Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2003 / chevrolet / silverado-1500
known issues
8 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-25)
complaints
2,119 on file (2002-09-05 → 2026-05-24)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
1404 occupant deaths, crash years 1990-2024 (legacy-code)
Frame and underbody rust-throughSTRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES10 complaints2015-05 → 2022-07silverado-1500-2003-frame-rust
11472912 The undercarriage or frame of our recent purchase of our 2003 used chevrolet k1500 silverado was discovered recently after purchase to be rusted through and through and chipping off day by day. A private master mechanic has looked the truck over and said that it was not safe to
10948510 ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED
10893880 I JUST BOUGHT MY TRUCK ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I WAS UNDER IT CHANGING THE OIL AND I NOTICED AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME MEMBERS AND THE BRAKE LINES. SOME OF IT LOOKS SO BAD THAT I AM CONCERNED OF HAVING EITHER FRAME BREAKAGE OR A BRAKE LINE FAILING
Instrument cluster and gauge failureELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 complaints2015-05 → 2023-07silverado-1500-2003-instrument-cluster
11535383 Instrument panel stopped working. Speedometer, fuel gauge and ammeter not working
11339732 THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WILL STOP WORKING. NO GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, OR TACHOMETER. USUALLY OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING/HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL
10981631 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE PROPER SPEED INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD DISPLAY ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN
Corroded brake line failureSERVICE BRAKES92 complaints2015-04 → 2026-04silverado-1500-2003-brake-line-corrosion
11731112 While driving down a 50 mph roadway there was a line of cars slowing for a vehicle to make a turn. When gently pushing the brakes to slow down, brake went clear to the floor and could not slow down. Truck was driven into the ditch to avoid rear-ending vehicles
11256187 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE
10853144 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK. COMPLETE 100% BRAKE FAILURE, NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER. DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION. CRASH OCCURRED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. TRUCK HAD RECENTLY BEEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION 3 MONTHS PRIOR
Power steering and hydro-boost brake failureSTEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6 complaints2015-09 → 2023-06silverado-1500-2003-hydro-boost-steering
11424383 The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed causing the steering wheel to become hard to maneuver. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the hydro boost area when the brake pedal
11232522 I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD 15 YEARS AGO AND GAVE IT TO MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING WAS ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING A NOISE, SO WE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSES. THE PROBLEM ONLY STARTED GETTING WORSE
11527998 The vehicle was being driven in a parking lot, fortunately, when there was a loud snapping noise that resulted in the total loss of steering control. The vehicle was moving at about 5 MPH at time of the incident
Dashboard and blower motor electrical fireELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 complaints2016-06 → 2024-03silverado-1500-2003-dash-electrical-fire
11576333 My heater started to shut off then I’d turn it off then turn it back on then it’d come back on again. That went on for a few days. Started my truck in the morning and let it warm up for a few moments when I hear truck is on fire. The fire was in the cab of the truck
11422203 I was driving in normal conditions around 45 mph with the air conditioner on high. Smoke starts pouring out from underneath the dash on the passenger side and once I get stopped the blower motor resistor had caught fire
10917199 WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR SMOKE CAME OUT. THE TRUCK HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS AND NOTHING WAS PLUG IN TO THE CHARGING OUTLET. THE ENTIRE DASH HAD MELTED
Air bag warning light and non-deploymentAIR BAGS12 complaints2015-07 → 2023-07silverado-1500-2003-airbag-warning-light
11529895 When starting vehicle , after initial dash lights times out, I now get an AIRBAG 9malfunction light). Tried resetting, did not work. Now, every time I start the engine, the comes on and stays on
11131678 AT ALL TIMES DURING OPERATION, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS A 'SERVICE AIR BAG' MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ALONG WITH THE RED ILLUMINATED SYMBOL INDICATING AIR BAG PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND VIA INTERNET SEARCHES, THIS SEEMS TO BE COMMON ON THE CHEVY TRUCKS
10993221 TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A SEMI TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
Reduced engine power and unexpected stallVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10 complaints2015-04 → 2022-06silverado-1500-2003-reduced-engine-power
11340045 AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DOWNTOWN SUDDENLY MY TRUCK LOST POWER AND I HAD TO LIMP HOME ,FRIEND CHECKED TRUCK AND FOUND TROUBLE CODE P2135 REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ALSO SAID FOR ME TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM
10933894 THE VEHICLE GOES INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LOSES POWER TO ABOUT 20 MPH. IF DRIVING 70 MPH IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SUDDEN REDUCED ENGINE POWER WILL CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEBODY
10930045 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON RESOLVED THE ISSUE
11155467 SEVERAL OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE SNAPPED/SHEARED CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS BETWEEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PORT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. I'M LEARNING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT HAS GONE UNADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IS CLEARLY AN EMISSIONS AND
10967631 5 OUT OF 8 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND 2 ON DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE 120K MILES ON VEHICLE
10958705 THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BREAKING CREATING A FIRE HAZARD FROM THE HOT EXHAUST REACHING THE WIRING HARNESS, IT IS ALSO CREATING FUMES IN MY CAB
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2003/chevrolet/silverado-1500
@misc{wrenchpro_2003_chevrolet_silverado_1500_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2003/chevrolet/silverado-1500}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
