Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2003)
2,092 consumer complaints on file.
- #10616188July 25, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING TRUCK OUT OF PARKING AREA AT HOUSE ENTERING STREET AND BOTH BRAKE LINES SUPPLY TO ABS BROKE. THIS LEFT ME WITH NO BRAKES TO FRONT OR BACK. JUST ENOUGH BRAKE FLUID TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN BACK INTO PARKING AREA BEHIND MY HOUSE. HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE TO FULLY STOP TRUCK. CALLED FOR A FLAT BED TRUCK TO HAUL MY TRUCK TO LOCAL AUTO SHOP TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED. THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED ,CORROSION PROBLEM !. $1000 BRAKE LINE REPAIR. COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS TIME IF I WAS ON THE BUSY STREET ONE MORE BLOCK FARTHER IN MY TRAVEL.SECOND TIME BRAKE LINE BROKE ON THIS TRUCK. ^ MONTHS AGO REPLACED ONE LINE ON BACK BRAKE, SAME PROBLEM.NOW LINES UNDER DRIVERS CAB BOTH BROKE UNDER PEDAL STRESS. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON BOTH LINES. HAD MANY OTHER TRUCKS AND CARS AND NEVER SAW SUCH POOR QUALITY BRAKE LINES. IF THIS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL ABOUT IT.WIFE WAS IN TRUCK ALSO AND PULLING A 14FT BOAT.ANY DAMAGES OR BODILY INJURY WOULD BE PUT ON GM AND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT SELECTION OF BRAKE LINES. SHOULD BE A RECALL YEARS AGO. THOUSANDS OF GM TRUCK OWNERS HAVE PROBLEMS. MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE HAD SAME BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS. ONLY 70,000 MILES ON TRUCK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616241July 25, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY 2003 SILVERADO FROM WORK AND HAD TO APPLY BRAKES FOR A CAR THAT HAD CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BRIEFLY THEY CAUGHT AS NORMAL, BUT THEN SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WAS TOO LATE FOR ANY WARNING AS IT HAPPENED WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH ALTHOUGH NARROWLY. THERE HAD BEEN NO SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE OR ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE THE INCIDENT. TOOK TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE BRAKE LINES HAD GIVEN WAY. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT SHOULD NEVER OCCUR. BRAKE LINES SHOULDN'T SIMPLY RUST AND GIVE WAY. THE LINES SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY GM AND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL MADE. MY CASE IS NOT THE ONLY CASE THAT HAS HAPPENED AS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEWS REPORTS AND MESSAGE BOARDS FILLED WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I AM A VERY LOYAL GM CUSTOMER, BUT GM OWES IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND VERY WELL COULD LEAD TO DEATH AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY IF HAPPENING AT THE WRONG TIME AND PLACE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616108July 24, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT FOUR OF THE EXHAUST HEADER MANIFOLD BOLT HEADS WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614922July 21, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
ON JULY 18, 2014 WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKES AND THE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK. I NOTICE THAT THE FOUR BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR WERE ALL RUSTED AND ONE BROKE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614483July 18, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES. CAUSE CORROSIVE REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I ALMOST CRASHED AND COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE GM WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO?!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614631July 18, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ON A SMOOTH PAVED COUNTY ROAD WITH MY A/C ON. IT WAS ABOUT 78 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD THE A/C RUNNING ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE AIR JUST TURNED WARM. I TRIED 3 TIMES TURNING OFF THE A/C AND BACK ON, AND THE AIR FAILED TO COOL. I STOPPED THE TRUCK, TURNED THE A/C ON, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE A/C COMPRESSOR. THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT ENGAGING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. 2 OTHER MECHANICS FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE SYSTEM WAS CHARGED CORRECTLY, NOT LEAKING, AND EVEN REPLACED THE HVAC CONTROL MODULE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES JUST LIKE MINE AND I WOULD LIKE GM TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. I AM PROUD TO BE A GM CUSTOMER AND HAVE ALWAYS LIKED MY GM PICKUPS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10611161July 17, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO RUST. ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I POINTED THIS PROBLEM OUT TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RELATIVELY NEW AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY (2 OR 3 YEARS OLD) AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL AND SHOULD NOT BE A CONCERN. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SHOWING RUST AFTER A YEAR OR SO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10611225July 17, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. ..UPDATED 08-28-14 *BF UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10611393July 17, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PULLING A TRAILER LOADED WITH A RACE CAR, THE TRUCK STARTED GRINDING DOWN WITH A KNOCKING NOISE..UNATTACHED TRAILER FROM TRUCK AND BROUGHT HOME...REAR-END COVER HAD RUSTED AND LEAKED OUT ALL THE FLUID...WHILE CHANGING THAT NOTICED THAT THE BREAK LINE UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC COVER UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAD RUSTED IN TWO( THE BRAKE LINE ON EACH SIDE OF THIS COVER LOOKED GOOD IT WAS ONLY UNDERNEATH THE COVER) BUT UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION ALL BRAKE LINES ARE STARTING TO CORRODE... THERE ARE 3 SILVERADO IN MY FAMILY TWO 2003 AND A 2002. IN 2 DIFFERENT STATES( ONE OF THEM TRAVELS THROUGH THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN KENTUCKY (BLACK MOUNTAIN). WHEN TOLD THE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM THEY INSPECTED THERE VEHICLES AND SURE ENOUGH ALL OF THEM HAVE CORRODED AND BREAKING BRAKE LINES...HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD WARNING US WITH THE GRINDING NOISES...WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO NOT ONLY ALL MY FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVING BUT WHOMEVER WAS RIDING WITH THEM!!!!!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610985July 16, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL SANK INTO THE FLOORBOARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610909July 16, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THREW WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE FOR DRIVING.THE FUEL LINES ARE GOING TO GO NEXT AFTER INSPECTION ALL THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ARE BAD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610588July 15, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON 22 APRIL 2014, AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND PRESSED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE MAIN CONSOLE CHIMED, SHOWED A MESSAGE TO CHECK BRAKES, AND I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BRAKE LEVER TO THE FLOOR. I WAS STILL ABLE TO STOP PRIOR TO REACHING THE STOPLIGHT. I SLOWLY RETURNED HOME (ABOUT A MILE) AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK NEARBY, THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IN DRIVE. WHEN PLACED ON THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE BED. AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANICS STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEHIND THE MASTER CYLINDER. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD ASKED THEM TO INSPECT WHY I SOMETIMES HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THIS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE FUEL TANK (DUE TO CORROSION), AND I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TANK SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE PUMP. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610593July 15, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
HAD TO MAKE QUICK STOP AND REQUIRED ME TO STEP ON BRAKES FAIRLY HARD. BLEW A BRAKE LINE AND LOST ALL BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO SERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT, AND THEN USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP MYSELF. HAD TRUCK TAKEN TO SHOP, ALL BRAKE LINES WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND REQUIRED REPLACING. $1000+ JOB. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610646July 15, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
TRAVELING NORTH ON 95 JUST OUTSIDE OF WILMINGTON DELAWARE IN MIDDLE TRAVEL LANES WHEN STOPPING FOR TRAFFIC AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR. HAD TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND TRAVEL ONTO MEDIUM TO AVOID ACCIDENT. I CHECKED UNDER TRUCK AND OBSERVED BRAKE LINE LEAKING FLUID UNDER DRIVERS SIDE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610680July 15, 2014PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BACKING PLATE FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. AS A RESULT, THE BACKING PLATE, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED CAUSING AN EXTENSIVE LEAK. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V161000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610865July 15, 2014ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO ALMOST 2 OUT OF 10 ON THE PRESSURE GAUGE. I STOPPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND LET THE ENGINE COOL FOR 20 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND COLOR. IT WAS OK IN BOTH RESPECTS. AFTER ANOTHER 30 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED HOME. I WATCHED THE PRESSURE GAGE FOR ANOTHER HOUR AND SAW THE PRESSURE READING CONTINUE TO FALL TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVY DEALER IN EL CENTRO, CA 92243 FOR THEIR ANALYSIS. THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY POOR OIL AND NEEDED CHANGING. I LET THEM SERVICE THE TRUCK AS THEY WISHED. THEY ALSO SCANNED (SWEPT) THE GAUGES AND CHANGED THE OIL AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THE NEXT DAY IT DID THE SAME THING. I DID NOT RETURN TO THE DEALER AS I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR AN ARGUMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610189July 13, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH A 700 LB LOAD IN THE BACK ON RT. 44. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE PUMPED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF RT. 44 ONTO A SIDE STREET. WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN STREET THERE WERE LIMITED BRAKES. WHEN SHE CAME UPON OUR STREET SHE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. SHE AGAIN APPLIED THIS METHOD TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. ONCE IN THE DRIVEWAY SHE TOLD ME THERE ARE NO BRAKES IN THE TRUCK. I GOT IN THE TRUCK AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A SPRAYING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT. I GOT OUT AND SAW BRAKE FLUID AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND DRIPPING ON THE GROUND FROM THE BRAKE LINE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610067July 12, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, NO WARNING TILL SLOWING DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF BUSY ROAD. APX. 100 YARDS BEFORE STOP LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WAS SOFT,PUMPED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR! I QUICKLY PUMPED BRAKES AND CAME TO STOP IN THE INTERSECTION NOT 2 SECONDS AFTER MOTORCYCLE WITH PASSENGER PASSED IN FRONT OF ME! NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT EVER ALERTED, FOUND STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 65000 MILES ON IT, FOUND ANOTHER LINE IS VERY RUSTED IN SAME PLACE AS IT CROSSES OVER FRAME. AFTER RESEARCH ON REPAIRS, FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS FROM 1999 TO 2003. THIS ONE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL,AS MOTORCYCLE WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 45 MPH. THESE TRUCKS ARE ALL COMING TO THE AGE OF FAILURE. THANK GOD, I WAS NOT PULLING MY BOAT THAT WEIGHS 6700 LBS AS THIS TRUCK CAN NO LONGER BE TRUSTED. I WILL BE CHECKING INTO REPAIRS,AND IT WILL BE SOLD ! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10609769July 11, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
TRUCK WAS PARKED AT HOME ON A HILL. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACKUP WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A TREE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL. BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. I HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND NOW CALLING A TOW TRUCK. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10609515July 10, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING AND PARKED VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLUID UNDER LEFT REAR AXLE AREA. BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. I DO NOT THINK A TEN YEAR OLD TRUCK SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0