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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD, most often about the brakes (48% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Silverado 1500 HD model year since 2000.

Complaints101
Recalls0
Crashes reported3
Fires reported3
Injuries reported2

Most common 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD problems

  1. Brakes

    48 complaints · 48%

    Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.

    While driving I had to apply my brake to slow down and I realized the my brake pedal went nearly to the floor. I immediately pulled over and checked around the truck and noticed fluid dipping from just behind the front wheel. I opened the hood and realized that I had blown a brake line.when I looked around under the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 84,089 miles
    2003 chevy silverado extended cab pickup. Brake line corrosion. Brake line burst. Pennsylvania. Brake line burst on drivers side. Brake line burst when brakes applied. Loss of braking ability was the result. Incident occurred on residential street- thankfully there was not an accident. Had vehicle towed to dealer to…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 85,000 miles

  2. Electrical

    30 complaints · 30%

    Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.

    I purchased the truck used with 83,000 miles in august of 2007. About a month later the water temp gauge moved all the way around and then went back to zero and stopped working. Then the speedometer was stuck for a few days and started working again. But for how long? And now I've heard gm issued an "extended…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 84,000 miles
    Speedometer fails to function - will be traveling down the road and it ranges from 0-120 MPH when I estimate I am actually traveling 35 MPH(estimated obviously). Has happened on 3 occasions and in now non-functioning. Dealership recommends replacing instrument cluster - and admits to a rash of these replacements on…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2007, at 81,800 miles

  3. Engine

    10 complaints · 10%

    Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.

    I was driving along the road this past winter and a car suddenly stopped in front of me...I had absolutely no brakes and thankfullly was able to get around the car into the other lane without injury. The brake lines were all corroded and needed to be replaced. This could have been a serious accident had there been…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 110,000 miles
    Lost power to engine while driving down the interstate highway. Fault on dash showed (reduced engine power). Pulled to shoulder of highway and tried to restart engine to no avail. After sitting for about 5 minutes engine started and check engine light stayed on for a few days. Since that time I have replaced the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 110,250 miles

  4. Steering

    9 complaints · 9%

    Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: column.

    2003 chevy k1500 hd has had continuing problem with knocking noise from steering column. Already have taken it in once and a "repair" at the dealership was performed but I do not know what that consisted of...they claim they replaced the part but it is not 26,000 miles later and its doing it again worse than before.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2006, at 45,000 miles
    My 2003 chevy silverado z71 1500 pick-up experiences power steering failure when going a very slow speeds (I.e. Turning into a parking lot) on right turns only. Chevy dealers have not been able to diagnose the problem...some have said that if I change the steering box from a 670 to 680 model it would help but not…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 50,000 miles

  5. Fuel system

    6 complaints · 6%

    Half of these problems showed up before 90,500 miles.

    We have had a significant amount of rust to the entire underside, trailer hitch, and both bumpers on this truck. To prevent it from rusting away, we had to have the cab and bed undercoated. We also had to replace the gas lines, as they were rotted out, which posed potential gas loss and safety issues.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 86,800 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. The contact stated the fuel gauge intermittently displayed improper readings of empty and full. The contact also stated the speedometer intermittently displayed improper speed readings. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 75,000 miles

  6. Transmission

    4 complaints · 4%

    Gm 2004 1500hd truck: gm can't fix the reduce engine power problem. The code that they can't fix keeps saying its the throttle body sensor. I have had gm dealer try to fix what this code is telling them but still have the problem. Based off research this is a major problem with many other gm truck owners. When this…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 120,000 miles
    My brake lines ruptured under the drivers seat by the ABS box. I inspected all of the brake and transmission lines and they are all rusted badly and need replaced immediately. I was pulling my seadoo's when this happened and had to use the emergency brake to stop the truck. I have read a ton of the same complaints on…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 71,000 miles

  7. Speed control

    3 complaints · 3%

    While stopped at an intersection at a red light, the vehicle started to creep forward toward people in the crosswalk. Depressing the brake pedal further resulted in it fading, ending in a fully depressed position with no more pedal travel available. The vehicle continued to roll forward into the crosswalk. Placing the…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 142,000 miles
    Brake lines went out with no warning - no light showing compression or fluid leaking. Still no lights have come on. If we had been going faster, we could have hit something. Luckily my husband was driving and he knew how to react by down shifting to save US. The brake lines are all rusted. The truck only has 80,000…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 80,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD?
By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (48 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); electrical (30 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); engine (10 complaints, typically around 110,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD?
It is the most complained-about Silverado 1500 HD model year since 2000, with 101 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD years

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD problems by year