FaultScore

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 window and wiper problems

17 of the 960 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,500 miles.

A

17

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Motor 3 17.6%
Visibility/Wiper 3 17.6%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 2 11.8%
Fan/Motor 2 11.8%
Visibility 2 11.8%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 1 5.9%
Windshield 1 5.9%
Heater Core 1 5.9%
Rearview Mirrors/Devices 1 5.9%
Switch/Wiring 1 5.9%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year

1997 80 20.3%
1998 60 15.2%
1999 10 2.5%
2002 11 2.8%
2003 17 4.3%
2004 13 3.3%
2005 19 4.8%
2006 10 2.5%
2007 10 2.5%
2014 54 13.7%
2015 38 9.6%
2016 21 5.3%
2017 20 5.1%
2019 19 4.8%
2020 12 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Independence, MO

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 173,000 miles Newark, DE

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 148,591 miles Harrison, MI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH ON A SMOOTH PAVED COUNTY ROAD WITH MY A/C ON. IT WAS ABOUT 78 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD THE A/C RUNNING ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE AIR JUST TURNED WARM. I TRIED 3 TIMES TURNING OFF THE A/C AND BACK ON, AND THE AIR FAILED TO COOL. I STOPPED THE TRUCK, TURNED THE A/C ON, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE A/C COMPRESSOR. THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT ENGAGING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. 2 OTHER MECHANICS FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE SYSTEM WAS CHARGED CORRECTLY, NOT LEAKING, AND EVEN REPLACED THE HVAC CONTROL MODULE AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER CASES JUST LIKE MINE AND I WOULD LIKE GM TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. I AM PROUD TO BE A GM CUSTOMER AND HAVE ALWAYS LIKED MY GM PICKUPS.

NHTSA complaint #10614631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,500 miles SAN Amateo, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ACTUATOR AND WINDOW MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500.

NHTSA complaint #10554814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Clintwood, VA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HVAC SYSTEM SUDDENLY STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR WHILE ON AC POSITION. THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE STOPPED WAS TO STOP THE TRUCK, SHUT OFF ENGINE & RE-START ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10476856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Mount Holly, NC

VISIBILITY

WIPERS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AND WOULD NOT CHANGE SPEED. SOON AFTER, THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO STOP THEM, AND HAVE HAD TO STOP AND REPLACE THE FUSE IN THE RAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10448250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Annville, KY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

1. RAIN 2. WIPER MOTOR, WHENEVER I USE THE WIPERS, WIPER ARM STICKS AND WONT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION, AND SOMETIMES GOES ALL THE TO THE LEFT AND HANGS UP ON SIDE OF TRUCK, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PUSH THE ARM BACK ONTO WINDSHIELD AND THEN PUSH IT DOWN TO ITS HOME POSITION. 3. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10328350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,202 miles Unionville, VA

VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY ON AND WON'T TURN OFF, YOU CAN TURN THEM ON HIGH, BUT NOT OFF OR INTERMITTENT. FUSE HAD TO BE PULLED TO GET THEM TO CUT OFF, BUT WHEN FUSE WAS REPLACED, WIPERS STAYED ON STILL. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT DRIVING WITH FUSE PULLED ANY RAINFALL COULD HINDER DRIVING. UNTIL VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND FUSE IS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10233705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,434 miles Galloway, OH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

MALFUNCTION OF HEATER CORE IN 03' C-1500 CHEVROLET SILVERADO.

NHTSA complaint #10223679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,208 miles Pittsburgh, PA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

(1) HOT HUMID WEATHER WAS APPARENTLY TOO MUCH FOR MY VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER. (2) THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED IN ADDITION TO THE ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL WIRING GOING TO THE RESISTOR. (3) THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED COST $51.62, AND THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE PARTS COST $445.00. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH JUST OVER 31,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY RESULTED IN A FIRE WITHIN THE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10217522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 51,800 miles Lexington, OH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

BLOWER HEATER MOTOR STUCK ON HIGH DRAINS BATTERY. MY BROTHER IN LAW STEVE STARR AND I BOTH BOUGHT SAME MODEL OF TRUCKS 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AT THE SAME TIME AND BOTH VEHICLES FAILED WITH IN TWO WEEKS OF EACH OTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10213544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,700 miles Waterloo, IA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WIPERS BLADES WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER I TURNED THEM ON. THEY DID TURN OFF ONE TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT FOR 2 DAYS BUT THE NEXT TIME IT RAINED AND I TURNED THEM ON, THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10197035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Henrietta, TX

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

PURCHASED NEW IN 2003, CHEVY SIVLERADO 1500, AT 40,000 MILES, PASSENGER SIDE HEATED MIRROR CRACKED AND BOTH HEATED MIRRORS NO LONGER WORK. AT ABOUT 88,000 MILES SPEEDOMETER IS JUMPING AND STICKING, WILL NOT RETURN TO ZERO, CANNOT READ TRUE SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10183779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Dayton, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WIPERS WON'T SHUT OFF. MOTOR COVER WITH CONTROLLER MODULE ONLY AVAILABLE AT DEALER FOR $100+. DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. TRUCK HAS 55000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10169141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,700 miles Delaware, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE DRIVING HOME DURING A RAIN STORM MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I HAD THEM ON AN INTERMITTENT SPEED AND THEY ALL OF SUDDEN WENT TO HIGH. ONCE I WAS HOME. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN MY WIPERS OFF AND THEY ONLY WENT TO LOW. I AM UNABLE TO TURN MY WIPERS OFF I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE. IF I NEED MY WIPERS I MUST PUT THE FUSE BACK IN. I AM WORKING NOW TO DETERMINE IF IT IS THE MULTIPLE FUNCTION SWITCH THAT HAS GONE BAD. UPON LOOKING UP DATA ABOUT MY VEHICLE ON LINE I FOUND TRUCKS DATING BACK TO THE MID 90'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10168725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,500 miles Goffstown, NH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T TURN OFF OR CHANGE SPEED ONCE TURNED ON. ONLY OPERATE IN NORMAL OR HIGH SPEED. HAD TO PULL FUSE TO TURN THEM OFF. WILL BE CHECKING WITH DEALER TO INVESTIGATE SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #10158370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Rochester, NY

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

MY COMPLAINT IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 EXTENDED CAB, 4X4 TRUCK. THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FELT SPONGY. AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE "LOW" BRAKE PEDAL, MY DEALER ADVISED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY REAR ROTORS REPAIRED & THE REAR BRAKE SHOES REPLACED., SO I HAD THE WORK DONE. ONE WEEK LATER, I AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT NOW WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO EVEN LOWER. THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED OUT, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS CHECKED, & I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS OK, THERE WERE NO LEAKS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS TRUCK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE WIPER BLADE WAS DEFECTIVE, THUS SCRATCHING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO COMPLAIN TO GET THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED & THE WIPER REPAIRED. ALSO WITHING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING, THE 4X4 SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW. ANOTHER COMPLAINT THAT THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP WAS THE WIND NOISE DUE TO A FAULTY DOOR GASKET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS WAS NOT REPLACED, ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXED, WHICH ONLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT WHILE. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE O2 OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN A MONTH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THIS TIME IT IS A STUCK OPEN VALVE SOLONOID DEALING WITH THE EMMISSION SYSTEM OF WHICH I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF 364.00 TO REAPAIR, THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD, & I'M TIRED OF HAVING TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT TO THE DEALER'S FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10116382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

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