Model year record
2003 Chevrolet C/k Series recalls & problems
The 2003 Chevrolet C/k Series has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 7 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Chevrolet C/k Series.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel | 3 | 60,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments | 1 | — |
| SteeringColumn | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakes, hydraulic
POOR BRAKING POWER. REPLACED ROTORS & REAR BRAKES DUE TO ROTORS RUSTING OUT AT ONLY 23,000 MILES. IN HARD STOP PEDAL WILL GO TO FLOOR. CHEVY SAYS THIS IS NORMAL...BEEN THIS WAY SINCE NEW. *TR
- Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO HAS A SPEEDOMETER ISSUE THAT SAYS I MA GOING 30 WHEN I AM STOPPED. GM PUTS OUT A RECALL BUT WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 70K. MINE WENT OUT AT 72K, HOW CONVENIENT. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. IF NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING THEN WHY DO WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS? *TR
- Steering › Column
REPACKED THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A POPPING NOISE. THEN IT CAME BACK. SO THEY SAID THEY REPLACED IT. AND KNOW IT IS BACK AGAIN. *JB
- Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUITS WORKING, OR PARTS OF IT QUIT WORKING. WHEN THE WEATHER GETS ABOVE 20 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO THE GAUGES START WORKING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO LEARN THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003-2003 GM PICKUP TRUCKS. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ACCORDING TO OUR SERVICE MAN AT OUR LOCAL VEHICLE REPAIR CENTER. HE SAID HE HAS HAD SEVERAL OF THESE TRUCKS IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD, THE CONNECTIONS RETRACT AND NO LONGER MAKE CONTACT. HE SAID HE HAS HAD TO SEND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK TO GM AND THEY FIX IT AND RETURN IT AT A COST…
- Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments1 injury
WHILE AT A 4TH CELEBRATION ON THE TAILGATE OF MY AMERICAN CHEVROLET TRUCK MY WIFE AND 15 MONTH OLD LITTLE BOY, WAS SITTING THERE AND THE TAILGATE CABLES ON MY 2003 DURAMAX BROKE CAUSING MY WIFE AND CHILD TO HIT THE GROUND BUSTING HIS LIP. I ONLY HOPE THE IS NO TEETH DAMAGE. WILL CHEVROLET REPLACE MY BENT TAILGATE KNOWING THERE IS A RECALL, IF THEY CANT MAKE CABLES FAST ENOUGH, GET-R-DONE, WANT MY TAIL GATE FIXED ALSO AND MY KIDS TEETH. *AK
- Power train › Automatic transmission
DRIVE TRAIN: CLUNK/CLANK DURING UPSHIFT UNDER LIGHT/EASY ACCELERATION. ALSO DURING DOWNSHIFT SUCH AS WHEN SLOWING FOR STOP LITE. ALSO DDURING SLOWING FOR TURN OR UPON QUICK ACCELERATION. VEHICLE HAS 4193 MILES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH VEHICLE SINCE NEW! OCT '03. VEHICLE ALSO HAS DEAD SPOT IN ACCEL WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. NOTE: WHEN SHIFTING TRANS (AT) FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR TO REVERSE OR ANY COMBINATION THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY IN THE TRANS SHIFTING. THIS COULD BE RELATED TO OVERALL PROBLEM. THE CLUNK/CLANK NOISE IS VERY NOTICEABLE. VERY AUDIBLE,NOT ONLY THAT, YOU CAN ALSO FEEL IT. N MY OPINION THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL IF VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN NEEDED. APPLE CHEVROLET…
- Electrical systemCrash
2003 CEHVROLET 3500 DURAMAX DIESEL, WHEN COMPUTER THINKS ENGINE WILL STALL IT IS PROGRAMED TO JUMP THE RPM'S 300 BY IT SELF, HAPPENED WITHIN 10 DAYS OF OWNERS HIP AND SEVERAL TIMES AFTER, DEALER HAD TRUCK 5 OUT OF THE FIRST 8 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP CAN NOT FIX AS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE AND IT DOES NOT SEND A FAULT CODE. I HAVE WOKRD MY WAY UP AT CHEV AND WAS TOLD TOUGH, IAND IF I HAD AN CCIDENT AND CAUSED INJURY TO SOME ONE THAT THEY HAVE LAWYERS ON STAFF FO THAT. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADDMITTED TO ME HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE OR LET ANYONE IN HIS DO SO. AFTER 8 WKS THEY OFFERED TO DO A BUY BACK AT OVER AN $8000. LOSS. I HAVE BEED ADVISED THAT IF I TRADE OR SELL THE TRUCK I HAVE TO…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosed
ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.
- HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRESClosedLed to recall 05V005000
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
- PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosed
ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING…