196 of the
960 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the
electrical system — 20% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
79,000 miles.
C
196
Complaints
1
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Instrument Cluster/Panel
10553.6%
Electrical System
8543.4%
Ignition
21.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery
10.5%
Horn
10.5%
Module
10.5%
Interior/Under Dash
10.5%
Electrical System across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year
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. It was investigated and they said fire started in the right side of the dash which is where the faulty part is from what I’ve learned about other Chevy trucks same make model and year as my truck
NHTSA complaint #11576333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Iselin, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Instrument panel stopped working. Speedometer, fuel gauge and ammeter not working.
NHTSA complaint #11535383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, OKFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. I was able to put the fire out myself no incident report was filed. It caused damage to my dash but I was able to extinguish it rather quickly to avoid further damage. I just bought this pick up for my 17-year-old son and if he had of been driving things could’ve been a lot worse especially if his reaction time is any slower than mine.
NHTSA complaint #11422203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 163,000 milesWilmington, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION WILL NOT INTERMITTENTLY START VEHICLE. DASH LIGHTS COME ON
NHTSA complaint #11397881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Independence, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER- THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS THE SPEEDOMETER IF I HIT A BUMP THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING MY TRUCK SOMETIMES DIES ON ME GOING DOWN THE ROADS, I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD ME IT'S A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT SINCE MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WASNT WORKING COULD NOT NARROW IT DOWN.. WINDSHIELD- FRONT MAKES A WHISTLE SOUND WHEN YOUR GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT.. BATTERY- BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO AND SOMETHING KEEPS DRAINING IT SOMETIMES CAUSING IT TO HAVE HESITATION AND BOGS OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11365636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 218,000 milesBOX Elder, SD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NEW OPTIMA RED TOP KEEPS DRAINING. SECOND NEW BATTERY IN A MONTH. DEAD OVER NIGHT. I'VE READ THERE'S A RECALL ON OTHER VINS. YET MINE IS DOING THE SAME BATTERY DRAIN THING. LEFT MY WIFE AT MCDONALD'S TODAY HIGH AND DRY! WTF! DON'T MAKE ME GET A FORD!
NHTSA complaint #11364868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesOpelika, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OIL PRESSURE GAUGE PEGGED OUT AND NOT WORKING ALSO GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT NOT WORKING CAN'T TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN
NHTSA complaint #11221828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buckhannon, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA RECALL FRAME IS BREAKING AIRBAG LIGHTS ON DASH IS MESSING UP
NHTSA complaint #11121135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 182,000 milesColorado Springs, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TPS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CHECK ENGINE CODE KEEPS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE TPS CODE GOES OFF THE ENGINE LOSES TOTAL POWER AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY BUT THE ISSUE IS STILL REMAINING EVEN AFTER REPLACING DIFFERENT WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #11118280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 173,000 milesNewark, DE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR DID NOT ADJUST AND THE BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT CALLED PORTER CHEVROLET AT 302-722-4822 (LOCATED AT 414 E CLEVELAND AVE, NEWARK, DE 19711) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000.
NHTSA complaint #11082454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesHutchinson, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
'TAKATA RECALL' MY AIR BAGS WERE FRAMED UNSAFE FROM BEING A VEHICLE FROM A WARM CLIMATE. REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE SAFE GUARDS.
NHTSA complaint #11063940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesMarshal, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CEASED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #11043927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 175,000 milesHelotes, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BATTERY KEEPS BEING DRAINED WHEN ENGINE STAYS TURNED OFF. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS 2003 SILVERADO ISSUE WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS. WHEN I RESEARCHED ON A RECALL I FOUND THE RECALL NUMBER (02066) BUT IT STATES THAT OUR TRUCK VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED BUT THEN WHY HAVE I BOUGHT 4 BATTERIES JUST THIS YEAR ALONE? PLEASE HELP BECAUSE IT NO LONGER CRANKS UP AT ALL. I HAVE TO JUMP THE TRUCK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO TURN IT ON.
NHTSA complaint #11011604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesBrownsville, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #10981631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,901 milesJacksonville, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH AN ACCIDENT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON OUR CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 DOESN'T WORK EXCEPT FOR THE SPEEDOMETER. THE MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE IS 68,901, HOURS DRIVEN 2,498.6. I CAN'T TELL WHAT THE AMOUNT OF GAS, OIL PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, ETC. IS. I REALLY THINK WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE THIS PANEL SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER.
NHTSA complaint #10979052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,500 milesGroton, CTFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. THE HEAT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO CRACK THE WINDSHIELD AND POP OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. THE VHELIHICLE WAS PARKED THE DRIVEWAY OF THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10917199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesRedding, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE AND THE TWO CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR HEATER NUMBER 4 SETTING BLEW OUT. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ODOR. UPDATED 01/04/17.
NHTSA complaint #10862761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesAustin, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTERMENT CLUSTER BAD SPEED,VOLTS,ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10860984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,580 milesCoos BAY, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DECREASE POWER AND THE MESSAGE "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SHOWS ON MESSAGE DISPLAY. FIRST TIME WAS 9/8/2012. LAST TIME WAS FEB 24, 2015. HAS DONE THIS AT 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET, 35 MPH CITY STREET TWICE, AND 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY. SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THREE TIMES. AM AFRAID TO USE VEHICLE AS USUALLY TOW 5TH WHEEL AND DO NOT WANT IT TO DO THIS WHILE TOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10821900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesArlington, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOUND COMING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN PUSH ON GAS,NO POWER ON RIGHT SIDE GEAR LIGHT DOESN'T WORK I SERVICE 4 WD IT'S TELL ME TO SERVICE I START UP IT'S PICKS WHICH GEAR (STATIONARY) DOOR ON RIGHT STOP WORKING LOST ALL POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10820131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 128,000 milesEL Dorado Springs, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING, NO MATTER THE WEATHER OUR TRUCK RANDOMLY DIES. SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL SHE ALWAYS STARTS BACK UP RIGHT AWAY.HOWEVER DUE TO NOT KNOWING WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, IT DOES ON CITY STREETS AT 25MPH AND HAD ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75MPH. WE ARE UNSURE STILL AT THE MOMENT THE CAUSE OR SOLUTION. WE HAVE HAD 4 EPISODES OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM STARTING THIS YEAR ONLY, 2015 .
NHTSA complaint #10808829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesSmithville, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED HESITATION ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER CIRCULATED WARM AIR WHENEVER ACTIVATED. THE BLOWER MOTOR CONNECTOR WAS NOT REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE MOTOR RESISTOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10704998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 189,085 milesNorth East, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 140,000 milesYucca Valley, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAIL AS WELL AS THE SPEEDOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #10695203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,808 milesStockton, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING UP TRUCK I HEAR A CLICKING SOUND THEN IT GOES AWAY. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10692498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carrollton, MS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE TRUCK IS CRANKED AND AT IDLE AND IN MOTION THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALL PANELS BLINK. THE LIGHT ON THE PANELS DO NOT COMPLETELY GO OUT BUT IT DIMS. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE WENT COMPLETELY OUT A FEW TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHT IS ON IT ALSO BLINKS AND DIMS. AT TIMES THE RADIO GOES HAYWIRE AND STARTS GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE STATIONS. THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND WE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING THAT GOES TO THE HEADLIGHTS IS VERY BRITTLE AND WHERE THE CONNECTORS PLUG INTO THE BULB WERE BURNT AND THE PRONGS ON THE BULB WERE ALSO BURNT AND MELTED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME AND WE CAN'T SEEM TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW,DOOR, AND MIRROR PANEL ONLY HALFWAY WORK. SOMETIMES THE DRIVERSIDE WINDOW WILL GO DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL WILL NOT CONTROL THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, LOCK, OR WINDOW EITHER. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND LOCK PANEL WILL NOT WORK EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10691244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesWheatland, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10681409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shirley, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWN HILL ROAD WITH A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM. I BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK STOPPED AND ENDED UP IN AN EMPTY FIELD TO AVOID A WRECK WITH IMPACT. THERE WAS A HUGE WET SPOT ON THE STREET WHERE BY BRAKES FAILED. VERY SCARY WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK WITH ME. THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALL RUSTED AND HAD GIVEN WAY. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP (AND THE INTERNET) THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I AM ALSO NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING CRAZY. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SAY I AM TRAVELING 110 WHEN I AM ROLLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. THE FAN BLOWER WILL BE ON 0 AND IT WILL BLOW OUT AT FULL FORCE AND WILL NOT TURN OFF, EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THIS ULTIMATELY RESULTS IN A DEAD BATTERY. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL JUMP STARTS. THIS ISSUE ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY VIN # PRODUCES NO RESULTS FOR RECALLS. SO LIKE MY SILVERADO BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ISSUES, THE SEARCH RESULTS HAVE LEFT ME STRANDED AS WELL, ONLY THIS TIME I AM NOT WALKING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY SMALL CHILDREN.
NHTSA complaint #10667225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesEast ST Louise, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10661428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesLincoln, NE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELING 25 MILES HOME ON INTERSTATE VAN HAD BEEN CUTTING OUT IF I PULL OVER STOP WAIT, CAN RE-START AND GO A WHILE. CANT PREDICT IT SEEMED TO STAY RUNNING IF I WENT FASTER BIG MISTAKE MOVED TO PASS IT QUIT, AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS ALMOST HAD TO GO INTO MEDIUM AFTER YELLING AND WAVING ARMS AND PRAYING I GOT BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE PULLED OFF ONTO SHOULDER AND WENT TO PIECES. IT THEN STOPPED MORE AND MORE FINALLY GOT HOME AND HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT SINCE. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT SIMILAR EVENTS AND IT SEEMS IT IS THE CRANKCASE POSITIONING SENSOR. I AM JUST HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. NEED TO FIX IT AND SELL IT. THANKS FOR LISTENING I AM SENIOR CITIZEN.
NHTSA complaint #10652921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.