2003 Chevrolet Silverado Complaint Log

ON MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD WITH VORTEC 8100 (496 IN3) ENGINE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO ACTS AS THE POWER SOURCE FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER (I BELIEVE). THUS, MANY TIMES WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THERE'S A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IN ORDER TO FULLY REGAIN THE POWER STEERING, I HAVE TO LET MY FOOT UP OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS POWER-STEERING-PUMP-AS-BRAKE-BOOSTER SET-UP IS UNIQUE TO THIS ENGINE. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BY WITHOUT EXPERIENCING A CRITICAL SITUATION. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS WORSE BEFORE I REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT TWO YEARS AGO (<10,000 MILES). I HAD GOODYEAR INSTALL A HIGH-QUALITY BELT THEY MANUFACTURE THEMSELVES. COLD WEATHER START-UP CONDITIONS ARE THE WORSE; THUS IN COLD WEATHER I PREFER TO LET THE ENGINE WARM UP TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I JUST THINK THAT OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE (WITH THE 8100 ENGINE) SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TIRES- NEW 2003 CHEVY SILVARDO-TRUCK SLIPS EASILY ON WET ROAD- GOING CORNERS AND IN STRAIGHT CONDITIONS-

POOR BRAKING, VERY SPONGY PEDAL. *JB

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP VIN # [XXX] DO NOT WORK AT LOW SPEED. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER IN SOMERSET PA WHERE I BOUGH IT AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO REPAIR IT. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THAT WAS THE NATURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND DID NOTHING. THE SECOND TIME AFTER I ALMOST WRECKED THE TRUCK THEY CLEANED THE ABS SENSORS AND SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I WANTED THEM TO UNHOOK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BUT THEY WOULD NOT DO THAT. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. NOW GM IS RECALLING 1998-2002 SILVERADO PICKUP FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS BUT NOT MY 2003 TRUCK. MY TRUCK WAS BUILT IN 2002 AND I BOUGHT IT IN 2002 BUT IT IS A 2003 MODEL. I BELIEVE THIS TRUCK SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE I GET HURT. IF GM CAN'T REPAIR THIS TRUCK THEY SHOULD GIVE ME A NEW ONE. I ONLY HAVE 8,700 MILES ON THIS TRUCK AND I BOUGHT IT FOR BAD WINTER ROADS AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STOP AT SLOW SPEED ON SNOW OR ICE ROADS.*JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

HORN ON VEHICLE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY/ COULD BE DANGEROUS IN AN AVOIDANCE SITUATION.WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP IT HAPPENS ALOT ON THESE VEHICLES.WHAT DO I DO BECAUSE IT STILL OCCURS IN MY VEHICLE?!!(2003 CHEVROLET SIVERADO PICKUP TRUCK). *AK

THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS. *AK

AT LOW RPM THE TRANSMISSION WILL FREE WHEEL AFTER STOP OR BETWEEN LOW GEARS. AFTER STOPPING THE TRUCK WILL RAISE RPMS, BUT NOT MOVE, THEN DROP INTO GEAR. RUNS FINE FOR A WHILE THEN WITHOUT WARNING CAN RE-APPEAR. HAS BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR IN TWO NEAR-COLLISIONS WHEN EXITING SHOPPING AREAS AND FINDING NO POWER CONNECTED AS TRUCK ROLLS INTO INTERSECTION. HAS ALSO ROLLED BACKWARDS ONCE ONLY ON UPHILL WHEN TRANSMISSION FREE WHEELED. HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO DEALER FOUR TIMES (FIVE BUT ONCE DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT) AND CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ONCE ALSO TO DEALER BECAUSE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT INTERSECTION - WAS TOLD THIS WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. DATE IS OF FIRST INCIDENT. *AK

JUST PURCHASED 2003 4 DOOR CHEVY SILVERADO WITH LATCH SYSTEM. TRIED USING SYSTEM WITH EVENFLO BASE UNIT BUT LATCH BELT DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY DUE TO THE BELT TIGHTENING UNIT BECOMING TO CLOSE TO PLASTIC HOLDER ALLOWING BELT IN SLIPPING OVER BASE UNIT.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 45-56 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. *TT *JB

THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED ERRATICALLY, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK AND THE VEHICLE TO SPIN. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE, AND NOT STARTING AT TIMES.*JB

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT VERY HARD. HAS BEEN WORKED ON 5 TIMES, AND HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT. TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH, YOU CAN LET THE STEERING WHEEL GO AND YOU WILL BE OFF THE ROAD IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS. *LA

DT: THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE CARPET WHEN APPLIED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS TYPICAL. AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT IT ONLY OCCURRED ON THE DIESEL VERSION. THE SAME CONDITION EXISTED IN A NEW 2005 MODELS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON DECEMBER 5, 2002. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET.*AK

FIVE TIMES TRUCK (17 MONTHS OLD AND 21000 MILES) HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS FOR "SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE" MESSAGE CENTER INDICATOR, ABS LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT, ALARMS, AND INOPERABLE. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH CLANKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERY TIME TRUCK WAS "FIXED" BY REPLACING/REPROGRAMMING THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE, AND LUBING OF STEERING COLUMN (WHICH MANUFACTURE INDICATES WAS A POOR LUBE JOB AT CONSTRUCTION). PROBLEM RECURRED. NOW DEALERSHIP INFORMS THAT THE MANUFACTURE ISSUED A TSB THAT INSTRUCTS DEALERSHIPS TO NOT REPLACE MODULES ANYMORE, AS GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND NEW MODULES WILL BE NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WERE TOLD THAT GM ENGINEERS ARE "INVESTIGATING" IT. NOW, IF MODULE FAILS AGAIN, OUR 4-WHHEL DRIVE TRUCK WILL BE WITHOUT 4-WHEEL DRIVE. DATE IS OF FIRST INCIDENT. NUMEROUS TSBS HAVE BEEN POSTED CONCERNING THESE PROBLEMS, GM DOES NOT RESPOND. DATE INDICATED IS DATE OF FIRST PROBLEM AT 8000 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. SOME DAYS THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ALL DAY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

4 WHEEL DRIVE BECOMES NON OPERATIVE AND THE DASH LIGHT TURNS OFF AND MESSAGE SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE COMES ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *LA

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. SOME DAYS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO ALL DAY WITHOUT SHUTTING OFF. CONSUMER STATES SO FAR THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN 8 TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED IMPROPERLY.*DT *JB

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN EITHER STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS. YOU CAN FEEL THE TRUCK THEN JERK INTO GEAR WHEN ENGAGED. NOTE: THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND DOES NOT DO IT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. IT SEEMS THAT TEMPERATURE OR ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NOT A FACTOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO A CHEVROLET DEALER 5 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. DT

KNOCK IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS, NORMALLY WHEN TURNING. SERVICED EVERY THREE THOUSAND MILES (DOCUMENTED), AND I ASKED THE SHOP FORMAN/MANAGERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2003 WHEN IT WAS FIRST NOTICED. WAS FINALLY TOLD IT WAS A SPLINE (?) NEEDING LUBED OR REPLACED BY A DEALERSHIP AND WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CONTACT GM AS IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE EARLY 2003 AND DEALERSHIPS NEW ABOUT IT THEN, HOWEVER, DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR WHAT TO DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. NOW VERY NOTICEABLE. SAFETY PROBLEM (??) . *NM

YOUR ID#05V161000 SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE CHEVY TRUCKS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I OWN A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500 HD 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND MY PARKING BRAKE HAS'NT HELD SINCE LAST FALL. ITS HOLDING POWER HAD GOTTEN CONTINUALLY WEAKER SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE (9-30-02). CHEVY TOLD ME I HAD TO ADJUST IT, I DID, TWICE. I CAN'T ADJUST IT ANYMORE. ADDITIONALLY, MY WINDSHIELD HAS A PERFECT CRACK IN IT THAT FOLLOWS THE UPPERMOST BLOW PATTERN OF THE DEFROST VENTS PERFECTLY. THIS CRACK STARTED DURING THE FIRST COLD SPELL THIS PAST WINTER. IT GREW EVERYTIME I USED THE DEFROSTER. IT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD AT THIS POINT. CHEVY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE WERE IMPERFECTIONS IN THE GLASS, CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR, THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT THIER RESPONSIBILITY. THE IMPERFECTIONS THEY FOUND WERE NOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. DAMAGE BY ROAD DEBRIS WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY 'SPIDERING' OF THE GLASS. NONE SUCH ON MY WINDSHIELD.

POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX AND PRESSURE HOSE. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

COMPLAINT WITHDRAWAL OF ODI NUMBER 10018466. *MR THE CONSUMER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TIRE RATING ON THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB *CB

CONCERNS REGARDING THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS IN THE 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO.*MR WHILE UNDER THE DASH CONNECTING A CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKES THE CONSUMER NOTICED EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE CONTROL ARMS FOR THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS. *NM

RECALL FOR SUPPORT CABLES FIXED ON 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 SILVERADO. REFERENCE CONSUMER LETTER 10109434 REGARDING THE OTHER 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 ALSO OWNED BY THE COMPLAINANT. *MR THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE MANUFACTURER HAS HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PROVIDE THE DEALER WITH THE PARTS . *NM

2003 CHEVROLET 2500 HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *KB *JB

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. CUSTOMER STATED THAT AFTER 15,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. *KB

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND TAHOE WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT IT ONLY LASTS A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. *KB

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLE STICKING. CONSUMER STATES THAT GM SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. KB*

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS SECOND SET OF ROTORS AND THIRD SET OF PADS. HE BELIEVES THAT THE 2003 AND 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING AND FALLING APART. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 & 2500 TRUCKS BOTH HAVE INSTRUMENT PANEL/SPEEDOMETER THAT IS NO LONGER WORKING. CONSUMER WANTS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. *NJ

2003 CHEVROLET 1500 SILVERADO PICK UP. CONSUMER HAS A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER *TGW GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING A SALVAGED TITLE. *JB

VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR HOSE AND HEATER HOSE ALONG WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS.*MR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER FELT THE PROBLEMS HAD BECAME WORSE AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE MECHANIC AFTER IT'S THIRD REPAIR. THE CABLE FOR THE PARKING BRAKE WAS REPLACED. *PH *JB

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE AIR FLOW CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

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

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN A REAR END CRASH. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP ONLY REPAIRED THE BODY PARTS DAMAGED BY THE CRASH. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAK. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY FLUID FROM THE RADIATOR, AND THE BODY PARTS THEY HAD REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDRO PLANE FROM THE DIESEL FUEL, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWING A TRAILER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE TRAILER JACK KNIFED AND DAMAGED THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND A LEAK IN THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE.*AK

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION., AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. MECHANIC REPLACED THE AIR BAGS, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHIEL DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*MR

UPON DEPRESSING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR CONSUMER NOTICE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE SHIFT CHANGE. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

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

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.*AK

THE VEHICLE DUMPED DIESEL FUEL INTO THE CRANK CASE. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE ON BACK ORDER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS...............................*JB

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

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, THEY WOULD FADE. THE PEDAL TRAVEL INCREASED AND DESCENDED FURTHER BEFORE THE BRAKES RESPONDED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS BRAKE PEDAL THICKNESS. (THE FRONT PADS WERE 10MM THICK AND THE REAR WAS 8MM) ALSO, THE BLINKERS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *SCC

BRAKES FAILED ON TRAILER.*MR ( CHEVROLET 2500HD 2003) THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO GELP THE ELECTRICA BRAKES ELIMINATED THE BRAKES AND BACK UP LIGHTS AND PREVENTED THE USE OF THE TRAILER PLUG AND EQUIPMENT. *TS *JB

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION OF THE TIRES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE WHEN STOPPING AND TURNING CORNERS. CONSUMER HAS COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER; DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE ODOMETER SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILURE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING. *AK *SCC *JB