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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 42 owner complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
59
CarFlaw IndexSolid year30% below the Silverado 3500 median · #17 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints421 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage57kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 28, 2016. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has problems

42 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic140
Service brakes100
Electrical system61
Power train40
Engine and engine cooling30
Fuel system, diesel30
Tires20
Steering20
Engine20
10 other systems131

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Silverado 3500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado 3500 median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Silverado 3500 owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

FIRST FAILURE WAS THE DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM I WAS HOOKED UP TO A TRAILER AND STARTED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 0.4MILE LONG) AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. THERE WAS NO STOPPING EFFORT FROM THE BRAKES. I USED THE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE.…
Complaint 10574542 · Mar 21, 2014 · 25,600 miles
WIFE WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT WENT TO STOP AND LOST BRAKES. I GOT IT BACK HOME AND INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT IT BLEW A REAR AND FRONT BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED SO BAD WE REPLACED THEM ALL. UPON REPLACING BRAKE LINES I NOTICED THAT FUEL LINES WERE ALSO ROTTED SEVERELY AND…
Complaint 10434892 · Nov 8, 2011 · 122,376 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY AND HE WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT…
Complaint 10434267 · Nov 4, 2011 · 111,000 miles

Own a 2003 Silverado 3500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.