2003 Chevrolet Silverado

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2003 Chevrolet Silverado
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Silverado Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 1980: 2 complaints 1980 1982: 2 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 3 complaints 1987: 2 complaints 1988: 15 complaints 1988 1989: 22 complaints 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 17 complaints 1992: 40 complaints 1993: 69 complaints 1993 1994: 210 complaints 1995: 263 complaints 1996: 186 complaints 1997: 272 complaints 1998: 279 complaints 1998 1999: 1660 complaints 2000: 1305 complaints 2001: 877 complaints 2002: 710 complaints 2003: 695 complaints 2003 2004: 622 complaints 2005: 316 complaints 2006: 182 complaints 2007: 183 complaints 2008: 162 complaints 2008 2009: 76 complaints 2010: 62 complaints 2011: 75 complaints 2012: 68 complaints 2013: 64 complaints 2013 2014: 124 complaints 2015: 76 complaints 2016: 5 complaints 2017: 125 complaints 2017
2003: 695 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19822
19845
19853
19872
198815
198922
199025
199117
199240
199369
1994210
1995263
1996186
1997272
1998279
19991660
20001305
2001877
2002710
2003695
2004622
2005316
2006182
2007183
2008162
200976
201062
201175
201268
201364
2014124
201576
20165
2017125

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES 18%

18% of complaints: service brakes — 124 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 61 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7%

7% of complaints: electrical system — 46 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 45 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
POWER TRAIN 6%

6% of complaints: power train — 44 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

2003 — complaint volume: 695
R 20030128 — visibility

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES LACK A CONTINUOUS URETHANE BONDING BEAD BETWEEN THE BODY SURFACE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE, RESEAL, AND REINSTALL THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO

Campaign 03V018000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20030612 — PE (closed 20031103)

STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE

I 20031208 — PE (closed 20040409)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20040219 — EA (closed 20040928)

TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE

R 20040331 — equipment

AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TOGGLE WING ASSEMBLY USED TO ATTACH THE BEDLINER TO T

Remedy: DURAKON WILL ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE IN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THAT COULD HAVE PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE BEDLINER. IF YOU PURCHASED EITHER A DURAKON ALLSTAR OF PATRIOT OVERRAIL BEDLINER SINCE AU

Campaign 04E022000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040409 — EA (closed 20050510)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

I 20040430 — EA (closed 20050228)

HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES

R 20040618 — service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE V

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUM

Campaign 04V045000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20040909 — seat belts

CERTAIN EXTENDED AND REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND CARGO VANS CONVERTED TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RES

Remedy: TO BRING THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES INTO COMPLIANCE, DEALERS WILL INJECT EPOXY INTO THE AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO PREVENT AIR BAG ACTIVATION, RELOCATE THE SWITCH BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL A

Campaign 04V225000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20040918 — structure

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FR

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER

Campaign 04V129000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050721 — seat belts

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 200

Campaign 05V163000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20050729 — parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED

Campaign 05V161000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20051220 — DP (closed 20060531)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

R 20060509 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM

Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060801 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE

Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Campaign 06E060000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070905 — equipment

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILE

Remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Campaign 07E066000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080207 — wheels

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND

Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

Campaign 07E106000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20081217 — exterior lighting

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH

Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20100330 — PE (closed 20110105)

Brake line corrosion failure

I 20110105 — EA (closed 20150408)

Brake line corrosion failure

R Date not on file — exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.

Remedy: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Campaign 06E064000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Chevrolet Silverado — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (124 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (61 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (46 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 06E064000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V018000 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04E022000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V045000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V225000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V129000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V163000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V161000 (parking brake) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E060000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E066000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E106000 (wheels) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1992 ▲ 2010 ▲ 2013

WORST YEARS

■ 1999 ■ 2000 ■ 2001

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado?

The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 18% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado have?

13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.