Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2003 Chevrolet Pickup with NHTSA between 2003 and 2015.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 10 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 11
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Pickup. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
78% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2003 compares with every other Chevrolet Pickup
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2003 Chevrolet Pickup
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Suspension
325.0%
Median failure at 24,000 miles
Brakes
325.0%
Median failure at 3,402 miles
Tires
216.7%
Median failure at 6,750 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Median failure at 148,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18.3%
Median failure at 105,000 miles
Steering
18.3%
Median failure at 24,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
222.2%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
444.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
222.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2003peak 3Jan 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 2003 Chevrolet Pickup
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA04012Opened 30 Apr 2004Closed 28 Feb 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
EA04011Opened 9 Apr 2004Closed 10 May 2005PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 148,000 milesLA Grande, OR
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
NHTSA complaint #10672403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesSmithfield, VA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE NEAREST DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10115018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,000 milesMcalester, OK
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10102083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conrad, MT
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
ALL SIX TIRES HAS HAD SIDEWALL DISINTEGRATION OUTSIDE THE TIRE. OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES BUBBLES BLEW UP TO THE SIZE OF BALLOONS AND THEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. GOODYEAR, RANGLER SR LT, LT 215/85R16, TREAD 6 PLY, ROAD RANGE E, E13007822 / T305727GRF96 MVSM, PPC 2011 ALSO, SIDE VIEW MIRROWS DID NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL ORIGINAL FACTORY EQUIPMENT PURCHASED TO USE WITH SLIDE IN CAMPER USE. MIRRORS FULLY EXTENDED CAN ONLY VIEW 1 1/2 INCH ON END. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL 7 TIRES FAILED. BOTH TIRES AND MIRRORS WERE INSPECTED BY THE SAME MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10092943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus Christi, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING WARNING SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ABS AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT ABS BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10088033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesCanyon Country, CA
TIRES
FIRESTONE BRIDGESTONE V-STEEL RIB 625. LT245/75R16 , DOT# 7X1165V1803 . OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ABOUT 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED PRIOR TO TAKING THE TRIP. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10073844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,402 milesAlbemarle, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #10072288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesAngels Camp, CA
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
BALL JOINTS BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PULLING ANOTHER VEHICLE TIE-RODS SNAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10055998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesAngels Camp, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINTS BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PULLING ANOTHER VEHICLE TIE-RODS SNAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10055998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesAngels Camp, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
BALL JOINTS BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS COMING OFF THE DRIVEWAY. ALSO, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PULLING ANOTHER VEHICLE TIE-RODS SNAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10055998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,500 milesCarnegie, OK
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE BAR USED FOR LOWERING THE SPARE TIRE FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLIDE INTO THE ACCESS SLOT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10037914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anoka, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10012258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.