FaultScore

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 acceleration problems

15 of the 561 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.

A

15

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 13 86.7%
Cruise Control 1 6.7%
Accelerator Pedal 1 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

RED Banks, MS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SLOWLY WITH THE BATTERY RUNNING OUT BECAUSE SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE BUT EVERYTHING IS OFF. THE GAS GAUGE GEAR CONTROL LIGHTING ON THE PANEL DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING WAS CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND HE ADDRESS THAT SOMETHING IS NOT CONSTANT RUNNING EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING IS TURNED OFF THAT CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN WHEN IT IS OFF. ALSO THE LIGHTS DON'T LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE STAYS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF WHEN RUNNING THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THIS ON A LOT OF 2500 CHEVY TRUCKS. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECK. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU SUN.

NHTSA complaint #11217532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,000 miles Warner Robins, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD AT THE SPEED AROUND 75+ MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AMONG OTHERS AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED OR HIGHER WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASES TO NO SPEED, AND A THIS WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH PANEL, THAT SAYS REDUCED SPEED AND ALL THESE 18 WHEELERS ARE BEHIND ME AND AROUND ME. THE MORE I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD DO NOTHING BUT ALMOST COST MY WIFE A HEART ATTACK FROM THE BIG TRUCKS BLOWING THERE HORN AND FEARING THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF MY FAMILY. THEN A WEEK LATER THE CLUSTER STARTS ACTING ALL CRAZY WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OUT AND ON, AND NOW THEY AREN'T WORKING AT ALL. THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING THE SPEED ALONG WITH GAS GAUGES ETC... WHILE I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANYTHING OTHER THAN "CHEVY'S", TRUCKS AND CARS I HAVE SERIOUSLY BEEN CONSIDERING ANOTHER NAME & MAKE IN MY NEXT CHOICE OF PURCHASE.... SO A LOYAL FRIEND ADVISED ME TO SEND GM A E-MAIL EXPLAINING MY ISSUES...

NHTSA complaint #10639432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

W. Henrietta, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE JUST COASTS ALONG AND RUNS ROUGH. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CLEAR THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY, ON BUSY EXPRESSWAYS OR ON MAIN ROADS AND SIDE ROADS. THE GAS PEDAL LOSES COMMUNICATION WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS NERVE WRACKING WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE WONT RESPOND TO STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. TRYING TO GET OVER SEVERAL LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT IS ALSO BAD WHEN ON A BUSY, MAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE "ACTS UP". I HAVE TO PULL OVER, BLOCKING TRAFFIC, UNTIL I CAN GET IT GOING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10560532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 162,000 miles Shepherdsville, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL WHILE HOOKING TO TRAILER PREPARING TO HAUL FARM EQUIPMENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I FOUND FLUID RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK CHECKED LINES AND FOUND BURST LINE AND ALL LINES LOOKED TERRIBLY RUSTED/ROTTEN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A NEAR MISS SINCE I WAS ON A GRAVEL HILLSIDE AND HAD I BEEN HOOKED TO THE TRAILER I WOULD HAVE HAD A VEHICLE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL MERGING INTO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10525721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Springtown, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY INCREASES, DECREASE OR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. OIL GAUGE FLUCTUATES ALSO THE HEATER RESISTORS BURNED UP.

NHTSA complaint #10440159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Weatogue, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD MUCH FARTHER THAN NORMAL HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER RE-ROUTED THE INSIDE ENGINE HARNESS YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE RELEARN SERVICE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10340401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Somerset, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HOWEVER WHEN THEY WERE OFF, THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, REACTIVATE THE LIGHTS, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10340504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Adrian, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SEVERE SURGING/BUCKING OF VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING DOWNHILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON.

NHTSA complaint #10307413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,200 miles Somerton, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2003 CHEVROLET 2500HD 4X4 SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT 38,000 MILES. VEHICLE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. READ FORUMS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. GM SHOULD RECALL. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10190659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,300 miles Caldwell, ID

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO JUMP AROUND AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING. DEALER TOLD ME IT WASN'T A RECALL ISSUE, BUT TOO MANY GM OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10187239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bainsville, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NO DESCRIPTION. *AK SUBJECT : RE: ERRONEOUS SPEEDOMETER READING ~10956 > [XXX] > FROM: [XXX] > COMMENTS: > [XXX],I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 CREW CAB ,FULL SIZE BOX,DURAMAX DIESEL PICKUP TRUCK.ON A TRIP ON FEB.11/07 FROM TORONTO ,ONTARIO ,CANADA I EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME CONDITIONS AS ARE LISTED IN THE 21 PAGE APROX. 400 INCIDENTS THAT ARE NOTED ON THE WEB LINK INCLUDED HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TAHOE/T2BGKBGI55EKNU77C/P1 IT MAY CONCERN YOU AS TO WHY I ,A CANADIAN ,AM WRITING YOUR AGENCY. THE REASON IS THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THE ATLANTA GA AREA. FURTHER MORE IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT OUR OWN VEHICLE SAFETY BOARD (A PART OF TRANSPORT CANADA) NEVER TAKES AN INITIATIVE ON VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES UNLESS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO BE A CONCERN OF YOUR AGENCY IN THE U.S.A. SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY CONCERN AND ACT WITH DUE DILIGENCE TO OBLIGE GENERAL MOTORS TO DEAL WITH THIS FAULT BY A VEHICLE RECALL.IT IS WELL EVIDENCED THAT AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS IN NORTH AMERICA SELDOM IF EVER TAKE A! PERSONAL INITIATIVE ON SAFETY ISSUES (EVEN DENYING THEM IN MANY INSTANCES). TWO CASES THAT COME TO MIND ARE SIDE IMPACT EXPLODING GAS TANKS AND REAR ENGINES CATCHING FIRE (CORVAIR) BOTH GM I BELIEVE. I AM SURE FROM YOUR AGENCY'S KNOWLEDGE THERE WERE MANY MORE THAT BUT FOR YOUR ACTION WOULD HAVE GONE UNCORRECTED.I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IN YOUR COUNTRY BUT HERE IN CANADA UNDER OUR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION STANDARDS A VEHICLE EXHIBITING THIS FAULT WOULD NOT PASS AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE LICENSED.IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION FROM ME PERTAINING TO THIS SUBMISSION OR THE VEHICLE MENTIONED IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE TO ASSIST YOU. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10185758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,244 miles Monterey Park, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL *- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN HE HEARD A CRACKING NOISE IN HIS VEHICLE. WHILE CHECKING HIS VEHICLE HE NOTICED A LOT OF GREASE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE SAME DAY THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC (NOT A DEALERSHIP) AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH HIS LOWER BALL JOINT. THAT OPINION, HE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED DEALER AND GET A DIAGNOSIS ON VEHICLE. WHEN HE TOOK IT TO HIS LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 12-02-06 THEY STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE JOINT WAS DAMAGE. AS WELL AS THIS PROBLEM THE CONTACT EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ON 11-26-06. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT HAS ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA complaint #10176742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,862 miles Hutchins, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2003 CHEVROLET C 2500 WAS HAVING A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THEN, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED POWER. THE SPEED WILL DRAMATICALLY SLOW TO AROUND 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES CURRENTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES AS A RESULT OF THE POWER REDUCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE POWER FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THREE TIMES THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE, THROTTLE ACTUATOR, CONTROL MODULE, ALSO, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL LOSING POWER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY UNWILLING TO HELP OR PROVIDE THE ADDRESS TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY RUDE AND REFUSED TO TRANSFER THE CALL TO HIS SUPERVISOR UPON REQUEST OF THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10134222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Sanford, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

DT: 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 HD TRUCK EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER REDUCTION. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. IT GOES AT A CRAWL. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. HAS TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ON AVERAGE ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AFTER CUTTING OFF THEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THIS USUALLY HAPPENED AFTER VEHICLE HAS NOT RUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME SUCH AS BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. TOOK TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT RAN BY WIRE NOT CABLE. THIS WAS ELECTRIC AND COMPUTERIZED AND SOME SORT OF SIGNAL WENT THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WILL IDLE, BUT LOST POWER. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF 2 ACCELERATOR PEDALS.

NHTSA complaint #10133718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 157,000 miles London, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

THE TRANSFER CASE ON MY CHEVROLET 2500 HD CREW CAB HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS, 1ST INCIDENT WAS MARCH 2004 ,AND NOW APRIL 2005. PLASTIC GEARS SEEM TO STRIP WHENEVER ENGAGED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AFTER NOT BEING UTILIZED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10118673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems

← Full 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 report