Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2003)

2,092 consumer complaints on file.

#10059080February 26, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TAILGATE CABLES ON 2003 SILVERADO - PREMATURE RUSTING AND POSSIBLE FAILURE. INSPECTED TAILGATE CABLES AND FOUND THEM TO BE RUSTING ALREADY UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC COATING. THE TRUCK IS ONLY 18 MOS OLD. THEY HAVEN'T BROKE YET, BUT I FEAR PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO THE FREQUENT USE OF THE TAILGATE - ESPECIALLY STANDING ON IT LOADING & UNLOADING BOXES AND CARGO. RELUCTANTLY, I MIGHT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SET OF (DEFECTIVE) CABLES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058865February 24, 2004
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
VEHICLE JACK IS TOO SHORT TO JACK UP VEHICLE TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE, JACK PLACED UNDER FRAME PER OWNERS MANUAL. PLACING 4INCH BY 4INCH BLOCK OF WOOD BETWEEN GROUND AND JACK SOLVES PROBLEM - JACK IS EXTENDED AS FAR AS IT WILL GO. THERE IS NO INTERNAL THREADED SCREW SHAFT IN JACK TO EXTEND IT. DEALER SAYS THERE IS ONLY ONE PART NUMBER FOR PICKUP JACK, TO WRITE "GM" ON SIDE OF BLOCK OF WOOD. GM SAYS IF THEY GET ENOUGH COMPLANTS THEY'LL LOOK INTO IT.. ADDING A BLOCK OF WOOD UNDER A FULLY EXTENDED JACK TO REMOVE A FLAT TIRE DOESN'T SEEM SAFE AS COMPAIRED TO A JACK THAT IS THE CORRECT FIT FOR A VEHICLE. AT THE PRICE I PAID FOR A NEW TRUCK I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY GM DOESN'T PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK! EVERY SILVERADO OWNER WHO HAS A FLAT LIKE I DID WILL GET A SUPRISE WHEN THEY TRY TO CHANGE THE TIRE WITH THE PROVIDED JACK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058772February 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
ON THE ADVICE OF COUNCIL, I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO OUTLINE AND DOCUMENT TO GENERAL MOTORS CORP. DETAILS CONCERNING A VEHICLE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 29, 2004, APPROXIMATELY 7:45 PM, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD [XXX] MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON S.R. 224 EAST OF FINDLAY AT 40MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENTIRE FRONT END LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE (LATER DUPLICATED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT LARICHE CHEVROLET IN FINDLAY, OHIO) THROWING MY WIFE AND I VIOLENTLY AGAINST OUR RESTRAINTS. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD THAT IS FREQUENTED BY SEMI TRAILERS AND VEHICLES TRAVELING IN THE 55-60MPH RANGE, AND WERE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. AFTER PUSHING THE 2WD/4WD BUTTONS FRANTICALLY ON THE DASH AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FINALLY MOVED IN REVERSE (2WD). I THEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A NEARBY DRIVEWAY. AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE UP AND DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, WE PROCEEDED TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND WENT DIRECTLY HOME (APPROXIMATELY 0.5 MILES). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LARICHE CHEVROLET THE FOLLOWING MORNING. (COMPLETE BACKGROUND OF SERVICE WORK IN MEMO PAGE) AS YOU CAN SEE THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF US, LEAVING MY WIFE UNWILLING TO TRAVEL IN THIS VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, OUR PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED BY A TECHNICIAN AT LARICHE CHEVROLET WHO IN THE MANAGER'S WORDS YOUR TRUCK ABOUT PUT MY SERVICE TECH THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD". BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE, WE ARE ASKING TO HAVE CHEVROLET EXCHANGE THIS VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER EQUIVALENT MODEL. THIS WAS OUR SECOND CHEVROLET IN 2 YEARS, SO WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE BRAND, JUST NOT THIS TRUCK. PLEASE ADVISE US OF YOUR DECISION. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10054212February 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES RELEASED POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. *JB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058232February 16, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN & TRANSMISSION, CLUNKS & SLIPS QUITE OFTEN ON ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES WILL DOWNSHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058299February 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AT LEAST AND HOUR AND A HALF. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058304February 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4X4 DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN NEEDED. TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BULLATIN OUT FROM DEALER TO SERVICE TECHS STATING THERE IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM IN THE 4X4 PROGRAM AND AT THIS TIME CHEVROET DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058182February 15, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
STEERING THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY LOW SPEEDS AND TURNING LEFT (SILVERADO 1500) THUD IS FELT AS SOMETHING FEELS LOOSE IN FRONT END. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056521February 4, 2004
STEERING
VEHICLE SAFETY: QUADRASTEER (4 WHEEL STEER) MANEUVERABILITY WHEN SLIDING ON ICE. WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET 1500HD CREW CAB 4X4 QUADRASTEER PICKUP 30 MPH (IN 40 MPH ZONE) AND COMING AROUND A RIGHT HAND BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK HIT ICE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT. THE QUADRASTEER WAS ON AND ENGAGED. AT THIS SPEED THE QUADRASTEER HAS THE REAR WHEELS TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE FRONT WHEELS. AS THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING TO THE RIGHT, I RESPONDED AS CONVENTION DICTATES, WHICH IS TO TURN INTO THE SLIDE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT (INTO THE SLIDE), THE REAR WHEELS TURNED TO THE LEFT, WHICH ALMOST INSTANTLY PUT THE TRUCK IN A FREE SLIDE NOW GOING SLIDE WAYS BECAUSE THE REAR WHEEL STEERING CAUSED THE BACK OF THE TRUCK TO COME AROUND FROM THE LEFT SIDE. THE QUADRASTEER SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE'S FREE SLIDE ACTED COUNTER-INTUITIVELY AND PUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL IN THE FREE-SLIDE. THE REAR WHEELS COMPLETE FOR CONTROL AGAINST THE FRONT WHEELS CONTROL AND MAKE THE OUTCOME OF THE SLIDE ON ICE EVEN MORE UNPREDICTABLE. ADDITIONALLY, NOWHERE IN THE DRIVING MANUAL, WHICH COMES WITH THE TRUCK, DOES IT STATE ANYTHING ABOUT THE DRIVING CONTROL BEING DIFFERENT FROM CONVENTIONAL HANDLING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN A FREE SLIDE ON ICE OR SNOW. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS IN THE MANUAL TO A GIVE HEADS UP FOR THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, NOR IS THERE ANY SAFETY DEVICE IN THE QUADRASTEER SYSTEM WHICH WOULD HELP ONE OVERCOME THE COMPLICATIONS BROUGHT UPON BY THE QUADRASTEER IN THIS SITUATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055142January 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
IN MY OPINION... THE ABS SYSTEM ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. UPON BRAKE APPLICATION @ SPEED... ALL FOUR WHEELS CONSISTANTLY "LOCK-UP"... TIRES SQUEAL... AND VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE. UPON VISITING THE DEALER TWO TIMES... THE CHEVROLET DEALER STATES ABS SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE SALESMAN @ THE DEALERSHIP STATES HE HAS HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM SEVERAL SILVERADO OWNERS... AND THE PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE TIRES. THIS RAISES MY CONCERN THAT CHEVROLET HAS NOT ENGINEERED THE OEM TIRES TO BE PROPERLY MATCHED TO THE ABS SYSTEM... CREATING AN UNSAFE AND NON-FUNCTIONAL ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I EXPECT MY ABS SYSTEM TO GRUNT... GROWL... GROAN... AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULSATE... BUT, NOT "LOCK-UP" ALL FOUR WHEELS!!! I PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET TRUCKS... AND I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE BEST CHEVROLET CAN DO... THEN I'LL BE LOOKING LOOK FOR A FORD... A DODGE... OR MAYBE A NEW FULL-SIZE NISSAN TRUCK IN 2004. HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055153January 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
SERVICE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. NO APPARENT CAUSE AND NO FIX FOR IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056118January 29, 2004
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED UP, MOSTLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS, AND SOME WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND THE LEFT HUB. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055948January 28, 2004
STEERING
VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH QUADRA STEER (4 WHEEL STEERING). WHEN THIS SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED AND WHEN VEHICLE WAS SLIDING REAR WHEELS WENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS RESULTED IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. OWNERS MANUAL INDICATED THAT THIS SYSTEM COULD BE USED IN ANY WEATHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055087January 28, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
AT 6,130 MILES THE MESSAGE "CHECK 4X4" WAS DISPLAYED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE 4X4 CONTROL BUTTONS WENT INOPERABLE. THE 4X4 SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY DISABLE AND INOPERABLE. ONSTAR CONFIRMED VEHICLE REQUIRED SERVICE. REDWOOD CITY BOARDWALK FOUND "MODE SWITCH SHORTED, REPLACED MODE SWITCH" AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. DEALER REPLACED SWITCH MODULE WITH DIFFERENT COLOR (GRAY) MODULE THAN WAS PROVIDED WITH THE TRUCK NEW (BLACK), GRAY DOES NOT MATCH DASHBOARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055084January 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT 4,702 MILES THE "CHECK ENGINE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. ONSTAR CONFIRMED TRUCK REQUIRED SERVICE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. BOARDWALK CHEVROLET IN REDWOOD CITY DIAGNOST THE PROBLEM AS "PCM NOT READING THROTTLE ANGLE" AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054989January 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WITH ONLY 10266 MILES ON ODOMETER, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. WE WERE NEARLY HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE MAKING IT TO A SHOULDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052261January 23, 2004
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
THERE WERE FORGED ALUMINUM WHEELS IN WHICH 8 HUB CAP NUTS CAME LOOSE ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT HUB CAP MIGHT FLY OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *AK A LOCAL DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE NEW REPLACEMENT HUB CAPS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048599January 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE PEDAL FELT A LITTLE SPONGY. THE CONSUMER HAD TO START BRAKING EARLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS AIR IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055580January 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
UPON DEPRESSING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR CONSUMER NOTICE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE SHIFT CHANGE. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054610January 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TICKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP, OCCURS AT IDLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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