Total Complaints
4 filings
CHEVROLET W3500 · model year
2003 CHEVROLET W3500
4 NHTSA complaints, and 1 recall campaign listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003CHEVROLETW3500 carries 4 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, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2003 W3500 is steering with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (1) and tires:sidewall (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2003 W3500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
Recalls (1)
05V16800020/04/2005
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH RPO IK9, DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DURABILITY AND TESTING, THE FUEL SWITCHING MANIFOLD SOLENOIDS LACK WATER OR SALT INTRUSION RESISTANCE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE SOLENOIDS. FUEL SWITCHING MANIFOLD SOLENOID FAILURE WILL CAUSE INCORRECT FUEL DELIVERY RESULTI
Recent Complaints
20030731STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. AT 14,000 MILES THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH
Mileage: 4,000
20030715TIRES:SIDEWALL
GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT/S TT215/85R16 115/1120 LOAD RANDE E TIRES CAME ON A 2003 CHEVY 3500 4X4 ...WITH A DURAMAX ENGINE ...BOTH FRONT TIRES DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BULGES ...BOTH TIRES REPLACED...5 THOUSAND MILE LATER THE SECOND SET DEVELOPED SAME PROBLEM...TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER WAITING FOR A GOODYEAR REP....LOOKS LIKE THESE TIRES CANT HOLD UP UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE....WOULD BE REALLY BAD IF THIS 8000 POUND TRUCK HAD A BLOWOUT ...*AK
Mileage: 18,500
20030522SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES PULLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALER WAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *JB
20030522STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Compare 2003CHEVROLETW3500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500 have?▼
The 2003 CHEVROLET W3500 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500?▼
Yes, the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500 is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and TIRES:SIDEWALL.
Is the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2003 CHEVROLET W3500; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.