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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.

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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.

3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Steering complaints

9 reports
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110,250 miles · Sep 23, 2013
EngineService BrakesSteering

LOST POWER TO ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. FAULT ON DASH SHOWED (REDUCED ENGINE POWER). PULLED TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES ENGINE STARTED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW DAYS. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITIO…

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LOST POWER TO ENGINE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. FAULT ON DASH SHOWED (REDUCED ENGINE POWER). PULLED TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES ENGINE STARTED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW DAYS. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND HAVE STILL BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. IT WILL SOMETIMES DRIVE FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, BUT SOME DAYS IT WILL OCCUR 10 OR MORE TIMES IN A DAY. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEBSITES ONLY TO SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN ON DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEAR VEHICLE'S. THIS COULD AND MAY WELL HAVE CAUSED DEATHLY AUTO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE LOOKED FOR A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIND ONE. MY QUESTION IS, "ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO RECALL EFFECTED VEHICLES FOR THE ISSUE OF "REDUCED ENGINE POWER?" PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS ASAP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #10544977

93,000 miles · Aug 24, 2011
Steering

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500HD INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. KNOW THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421328

140,000 miles · Jan 25, 2011
SteeringSuspensionCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEELS TURNED IN AN AWKWARD POSITION CAUSING A LOSS IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT STATED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEELS TURNED IN AN AWKWARD POSITION CAUSING A LOSS IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE REAR AXLE CENTERING SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10378665

50,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Steering

MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO Z71 1500 PICK-UP EXPERIENCES POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN GOING A VERY SLOW SPEEDS (I.E. TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT) ON RIGHT TURNS ONLY. CHEVY DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM...SOME HAVE SAID THAT IF I CHANGE THE STEERING BOX FROM A 670 TO 680 MODEL IT WOULD HELP BUT NOT ELIMINATE???? H…

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MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO Z71 1500 PICK-UP EXPERIENCES POWER STEERING FAILURE WHEN GOING A VERY SLOW SPEEDS (I.E. TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT) ON RIGHT TURNS ONLY. CHEVY DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM...SOME HAVE SAID THAT IF I CHANGE THE STEERING BOX FROM A 670 TO 680 MODEL IT WOULD HELP BUT NOT ELIMINATE???? HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 40,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315515

10,000 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Steering

LOUD NOISES COMING FROM STEERING SHAFT, REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214688

35,000 miles · May 16, 2007
Steering

2003 CHEVROLET 1500HD 4X4 - THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MADE A CLANKING SOUND" WHILE TURNING AND DRIVING. IT WAS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND LOUD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I NOW ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. BOTH TIMES THEY GREASED THE SHAFT. NOW IT WAS BACK EVEN WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THA…

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2003 CHEVROLET 1500HD 4X4 - THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MADE A CLANKING SOUND" WHILE TURNING AND DRIVING. IT WAS EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND LOUD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I NOW ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. BOTH TIMES THEY GREASED THE SHAFT. NOW IT WAS BACK EVEN WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT GM HAS COME OUT WITH A NEW SHAFT. HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL BE ANY BETTER OR WORSE, AND OF COURSE THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE NEW PART. HOW COULD I KNOW IF THE SHAFT WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILURE? DO I JUST ALLOW THE NOISE TO CONTINUE UNTIL IT FAILED? WILL IT FAIL? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT FAILS? I WOULD EXPECT GM TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY KNEW IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10190854

18,013 miles · Jan 10, 2007
Steering

STEERING WHEEL KNOCK CAUSE BY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THE SHAFT WAS REPLACED AT 18,013 MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AT 31,000 MILES. GM HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS FLAW SINCE 1999 AND HAS NO KNOWN PERMANENT REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178310

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2006
Steering

1. -POOR DESIGN OF STEERING SHAFT THAT ALLOWS LOWER SHAFT TO BECOME VERY LOOSE AND COULD RESULT IN LOOSE OR FAILED STEERING 2.- FAILED STEERING COLLISION 3. -LOWER SHAFT LUBRICATED IT FAILED. SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED EVER YEAR DURING THE LAST 3 YEARS AND NOW GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171508

45,000 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Steering

2003 CHEVY K1500 HD HAS HAD CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH KNOCKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN. ALREADY HAVE TAKEN IT IN ONCE AND A "REPAIR" AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS PERFORMED BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT CONSISTED OF...THEY CLAIM THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT IT IS NOT 26,000 MILES LATER AND ITS DOING IT AGAIN WORSE THAN BEFORE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161507

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.