Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2003)
2,092 consumer complaints on file.
- #10462987June 25, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AN ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICING DEALER DIAGNOSED RUSTED THROUGH FUEL LINES, ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462716June 22, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOMENTS AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 8/6/12 *CN UPDATED 08/15/2012 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462035June 18, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
METAL BRAKE LINE BURST DUE TO CORROSION. WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ONCE HOME, I FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME HAD BURST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462095June 18, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME MY BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WAS ALMOST HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVEWAY. UNDER THE TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING OUT AND THE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL MY BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE RUSTED EVERY WHERE. THE FRAME ALSO HAS RUST EVERY WHERE. I AM TAKING PICTURES OF UNDER THE TRUCK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461751June 14, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY RESIDENCE SO I DROVE THE TRUCK BACK HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FLUID WAS LOW. I REFILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD MY SON PUMP THE BRAKES AS I WAS UNDER THE TRUCK LOOKING FOR ANY VISIBLE FLUID LEAKS. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED NEAR THE FRAME RAIL. AFTER REPAIRING THE BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT OF RUPTURE WE RE-FILLED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BEGAN TO BLEED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AGAIN AT A POINT UNDER THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461087June 9, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
SINCE DAY 1 WITH THIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NOTICEABLY WEAK. IN EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS OR NEAR EMERGENCY STOP SITUATIONS REQUIRING A QUICK STOP WHEN I AM STANDING WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THIS VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND AS EXPECTED. IT'S AS IF ONLY HALF THE BRAKES ARE WORKING AS THE VEHICLE EASES TO A STOP ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN NORMAL BRAKING. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460813June 6, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
MY TRUCK HAS BEEN BLOWING HOT AIR WHEN ON COOL. WHEN IT STARTED DOING IT, I NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE MY AC UNIT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT MY ACTUATOR BLEND DOORS NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460830June 6, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
AS I APPROACHED A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION BETWEEN TWO HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS, I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AS USUAL. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING ACTION. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER CAR APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION AS I APPLIED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. BUT IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE BRAKE LININGS WERE CORRODED AND RUSTED THROUGH. WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED, I FOUND MANY DOZENS OF EXAMPLES. (SEE LINK BELOW) THE USE OF AN INFERIOR ALLOY INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THE BRAKE LINES HAS RESULTED IN CORROSION AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS, ESPECIALLY IN STATES LIKE NJ SUBJECT TO WINTER CONDITIONS. THIS BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA., BUT NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED. OWNERS OF MILLIONS OF GM VEHICLES ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY AND DEATH FROM THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW. RECALL NOTICES SHOULD BE SENT TO OWNERS AND GM SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS IN THE INTEREST OF THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. HTTP://TRUCKS.ABOUT.COM/B/2011/09/23/NHTSAS-ONGOING-INVESTIGATION-OF-GM-TRUCK-BRAKE-LINE-CORROSION.HTM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460854June 6, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
MY WIFE AND I WERE COMMUTING TO WORK THE MORNING OF 4/6/2012. A CAR IN FRONT OF US PUT THEIR BLINKER ON TO TURN LEFT...I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE BRAKES FAILED!! THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WITH THE LOW MILES OF THE TRUCK AND BEING THE ORIGINAL OWNER I KNEW THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DONE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO BARELY MISS HITTING THIS VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 45MPH. IF THE CAR HAD TO HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP I WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT PLOWED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR WITH MORE THAN LIKELY RESULTING IN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AFTER THE INCIDENT AND TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE GARAGE I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS SOMEWHAT BECOMING A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH CERTAIN GM VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2003. THIS MUST BE MADE PUBLIC BEFORE MORE INCIDENTS HAPPEN RESULTING IN INJURIES AND FATALITIES TAKING PLACE!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460410June 3, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING TO GO GET LUNCH I WENT TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AND MY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANK GOD I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME AND I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE TRUCK. WHEN I CLIMBED UNDER I NOTICED THE LINES WERE CORRODED AND ONE OF THE HAD RUPTURED. AFTER ALL OF THIS I STARTED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF GM TRUCKS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL YET!!! ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED FIRST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460356June 2, 2012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
ON APRIL 19, 2012, THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT TWO OR THREE OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO DIESEL FUEL INJECTORS, PART# 97729095, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND RECOMMENDED ALL EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,260,18. I ASKED IF THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED BY CHEVROLET AND THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE SAID MY TRUCK DID NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THE TIME LIMIT HAD EXPIRED. HE SAID IF THE VEHICLES FUEL INJECTORS HAD FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST 200,000 MILES OR WITHIN THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTORS AT NO COST. ON THAT DATE, APRIL 19, 2012 MY VEHICLE HAD 36,273 MILES AND WAS 9 YEARS OLD, I ASKED WHY THE DEALERSHIP HADN'T NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY ME AND REFUSED TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460181May 31, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT. STARTED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I LIVED IN INDIANA FOR 8 YEARS OF OWNING THE TRUCK. I HAVE LIVED IN FLORIDA FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. ALL LINES FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS MODULATOR ARE RUSTED. THE REAR LINE IS OK. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY RUNNING THE LINES WHERE THEY ARE. THE FUEL LINES APPEAR TO HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT YET FAILED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10460039May 30, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE PEDAL UNTIL IT WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10459885May 29, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
STEEL BRAKE LINE TO REAR OF TRUCK RUSTED THROUGH, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT & SYSTEM COULD NOT GENERATE SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE QUICKLY. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT AND I HAD A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR IN THE SAME TRIP, AND NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN DURING THE FAILURE. AT THE NEXT KEY OFF & ON, THE WARNING LIGHT DID ACTUALLY COME ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10458154May 11, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
COMING TO A RED LIGHT AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WENT THRU A RED LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT W/ THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. INSPECTION REVELED THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457956May 9, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED WILE DRIVING, HAD TO USE MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. COMPLETED STOP ACROSS TWO TRAFFIC LANES, ON COMING TRAFFIC STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID ACCIDENT. BRAKE LINES "RUSTED" THROUGH AND BLOW OUT LETTING ALL BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED OUT ONTO STREET. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10457794May 8, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH AND HAD TO MAKE A HARD BRAKE APPLICATION DUE TO UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE STOPPAGE AHEAD. WHEN SPEED DECLINED TO ABOUT 25 MPH THERE WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I THOUGHT THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM WAS ENGAGING SINCE THE PAVEMENT WAS WET ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO GO FARTHER DOWN THAN NORMAL. AT THIS TIME THE MULTIPLE BRAKE SERVICE WARNINGS CAME ON. JUST AS I WAS BEGINNING TO VEER OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID REARENDING THE CAR AHEAD, IT STARTED MOVING AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING IT. I DROVE HOME ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE LINES AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS DUE TO CORROSION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10456931April 30, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A DEER IN THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF THE ROAD AND OVER A DITCH IN ORDER TO STOP AND AVOID CRASHING INTO THE DEER. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THERE WAS AN OPEN AND CLOSED INVESTIGATION FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP10003 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10456743April 28, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REDUCED ENGINE POWER GENERIC CODE P2135. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10456772April 28, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS COMING TO A VERY SLOW STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. I TESTED THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE MOVING VERY SLOWLY, AND THE PEDAL CONTINUED TO GO TO THE FLOOR WITH A SWOOSHING SOUND. I HAD SOMEONE CHECK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS SHOOTING ALL OVER. MY TRUCK IS 9 YEARS OLD BUT IT HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES, THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND HAS HAD ONLY 2 BRAKES REPLACED JUST RECENTLY I BELIEVE THAT IT IS PREMATURE FOR THE BRAKE LINES TO HAVE SUFFERED A COMPLETE BLOWOUT. MY FORMER CHEVY TRUCK WHICH I HAD FOR 13 YEARS HAD NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LINES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0