODOMETER WILL READ 100MPH OR MORE WHILE STOPPED THIS PROBLEM STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHEN I RECEIVED A SERVICE LETTER FROM GM THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY PASS THE EXTENDED MILE WARRANTY THAT WAS DECIDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I AM THE 1ST OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THAT BASICALLY TOO BAD I AM OVER THE 80K MILEAGE AGREED TO IN THE LAW SUIT WITH THE US GOVERNMENT I HAVE NO WAY OF TELLING HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE ON TRIPS, HOW FAST I AM DRIVING AND IF MY ENGINE IS OVER HEATING AS I AM DRIVING, GM HAS BEEN NO HELP IN FIXING A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THEY RECEIVED MONEY FROM DELPHI OVER THE BAD AFFECTED PARTS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 102,358

20091107STRUCTURE

DEFECTIVE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON A CHEVY TRUCK/CAB ON MY RV. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE A POOR AND WEAK DESIGN. THEY ARE HELD ONTO THE DOORS BY SMALL PLASTIC PINS THAT BROKE OFF EASILY. THEY SHOULD HAVE A METAL SCREW THAT WOULD HOLD THEM MORE SECURELY TO THE DOOR BACK. MY CHEVY IS NOT THAT OLD FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. PART # 12479875 - LEFT DOOR HANDLE PART # 12479876 - RIGHT DOOR HANDLE BOTH HANDLES BROKE OFF THE DOORS HELD ONLY BY SMALL PLASTIC PINS. *TR

Mileage: 66,128

20090911SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING RT.523 TO FLEMINGTON,NJ ,I NEEDED TO USE THE BRAKES TO DECELERATE AND WHEN I PUSHED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR NO BRAKES [XXX] NEAR REARENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE IS A CHEVROLET 2003 SILVERADO 2500HD EXT.CAB TRUCK SHORTBED. LATER I FOUND THAT ALL 4 BRAKELINES RUSTED,CORRODED GOING TO THE ABS JUNCTION BOX UNDER THE CAB DRIVER'S SIDE.WHY IS THERE NO NATIONAL RECALL FOR THIS? ARE YOU WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED,OR A FIRST RESPONDER GETS INJURED BEFORE TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION? JUST LIKE FORD AND THE ROLLOVERS DUE TO THE TIRES ON THE SUVS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT'S TIME TO STOP THIS BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS!!! *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 50,500

20090419STEERING

WHEN I AM PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING AREA, IF THE WHEELS ARE TURNED HARD TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, WHEN STOPPING AND PUTTING THE TRUCK IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND YOU CANNOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE IT OUT OF THE LOCK POSITION, EITHER BY JIGGLING THE KEY OR THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AS A RESULT, I AM FORCED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE KEY LOCK CYLINDER REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS THREE TIMES. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PLACES THAT I HAVE PARKED, WITH THE WHEELS TURNED AND AM UNABLE TO GET IT MOVED UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY TAKEN APART AND THE IGNITION KEY AND CYLINDER ARE REPLACED. IT HAS COST ME OVER 300 TO HAVE THIS DONE. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE, ON OCCASION I HAVE STOPPED IN PLACES TEMPORARILY AND THEN NOT BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE AGAIN. I AM TIRED OF IT. I THOUGHT ORIGINALLY IT WAS A KEY PROBLEM, BUT HAVE FOUND, THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE IGNITIONS ALREADY, I BELIEVE IT TO BE A DEFECT

Mileage: 150,000

20080818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEEDOMETER WOULD MOVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH TACHOMETER WHEN VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. SPEEDOMETER WOULD STOP AT FASTEST SPEED AND NOT RETURN TO 0 THEN SUBSEQUENTLY GOES HIGHER WITH EACH START. WARNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF. ROLLING AWAY WHEN IN PARK AND NO BRAKES. STILL PERIODIC PROBLEMS WITH SPEEDOMETER WHEN COLD OR WET. VEHICLE EXCEEDS MILEAGE THAT DEALER WILL REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. (70000). GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. KNOWN DEFECT *TR

Mileage: 86,000

20080710STEERING

CLUNK NOISE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE ALSO FELT IN STEERING. THIS COMPLAINT IS SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 031803 /; NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10001891. *TR

Mileage: 41,233

20080611STRUCTURE

FLUIDS LEAKING FROM CAR. *TR

Mileage: 105,686

20080606ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE WIRES UNDER THE FRONT SEAT STARTED SMOKING. WHEN I GOT IN TO DRIVE THE TRUCK THE POWER SEAT DID NOT WORK. SO CHECKED THE FUSE AND IT WAS BLOWN. I CHANGED THE FUSE AND AS SOON AS I PUT IN A NEW FUSE IT WOULD BLOW ALSO I CHECKED THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THEY WERE MELTED TOGETHER. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND IF CHEVROLET SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE SAID THE WHOLE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NEXT WEEK I WILL TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

20080218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, NO GAS GAUGE, NO SPEEDOMETER. GM SENT ME A LETTER OFFERING TO REPLACE BUT ONLY IF LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD OR 70,000 MILES. I HAVE MORE THAN 70,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20071227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IN 2003 CHEVY TRUCK. *TR

20071128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING CREATING A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE. THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER AND TALKS WITH GM IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. LETTERS OF NOTIFICATION HAVE STARTED BEING SENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 07. THIS WEB SITE SHOWS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM DATING BACK TO DEC OF 2005. ALL DESCRIBE AN UNSAFE SITUATION. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE 95,000 MILES ON MY 2003. GMC WILL REPAIR IF LESS THAN 70,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS. HOW CAN A SAFETY PROBLEM CREATED IN MY ILLEGAL TRUCK STOP BEING A LIABILITY TO GM AFTER 70,000 MILES. WHY AM I BEING PENALIZED FOR DRIVING MORE THAN 10,000 MILES A YEAR? *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20071112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

53,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. NEEDLE IS PASS 120 MPH. VEHICLE IS A 2003 SPORT BED SILVERADO. *TR

Mileage: 53,158

Compare 2003CHEVROLETCHEVROLET TRUCK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK have?
The 2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK has 48 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK?
The most-complained component for the 2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2003 CHEVROLET CHEVROLET TRUCK safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.