Chevrolet Silverado Complaints (2003)

2,092 consumer complaints on file.

#10706508April 19, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST DAMAGE FROM INFERIOR COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705616April 14, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK AND AS I ROLLED TOWARDS THE STOP SIGN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND INTO THE NEXT LANE, FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AT THE TIME. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I IMMEDIATELY SAW THE TRAIL OF BRAKE FLUID AND UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION I COULD SEE WHERE NOT ONE BUT TWO LINES HAD RUPTURED AT ONCE. I WAS LEAVING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM DAYCARE AND IT IS TERRIBLE TO THINK THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BUSIER INTERSECTION. GM CLAIMS BRAKE LINES FALL UNDER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHICH ROUTINE THEY MEAN. NO GM TECH OR INSPECTOR HAS EVER MENTIONED RUSTY BRAKE LINES. IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE MAYBE THEY SHOULD TRAIN RESPONSIBLE TECHNICIANS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705257April 13, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
ON APRIL 11, 2015 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SILVERADO 1500 TO WORK. WHILE DRIVING ACROSS TOWN I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. MY BREAKS FELT VERY SOFT AND HAD ALMOST NO RESISTANCE. WHILE AT THE STOP LIGHT MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD VERY SLOWLY INTO THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WITH NO NEED FOR SLOWING DOWN AND ARRIVED AT MY NEXT TURN. I WENT TO DEPRESS MY BREAKS AND AGAIN THEY WERE VERY SOFT. JUST AS I WAS ALMOST SLOW ENOUGH TO TURN MY FOOT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. AT THIS TIME THE SERVICE BREAK SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON ALL OF THE ALERT TONES BEGAN. LUCKILY I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND COME TO A STOP USING WHAT MINIMAL BRAKING POWER I HAD LEFT. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY RESERVOIR WAS VERY LOW. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE I JUST HAD ALL OF MY FLUIDS TOPPED OFF WITHIN THE LAST 15 DAYS WHEN I TOOK IT BECAUSE I HAD 3 BROKEN HEADER BOLTS. AFTER WORK, I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR AND IT WAS TOTALLY EMPTY I INSPECTED THE VISIBLE PORTION OF THE LINES TO FIND THAT ONE OF THEM HAD CORRODED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING (LEAKING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID) AND THE REST WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED ALSO. OVERALL, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE THE 4TH TIME THIS YEAR IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR A COSTLY REPAIR. SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT INCLUDING CLEANING ALL OF THE SALT OFF IN THE WINTERS AFTER EVERY STORM AND AVOIDING DRIVING NEAR THE BEACH. I HAVE TAKEN ALL ACTIONS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING GOOD. I AM GLAD THAT I DID NOT FIND A NEED TO STOP SHORT THIS TIME BECAUSE I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT I WOULD HAVE CRASHED AND BEEN INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704998April 10, 2015
ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED HESITATION ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER CIRCULATED WARM AIR WHENEVER ACTIVATED. THE BLOWER MOTOR CONNECTOR WAS NOT REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE MOTOR RESISTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704615April 9, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TOWING MY BOAT DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM HOME. AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT TURNED YELLOW AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKING POWER AND I ROLLED THROUGH A RED LIGHT. AS I COASTED I TRIED THE PARKING BRAKE, WHICH ALSO HAD NO BRAKING POWER. AS THIS OCCURRED, I HAD TO ROLL THROUGH ANOTHER RED LIGHT, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID COLLISIONS. SHORTLY AFTER I WAS ABLE TO EASE THE TRUCK AND BOAT UP A HILL AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON ALL THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704710April 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
SEVERAL TIMES NOW THIS LAST 2 MONTHS MY TRUCK STOPS RUNNING. AT FIRST IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THEN STOP, THE LAST TIME IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN 3 TIMES FROM WORK TO HOME WHICH IS ONLY 10 MINUTES AWAY. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. I AM BRINGING THIS TO EVERYONES ATTENTION JUST IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE HAS THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. IF I WERE DRIVING 65 OR 70 MILES PER HOUR IT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR ME OR BOTH. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS ALSO SHOWING A FAULT. IT SHOWS THAT IT NEEDS SERVICED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703726April 4, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A FLUID PUDDLE IN THE SPOT WHERE IT WAS PARKED. UPON INVESTIGATING,IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES HAS RUPTURED. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION,ALL BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND SOON TO ACCOMPANY THE RUPTURED LINE. I'M DISPLEASED THAT SUCH A VALUABLE SAFETY ASPECT OF MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY GENERAL MOTORS. I FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY 18 YEARS OF DRIVING THAT WERE OLDER AND HAD MORE MILES THAT HAD SHOWN NO SIGNS OF SUCH FAILURE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703343April 2, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED DURING THE FOLLOWING YRS AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR NOW FOR EACH YR FROM 2005 TILL 2015 COMING HOME FROM DAUGHTERS AND LOST ALL HEAD LAMPS AND DRIVING LIGHTS SO WAS DRIVING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS WITH NO LIGHTS , THANKFULLY WE MADE IT HOME THE LAST 2 MILES NEXT DAY TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE LAMPS , TWO WEEKS LATER GOT PULLED OVER DUE TO RUNNING LIGHTS ONE WAS OUT AND GOT WARNING ABOUT THAT .......................THIS HAS HAPPENED 12 TIMES SINCE WE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE 2005 AND WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BUT NOW AFTER 6 MONTHS LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN AND GET PULLED OVER DUE TO ONLY ONE HEADLAMP IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING? MOSTLY THIS IS JUST ON DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP AND RUNNING LIGHT IT KEEPS BLOWING THE LAMPS OUT OCCASIONALLY IT BLOWS BOTH SIDES AND FRONT RUNNING LAMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701988March 26, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY DROPPED TO FLOOR AND BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT AND ALL FOUR BRAKES FAILED. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. TESTING THE BRAKES, I FOUND THERE WAS A LITTLE BRAKING CAPABILITY, BUT VERY LITTLE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE BRAKE FLUID SPRAYS OUT THE LINE BELOW THE DRIVER'S DOOR HINGE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RISK. THANK GOODNESS IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY! THIS VEHICLE HAS SPENT MOST OF ITS LIFE IN OHIO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700962March 22, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES IT TURNS BOTH TURN SIGNALS ON LIKE THE HAZARDS. IF I HAVE MY CRUISE SET AND USE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, IT SHUTS THE CRUISE OFF. TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700641March 20, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE AS A RESULT OF BRAKE LINE RUST THRU. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ALL OF THE STEEL LINES IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM WERE CORRODED AND REQUIRED REPLACING. EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL HAS LEAKED DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NEARLY ON THE FLOOR, NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAS ACTIVATED INDICATING A BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. BECAUSE I HAVE PRIOR EXPERIENCE WORKING ON VEHICLES, I KNEW ENOUGH NOT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE TRUCK. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE STEEL BRAKE LINE MATERIAL HAS FAILED OR IS NEAR FAILURE THROUGHOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700658March 20, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
MY CHEVY TRUCK IS A 2003 WITH 52000 MILES ON IT, ONE OWNER,THE ABS SENSORS IN THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES NOW, WHAT'S SCARY IS UNLIKE OTHER VEHICLES, THE BRAKES FAIL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, OTHER VEHICLES THE ABS JUST SHUT OFF, STILL HAVE BRAKES, ALSO I AM ABOUT TO PUT ON MY 3RD SET OF BACK BRAKES IN 52000 MILES, STILL ON THE FIRST SET OF FRONT BRAKES, SHORTLY AFTER PUTTING DISC BRAKES LIKE THIS ON THE REAR THEY WENT BACK TO DRUMS, I ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES LOOK PRETTY BAD WITH CORROSION, AND THE FUEL LINES, THEY MOUNTED THEM RIGHT UP AGAINST THE FRAME SO THERE IS NO WHERE FOR WATER AND ROAD CRUD TO DRAIN, BEING AN ENGINEER MYSELF, I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, THE TRUCK LOOKS VARY NICE UNTIL YOU LOOK UNDER IT, ALL LOOKS LIKE 200000MI 20 YR OLD JUNKER. THE ATTEMPTS THEY MADE TO PROTECT THE BACK DISCS ARE A JOKE, THE INFERIOR MATERIAL USED FOR SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES IS CRIMINAL, AND THEN MOUNTING THEM TO SOMETHING THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO ROT PREMATURELY LIKE THE FRAME IS UNCONSCIONABLE.......AND NO RECALLS ON NONE OF THESE ISSUES IS A SURE SIGN NOBODY CARES. ONE MORE NOTE MY FRIEND HAD A 2002, AND HE HAD HIS BRAKE LINES RECALLED, 2003 ARE IDENTICAL, NO RECALL ?? ONE MORE THING, IN THE FIRST 1000MI MY BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.. I WILL KEEP THIS SILVERADO UNTIL IT TURNS TO DUST , WHICH PROBABLY WON'T BE LONG , I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GM FAN, AND HAVE THREE OTHER GM VEHICLES, MY TRUST IN THEM AND THE SYSTEM TO PROTECT CONSUMERS HAS FAILED MISERABLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10695203March 18, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAIL AS WELL AS THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693233March 10, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692829March 8, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE LINES BASICALLY RUSTED OFF THE TRUCK, THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I WENT TO USE THE TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I STARTED SMELLING BRAKE FLUID. HAD IT TOWED TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE (06/04/2011) THE LINES THAT SHOWED THE MAIN PROBLEM WERE CHANGED FOR NEW. EXACTLY 2 YEARS I HAD MY BIG CAR TRAILER HOOKED UP LOADED WITH MY TRACTOR. ANOTHER LINE GOING TO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK RUPTURED IN THE YARD. GOING BACK TO THE SHOP AGAIN, I HAD A COMPANY OUT WEST MAKE ALL NEW STAINLESS STEAL LINES FOR IT.(06/20/2014) AND NOW I'M AGAIN BROKEN DOWN AGAIN (03/07/2015). THIS HAS COST ME A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND I'M NOT THROUGH I FEAR. THIS TIME THE ABS SYSTEM WANTS TO CONTINUE TO RUN AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. GM SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692498March 6, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING UP TRUCK I HEAR A CLICKING SOUND THEN IT GOES AWAY. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692379March 5, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS STARTING UP MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO THIS MORNING TO GO TO WORK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL QUICKLY WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. AFTER ROLLING BACKWARDS FOR A LITTLE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. AFTER THIS HAPPENED I RECEIVED THE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON THE CONTROL CLUSTER. LOOKING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, I COULD TELL A BRAKE LINE HAD BROKEN OR HAD A SIGNIFICANT LEAK AS THERE WAS A PUDDLE BY THE FRONT PASSENGER AXLE. I AM WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE MISSED AT LEAST A HALF DAY OF WORK. READING THROUGH THE WEBSITE REPORTS, I AM EXPECTING A LARGE BILL FROM THE RUSTED BRAKE LINE REPAIRS THAT SEEM TO BE COMMON IN THIS CHEVY VEHICLE. BEING IN THE MILITARY MY TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN A NUMBER OF STATES, BUT NOT IN ANY NORTHERN STATES OR ON SALTED ROADS. I UNDERSTAND THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED TO DATE BY CHEVY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691929March 3, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME AND REAR SHACKLES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE FRAME AND THE REAR SHACKLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691601March 2, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PILE OF BRICK BOULDERS. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK SHOULDERS, AND NECK. THE THREE YEAR OLD PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SUFFERED AN INJURED BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO THE HOME TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. ..UPDATED 11/21/16 *BF UPDATED 03/07/17*LJ UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10691321March 1, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AFTER GETTING PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT I INSPECTED THE LINES AND SAW THAT THEY ALL HAD BUSTED AND WERE ALL VERY RUSTY I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE STATED IT WASN'T WORTH FIXING DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND GAS LINES IT WOULD COST MORE THAN THE TRUCK WAS WORTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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