← New search

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

41 reports with mileage · 1 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
40,000 miles · Aug 14, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS AT LOW SPEED ACTIVATES, BRAKING PEDAL LOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349351

30,998 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages

THIS CLAIM IS ON A CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DIESEL TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT NEW. AROUND 30,000 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR CLUTCH PROBLEMS 3 TIMES, BRAKES GOING TO THE FLOOR, THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE, RADIO PROBLEMS, STEERING PROBLEMS AND TIRE WEAR. GENERAL MOTORS, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS C…

Read full complaint

THIS CLAIM IS ON A CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DIESEL TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT NEW. AROUND 30,000 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR CLUTCH PROBLEMS 3 TIMES, BRAKES GOING TO THE FLOOR, THE WINDSHIELD COMING LOOSE, RADIO PROBLEMS, STEERING PROBLEMS AND TIRE WEAR. GENERAL MOTORS, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS CONTACTED AN ASSURED ME THIS TRUCK WAS NOT A LEMON, I SAID IT WAS. NOW BETWEEN 30,000 AND 90,000 MILES I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAD THE DOORS LOCK FOR NO REASON AT ALL, LOCK BY THEMSELVES. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE HUNG AT THE FENDER CAUSING MASSIVE DENTS WHERE I HAD TO FORCE THE DOORS OPEN DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE DOOR AND FENDER. THE INITIAL BRAKE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. I HAD A WATER LEAK IN THE CAB AROUND THE LIGHTS, THAT CAUSED WATER DAMAGE TO THE SEATS. I REWIRED THE REAR LIGHTS, BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES. FOUR SETS OF TIRES HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THIS TRUCK AT 90,000 MILES (TIRES COST AROUND $1,000 A SET). I HAVE TRIED THREE BRANDS OF TIRES. THEY ARE GENERALS (6 PLY), GEO TRAC (10 PLY), AND TOYO (10 PLY). THE DASH SYSTEM IS GOING OUT (DASH COSTS $1200). THE TRUCK IS LACKING POWER WHEN PULLING AND TODAY 7/28/2010 THE CLUTCH ALMOST CAME OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT 90,232 MILES (PROBABLY WILL COST BETWEEN $2,000 AND $3,000 IF NOT MORE). THE ENGINE OIL PLUS FILTER, THE FUEL FILTERS, AND GREASING OF THE TIE ROD ENDS ARE ALL DONE PER MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK, BUT LOOKING AT THE DOOR AND FENDER PROBLEM, ONE WOULD THINK IT HAS. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. IT IS A LEMON AND A SAFETY HAZARD. THE LEMON LAW WAS CHANGED FROM THREE FAILURES TO FOUR FAILURES DURING THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. NOW THE VEHICLE LEMON LAW YEAR IS ANY VEHICLE 2004 OR AFTER. THIS TRUCK IS A 2003 MODEL. IT IS TIME ALL PARTIES INVOLVED COME TO THE TABLE AND DEAL. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK BETWEEN THE CLUTCH AND THE ENGINE THAT WAS NEVER FIXED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT FULL RPM. UPDATED IVOQ 10/01/10 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345987

35,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 15 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 15 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10342875

6,500 miles · Dec 7, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE M…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,500. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211152

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.