3 OF THE 6 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF ON LEFT SIDE ,2 ON THE RIGHT SIDE . I NOW HAVE THE EXHAUST TICKING SOUND AND ON OCCASION GET EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE CAB.I NOTICED THE FIRST BROKEN BOLT AT APPROX 55000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 112000 MILES. *TR
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hd
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Silverado 1500 Hd years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hd are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 1500 Hd years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
93 reports with mileage · 8 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
101 reportsWHILE USING THE TRUCK TO REMOVE A ROOT BALL WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKE OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OUR MECHANIC REPLACED FOUR BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST, CORROSION AND LEAKS. WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED WHILE WORKING IN THE BACK YARD AND NOT WHEN TRAVELI…
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WHILE USING THE TRUCK TO REMOVE A ROOT BALL WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKE OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OUR MECHANIC REPLACED FOUR BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST, CORROSION AND LEAKS. WE ARE EXTREMELY THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED WHILE WORKING IN THE BACK YARD AND NOT WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE TOWING OUR 3000 POUND BOAT! AFTER SEEING ALL THE REPORTED PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL BY GENERAL MOTORS. *TR
BRAKE LINES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING - NO LIGHT SHOWING COMPRESSION OR FLUID LEAKING. STILL NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, WE COULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE KNEW HOW TO REACT BY DOWN SHIFTING TO SAVE US. THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALL RUSTED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON…
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BRAKE LINES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING - NO LIGHT SHOWING COMPRESSION OR FLUID LEAKING. STILL NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, WE COULD HAVE HIT SOMETHING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HE KNEW HOW TO REACT BY DOWN SHIFTING TO SAVE US. THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALL RUSTED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WE FEEL THAT GM USED CHEAP METAL FOR THESE LINES AND COULD HAVE COMPROMISED OUR LIVES. *TR
YES,I WAS BUYING A NEW TRAILER WHEN I WAS GOING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION,THE BRAKE PEDAL, WENT TO FLOOR,LUCKILY USING TRAILER BRAKES,I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOP,NOTICE LINE BROKE DUE TO RUST,I REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL FROM A COMPANY WHO PRE-BEND NEW PIECES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THIS TRUCK,DUE TO…
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YES,I WAS BUYING A NEW TRAILER WHEN I WAS GOING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION,THE BRAKE PEDAL, WENT TO FLOOR,LUCKILY USING TRAILER BRAKES,I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STOP,NOTICE LINE BROKE DUE TO RUST,I REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL FROM A COMPANY WHO PRE-BEND NEW PIECES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THIS TRUCK,DUE TO COST,NOW FUEL LINE LEAKING CAUSING BRAKING DOWN ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY,UNTIL AAA CAME BUT HAD TRAILER ON THAT MADE THE SITUATION HARDER,SO AFTER INCONVENIENCE,HAVE TO PUT NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINES.THANKS FOR THE TIME TO READ[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
OK THE PROBLEM I'M ABOUT TO STATE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 1500 HDS SINCE THEY WHERE NEW AND CHEVY HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS WITH A REFUSAL TO REPAIR. THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL IS WHAT THE PEDAL SENSOR TELLS TO MOVE THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERY SO OFTEN (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY) THIS MODULE WEIRDS O…
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OK THE PROBLEM I'M ABOUT TO STATE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 1500 HDS SINCE THEY WHERE NEW AND CHEVY HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE YEARS WITH A REFUSAL TO REPAIR. THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL IS WHAT THE PEDAL SENSOR TELLS TO MOVE THE THROTTLE BODY. EVERY SO OFTEN (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY) THIS MODULE WEIRDS OUT AND PUTS THE TRUCK IN TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER (LIMP MODE) AND WON'T DO OVER 25 MPH WHICH IS VERY HAZARDOUS WHEN TRAVELING FREEWAYS AND TURN PIKES WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS HIGH.I MYSELF HAVE BEEN ALMOST RAN OVER BY BIG RIGS BECAUSE MY TRUCK DECIDED TO GO INTO THIS REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I MYSELF HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE MULTIPLE TIMES WITH CHEVROLET CORPORATE WITH THEM TELLING ME THAT I'M SCREWED AND TO GET OVER IT. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT I JUST WISH CHEVY WOULD STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF BLOWING US OFF. *TR
I WAS PULLING INTO MY CIRCLE COMING DOWN THE HILL AND MY BRAKES STARTED TO FEEL VERY SOFT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL JUST BELOW THE CURB. I WAS JUST GRATEFUL THAT THERE WERE NO CARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THIS TIME. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A TRAIL OF FLUID ON THE STREET COMING DOWN THE HILL UNDER MY TRUCK. I…
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I WAS PULLING INTO MY CIRCLE COMING DOWN THE HILL AND MY BRAKES STARTED TO FEEL VERY SOFT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL JUST BELOW THE CURB. I WAS JUST GRATEFUL THAT THERE WERE NO CARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THIS TIME. WHEN I GOT OUT I SAW A TRAIL OF FLUID ON THE STREET COMING DOWN THE HILL UNDER MY TRUCK. I GOT DOWN AND LOOKED UNDER AND THERE WAS A HUGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID. I TOWED IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID ALL MY BRAKE LINES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FROM A 40 YR. OLD CAR, ALL RUSTED OUT. COST ME A BOAT LOAD TO REPLACE, THAT IS AFTER THEY TRACKED DOWN REPLACEMENT LINES (TOOK THEM OVER A WEEK). THANKS CHEVY, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAW IN THE LINES ON THIS TRUCK. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING MY LIFE INTO CONSIDERATION AND RECALLING THESE BRAKE LINES. O WAIT, YOU DIDN'T? THAT'S RIGHT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SLAMMED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE I HAD ZERO BRAKING FROM THE PEDAL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND SAW A RUSTED BRAKE LINE DRIPPING FLUID. IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE B…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AND SLAMMED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE I HAD ZERO BRAKING FROM THE PEDAL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND SAW A RUSTED BRAKE LINE DRIPPING FLUID. IF I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE BECAUSE I LOST ALL BRAKING FUNCTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT FOUR OF THE EXHAUST HEADER MANIFOLD BOLT HEADS WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT FOUR OF THE EXHAUST HEADER MANIFOLD BOLT HEADS WERE MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE AIR VENT DUCT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,403 AND THE CURRENT MILE…
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TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE AIR VENT DUCT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,403 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
RADIO SPEAKERS WENT OUT WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER TINKERED WITH BUT NEVER FOUND EXACT PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE. THEN LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 4 YEARS AGO STILL DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. FUEL GAUGE INOP. 2 YRS AGO. THEN SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. AND …
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RADIO SPEAKERS WENT OUT WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER TINKERED WITH BUT NEVER FOUND EXACT PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE. THEN LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 4 YEARS AGO STILL DOESN'T WORK MOST OF THE TIME. FUEL GAUGE INOP. 2 YRS AGO. THEN SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR. AND SINCE OCT 2013 VEHICLE JUST DIES AT LOW RPMS OR IDLES ERRATIC. ONE OUT OF 53 DAYS MOST EVERYTHING. WORKS FINE EXCEPT FUEL GAUGE. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN ALL THE PROBLEMS COME BACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ALL PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT WITH THE IT BEING OVER THE MILEAGE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTHING CAN BE DONE AND SINCE JUST SWAPPING OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MAY NOT FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH IT. *JS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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