FaultScore

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag problems

21 of the 960 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the airbag system — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,100 miles.

F

21

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 17 81.0%
Frontal 2 9.5%
Sensor/Control Module 2 9.5%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year

1997 16 0.7%
1999 19 0.8%
2000 30 1.3%
2001 12 0.5%
2002 14 0.6%
2003 21 0.9%
2004 34 1.4%
2005 51 2.1%
2006 24 1.0%
2007 479 20.1%
2008 594 24.9%
2009 230 9.6%
2010 197 8.3%
2011 307 12.9%
2012 58 2.4%
2013 83 3.5%
2014 47 2.0%
2015 66 2.8%
2016 17 0.7%
2017 29 1.2%
2018 15 0.6%
2019 11 0.5%
2020 11 0.5%
2021 20 0.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Lake Villa, IL

AIR BAGS

EMAIL FROM CONGRESSMAN SCHNEIDER ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT REGARDING TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. *LD

NHTSA complaint #11173994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Medina, OH

AIR BAGS

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. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM WOULD PREVENT THE AIRBAG(S) FROM OPERATING IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, BUT I CANNOT ASSUME THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD ACTUATE IF/WHEN NEEDED, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. IT CERTAINLY SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, WITH A REQUIREMENT FOR GM TO CORRECT THE DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES. INDICATIONS ARE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #11131678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buckhannon, WV

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL FRAME IS BREAKING AIRBAG LIGHTS ON DASH IS MESSING UP

NHTSA complaint #11121135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Lumberton, NC

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 800 (NA). WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED OFF AND ON. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A TAKATA SETTLEMENT NOTICE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #11052249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,000 miles Wilburton, OK

AIR BAGS

HAD TO REMOVE SEAT FOR REPAIRS. WHEN SEAT REPLACED RED SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND MESSAGE APPEARS THAT SAYS "SERVICE AIR BAG." I CAN NOT PURCHASE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT WHICH IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE, BUT HAVE PURCHASE THE WHOLE UNIT WHICH INCLUDES THE MASTER UNIT UNDER THE DASH.

NHTSA complaint #11043924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, SC

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, I CONTACTED HERNDON CHEVROLET AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME SINCE TAKATA HAS NOT SENT THEM REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT TAKATA WOULD NOT BE SENDING REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS SENSE THEY WERE BANKRUPT. HERNDON CHEVROLET REFUSED TO EVEN CONTACT ME IF REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE . I THEN CALLED LOVE CHEVROLET OF COLUMBIA AND WAS TOWED BY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11036024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Thorton, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

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. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT FIT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND FRACTURES IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND SURGERY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA complaint #10993221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 189,085 miles North East, PA

AIR BAGS

SEVERAL TIMES NOW THIS LAST 2 MONTHS MY TRUCK STOPS RUNNING. AT FIRST IT WOULD SLOW DOWN THEN STOP, THE LAST TIME IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN 3 TIMES FROM WORK TO HOME WHICH IS ONLY 10 MINUTES AWAY. THE IGNITION SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM. I AM BRINGING THIS TO EVERYONES ATTENTION JUST IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE HAS THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. IF I WERE DRIVING 65 OR 70 MILES PER HOUR IT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR ME OR BOTH. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS ALSO SHOWING A FAULT. IT SHOWS THAT IT NEEDS SERVICED.

NHTSA complaint #10704710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 250,000 miles Mineola, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS & DO NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE CRASH EARLY ON. WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE ROLLED FRONT TO REAR 1 1/2 TO 2 1/2 TIMES, PRIOR TO COMING TO REST ON ITS TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. I SPENT 3 DAYS IN ICU AND AM NOW RECUPERATING AT HOME. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT . THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10592067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Pine Grove, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

HIT IN REAR OF DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF BED AND SENT TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH FRONT OF TRUCK THEN ROLLING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HALTING TO A STOP. HIGHWAY PATROL REPORT TAKEN.

NHTSA complaint #10443652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Westmoreland, TN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATD 03/30/11

NHTSA complaint #10384730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,283 miles LOS Angeles, CA

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE WIRING AT THE BRAKE HINGE WAS REPAIRED. IN 2010, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,283 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,292.

NHTSA complaint #10360451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Baroda, MI

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,340. UPDATED 11/16/10.

NHTSA complaint #10326456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,100 miles Storrs, CT Crash

AIR BAGS

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE A WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. SUBSEQUENT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH SEVERE ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE (SAME MODEL) WAS PURCHASED, IT TOO HAS A "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10320929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,500 miles Bothell, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 4-WD, SPUN IN "BLACK ICE", THEN STRUCK CONCRETE HIGHWAY BARRIER HEAD-ON AND "SQUARE" AT APPROX 50-MPH. FRONT END OF TRUCK WAS CRUSHED BACK APPROX 14-INCHES. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WITH THE RESULT THAT FACE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, PRODUCING DEGLOVEMENT OF NOSE ON LEFT SIDE. LEFT KNEE STRUCK SWITCH ARRAY TO LOWER LEFT OF STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. DRIVER TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO NEAREST HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. ATTEMPTS TO DISCUSS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (BIDDLE CHEVROLET, BOTHELL, WASHINGTON) HAVE BEEN NEITHER PRODUCTIVE OR SATISFYING.

NHTSA complaint #10296754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,142 miles Coram, NY

AIR BAGS

DRIVER SEAT MOVED FORWARD AND THE "CHECK AIRBAG" WARNING IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD. MOVING THE SEAT BACK THE WARNING GOES OFF. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF THE "CHECK AIRBAG" IS DISPLAYED THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONALITY IS ESSENTIALLY DISABLED.

NHTSA complaint #10245776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Oxford, MI

AIR BAGS

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON CODE B0103 MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET.

NHTSA complaint #10233106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Camden, MS

AIR BAGS

I HAVE A 1500 CHEVY, SILVERADO. I WAS NOTIFIED BY ?? BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM HAS CLOSED. THE RECALL STATED A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. BUT, BECAUSE WE HAD MORE THAN 70,000 MILES IT WAS NOT COVERED. WE HAD TO PAY OVER $300.00. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. IN 2006 WHEN THE ODOMETER AND THE TEMP GAUGES WAS STICKING WE DID NOT HAVE 70,000 MILES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL STUCK SINCE 2006.

NHTSA complaint #10229851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Oxford, MI

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT, 53,000 MI ON VEHICLE, CODE B0103.

NHTSA complaint #10225446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,280 miles Shiloh, OH

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. ON MARCH 9, 2008, THE CONTACT'S SON PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,324 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,280.

NHTSA complaint #10220898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen, WV Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND BOTH FRONTAL AND REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK. DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10107035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

← Full 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 report