Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2003)

2,092 consumer complaints on file.

#10375260January 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY K3500 SILVERADO TRUCK, WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES. AS OF DECEMBER 2010, I HAVE SUFFERED TWO BRAKE LINE FAILURES DUE TO CORROSION, WHEREIN A STEEL RIGID BRAKE LINE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, RESULTING IN BRAKE LOSS. I LIVE IN OHIO, AND SALT IS USED ON ROADS, HOWEVER, IN MY 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILES, WHICH SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. IN BOTH CASES OF FAILURE, I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I WAS NOT IN A HEAVY PRESSURE SITUATION, AND LUCKILY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NOW LARGELY REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE TRUCK, AT CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL TIME AND EXPENSE, HOWEVER, PROBLEMS STILL INCLUDE THE FACT THAT CORROSION CONTINUOUSLY AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS AS THEY INPUT TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THEY CONSTANTLY FAIL TO SENSE WHEEL SPEED AT LOWER SPEEDS WHICH RESULTS IN ERRONEOUS ACTIVATION OF THE ABS ACTION. THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED ONCE AT 30,000 MILES, AND THEY LASTED ABOUT 15,000 MILES BEFORE GOING BAD AGAIN. THIS COMPARES TO A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN WHICH WAS SOLD A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 215,000 MILES WITH ZERO PROBLEMS, BOTH WITH RESPECT TO STEEL BRAKE LINE INTEGRITY AS WELL AS ABS SENSOR INTEGRITY. I CONSIDER THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE 2003 SILVERADO TRUCK TO BE OF VERY QUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375080January 7, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ON 65 WHEN STOPPED AND WILL TRAVEL UPWARDS AS I DRIVE FASTER. FOR EXAMPLE IN A 35 MPH ZONE, WHEN I GUESTIMATE MY SPEED, I AM DRIVING ACCORDING TO MY SPEEDOMETER 110 MPH! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373332December 29, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER ON CHEVY 1500 SILVERADO 2003 ERRATIC AT TIMES. DEALERS AT FIRST DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL, AND NOW STATE I AM OUT OF POLICY ALLOWANCE. NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL, ONLY HEARD IN NEWS. PROBLEM HAS BECOME MUCH WORSE IN PAST 2 MONTHS, I FIRST REPORTED TO DEALER AT 70K IN JAN 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373245December 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A MINI VAN WITH 5 OCCUPANTS THAT SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR ON 12/28 AT A GM DEALER I WAS TOLD MY BRAKE SYSTEM WAS RUSTED OUT AND CORRODED CAUSING MY BRAKES TO FAIL. I HAVE INVESTIGATED MYSELF THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS TRUCK IS AT RISK OF CRASHING AND DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT. I WAS ONE OF THEM UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO.I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ONLY BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE WILL NOT SUPPLY ME WITH A CONTACT NUMBER FOR A ZONE REP OR ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAULTY BRAKE LINES BEFORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372720December 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AS A CORRODED BRAKE LINE CLIP. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES TO DETERIORATE AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID. THE MECHANIC PARTIALLY REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE CLIPS BUT ADVISED THAT EVENTUALLY, THE REMAINING CLIPS WOULD ALSO FAIL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,050. UPDATED 12/14/2011 *CN UPDATED 05/20/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373179December 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY NIGHTMARE STARTED WHEN I PULLED ONTO A FROM MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE ABOUT A HALF BLOCK TO THE STOP SIGN IN MY 2003 SILVERADO AND NOTICED A MINI VAN GOING SOUTH. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I COULDN'T STOP. NO WARNING ON THE DASH NOTHING. THE VAN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME AND ALMOST TIPPED OVER CONTAINING 5 PEOPLE. I SAW HIM COMING BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE LAST THING ON MY MIND WAS NO BRAKES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 39 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN MY LIFE. YESTERDAY I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE USUAL RUN AROUND. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THE BEST PART WAS THEY WILL REPLACE THE LINES WITH STANDARD GM PARTS THE SAME ONES THAT ARE ON THE VEHICLE NOW. DOING THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME RESULTS AND A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. EVEN IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DO THE REPAIRS WITH THE SAME INFERIOR BRAKE LINES THAT WE ALL HAVE NOW !!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372549December 27, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD; THE SERVICE BRAKES LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372325December 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I NOTICED THAT THE WAS A LEAK UNDER MY TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS A BRAKE LINE AND AS I STARTED LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE VISUALLY IN SIMILAR SHAPE. THIS IS ON A 2003 SILVERADO WITH 62000 MILES, SO I AM NOW REPLACING ALL THE LINES BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T SEE THE DRIP IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WITH A 7200 POUND TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371889December 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A CHEVY SILVERADO 03, 2500HD AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND WIRE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO IT. I RECENTLY CHANGED A BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER BACK IN SEPTEMBER, NOW HERE IS DECEMBER AND THE SAME RESISTOR HAD BLOWN AGAIN. SO I REPLACED WITH NEW ONE, AND NOW THE WIRE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO IT IS HEATING UP TO APPOINT THAT YOU CAN SMELL BURNING WIRES. I HAD CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON A LOT OF GM VEHICLES AND WANT TO CHARGE ME $160 TO CHANGE THE BAD WIRE HARNESS AND BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. I DON'T UNDER STAND WHY THIS IS NOT RECALLED FOR POSSIBLE BEING ABLE TO START A FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371248December 20, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO DISPLAY A SPEED OF 10 MPH. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A PASSENGER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BODY DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED AN IMPROPER READING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10371165December 18, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD ON MICHELIN LTX M/S SEPARATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND QUARTER PANEL OF MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO. THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PROPERLY INFLATED BEFORE THE TRIP BEGAN. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT APPROX. 60 - 65 MPH AND THE TRUCK WAS STEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIBERGLASS WHEEL WELL AND QUARTER PANEL SUSTAINED CRACKS AND BROKEN MOUNTING BRACKETS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370727December 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500'S GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MALFUNCTIONING. WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE THE SPEEDOMETER READING STARTED SHOWING SPEEDS OF OVER 100 MPH WHILE CRUISING AT 70 MPH. WHEN I TURNED THE TRUCK OF THE GAUGE DID NOT DROP BELOW 75. SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THIS ISSUE THE GAUGE HAS CONTINUED TO READ AN IMPROPER SPEED. THE MISREADING HAS FLUCTUATED FROM 20 TO 75 MPH OFF OF THE CORRECT SPEED. THE RPM GAUGE HAS ALSO BEEN DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370797December 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI- BRAKE SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING UNDER 5 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369949December 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 2500 SILVERADO WITH THE 6 LITER V8. 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I FOUND A BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 130,000 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE CHANGING OIL I FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS YEAR WHILE CHANGING PLUGS I FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO GET SOME TIPS ON FIXING THE PROBLEM WHEN I CAME ACROSS A UTUBE VIDEO BY CARQUESTIONS AND FOUND OUT THIS IS NOT JUST BAD LUCK ON MY PART IT IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY GM. THIS IS NOT AN EASY FIX AND TO GET IT DONE IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY NOW BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IT HAS CREATED WITH THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS WAS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACTIONS OF MINE. I HAVE DONE THE MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE. GM NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369769December 9, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED; THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,190.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369524December 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DECELERATING THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE UNUSUALLY AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369350December 6, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HEAR ANY NOISES NOR DID ANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369035December 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO PICK UP TRUCK BRAKES FAILED THREE (3) DIFFERENT TIMES IN 2010.THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AND RESIDENTIAL STREETS. THE BRAKE LINE TUBING RUPTURED BECAUSE OF RUST AND CORROSION, LEAVING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NO BRAKES. MY TRUCK IS IN AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP NOW AND ALL THE BRAKE LINE TUBING IS BEING REPLACED LEAVING ME WITH NO TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND A VERY LARGE AUTO REPAIR BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368383November 30, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4X4 AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING ROD ONCE ALREADY AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES DUE TO A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. THIS SET ME BACK ABOUT $300.00 PARTS AND LABOR. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THIS PART. I AM STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS AS IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE "WANDERING" WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. I NOW HAVE 108,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND PLAN ON KEEPING IT FOR WHILE LONGER BUT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368108November 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN SHE DEPRESSED IT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE PARKING BRAKE. THE PARKING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/14/11*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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