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2003 Chevrolet C4500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
65,000 miles · Sep 8, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

AFTER MONTHS OF HARD STARTING THE ENGINE, THINKING IT WAS THE COLD WEATHER, OLDER GLOW PLUGS, IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING DIESEL FUEL INTO THE CRANKCASE. CHEVY HAS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THEY WANT 4500.00 TO REPLACE THE INJECTORS. THE OIL IS CONTAMINATED…

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AFTER MONTHS OF HARD STARTING THE ENGINE, THINKING IT WAS THE COLD WEATHER, OLDER GLOW PLUGS, IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING DIESEL FUEL INTO THE CRANKCASE. CHEVY HAS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THEY WANT 4500.00 TO REPLACE THE INJECTORS. THE OIL IS CONTAMINATED AND CAN CATCH ON FIRE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDERS OR PISTONS OR OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO DRIVING WITH CONTAMINATED OIL. CHEVY SAYS TO BAD. ROLL THE DICE ON THE REPAIR OR BUY A NEW TRUCK. EASY FOR THEM TO SAY, IT IS NOT THEIR HARD WORK OR MONEY THAT HAS TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECT. CHEVY HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE NEW FUEL INJECTOR,KNOWING THE OLD ONE WAS FAULTY. READING ONLINE FOR DURAMAX ENGINES [CHEVY KODIAK AND THEN SOME] IT AM FINDING OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. ALSO READING WHERE CHEVY IS NOT STANDING UP FOR WHAT THEY KNOW IS A PROBLEM. AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND GM HEADQUARTERS, THEY BOTH SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424221

57,000 miles · Feb 22, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND EXCHANGE PUMP, ALTHOUGH THIS HELPED THE STALLING, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE STALLING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND EXCHANGE PUMP, ALTHOUGH THIS HELPED THE STALLING, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE STALLING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10150940

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2005
Electrical System

THE 2003 CHEVROLET KODIAK C-4500 CREW CAB TRUCK COMES STANDARD WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED EXHAUST BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE TRUCK IS COMMONLY USED TO HAUL RV TRAILERS, FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS AND HORSE TRAILERS. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED ON THE TRUC…

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THE 2003 CHEVROLET KODIAK C-4500 CREW CAB TRUCK COMES STANDARD WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED EXHAUST BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE TRUCK IS COMMONLY USED TO HAUL RV TRAILERS, FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS AND HORSE TRAILERS. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED ON THE TRUCK, NEITHER ARE THEY ACTIVATED ON THE REAR OF THE TRAILER. WHEN ACTIVATING THE EXHAUST BRAKE WHILE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER CAN BE SLOWING DOWN, BUT NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION TO A FOLLOWING VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ASKED THE GM ENGINEERS TO SEND ME A WIRING DIAGRAM TO FIX THIS BUT THEY REFUSED, CLAIMING THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE SYSTEM WAS REWIRED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 2003 AND 2004 CLASS A MOTOR HOMES WIRED IN THE MANNER I'M SUGGESTING. ON THESE VEHICLES, WHEN THE EXHAUST BRAKE IS ACTIVATED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO ACTIVATE WARNING ANYONE FOLLOWING THAT THE LEADING VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144094

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER . MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER SENSO…

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WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER . MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER SENSOR, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091633

38,000 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionCrash

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT MAINTAIN THE THROTTLE. ENGINE WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT A CAUSE. ALSO, A SUSPENSION PROBLEM DUE TO BOLTS PLACED IN UPSIDE DOWN POSITION WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO FLIP. WIRES AND PLASTIC BOLT HOLDERS MELTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048790

Official recalls

1

02V202000 · Suspension:rear

Jul 26, 2002

CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 11,000 LB. REAR AXLE HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE MAY FRACTURE. AS THE ANCHOR PLATE FRACTURES, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE "BANG." IF THIS INDICATION OF A CONDITION REQUIRING THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION WENT UNNOTICED OR WAS IGNORED, AND UNDER CERTAIN REBOUND, BRAKING, OR CORNERING MANEUVERS, THE REAR AXLE WOULD BE FREE TO MOVE FORE AND AFT AND PROVIDE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUTS TO THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE AND SPACER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

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.