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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.

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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

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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140,506 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

FIRST COMPLAINT FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON 10/21/10. COMPLAINT #10361641. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DTR LIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE OUT,SMELLED BURNING WIRE SAW THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WIRES LEADING TO LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED AND ALSO MELTED THE SOCKET AGAIN. I THINK THIS COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL FIRE IN …

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FIRST COMPLAINT FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON 10/21/10. COMPLAINT #10361641. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DTR LIGHT ON RIGHT SIDE OUT,SMELLED BURNING WIRE SAW THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WIRES LEADING TO LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED AND ALSO MELTED THE SOCKET AGAIN. I THINK THIS COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I FIXED THE PROBLEM MYSELF THE FIRST TIME AND WILL DO SO THIS TIME. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585376

127,361 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Other

WHILE DRIVING HOME AROUND 10 PM WITH SMALL CHILDREN; MY TRUCK STARTED TO SURGE, BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND THE GAUGES DID NOT REGISTER ANYTHING ( ALL AT 0). THIS ROAD WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND OUTSIDE A BAD AREA, SO I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME FOLLOW ME HOME AND I DROVE HOME SLOWLY ALL THE WHILE ENDURING A CHUGGING …

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WHILE DRIVING HOME AROUND 10 PM WITH SMALL CHILDREN; MY TRUCK STARTED TO SURGE, BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND THE GAUGES DID NOT REGISTER ANYTHING ( ALL AT 0). THIS ROAD WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND OUTSIDE A BAD AREA, SO I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME FOLLOW ME HOME AND I DROVE HOME SLOWLY ALL THE WHILE ENDURING A CHUGGING MOTION. WHAT IS NORMALLY A 20 MINUTE TRIP BECAME AN HOUR AND A HALF TRIP. WHEN I GOT HOME AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT IT THINKING THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS COULD BE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY HAD JUST BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START WHEN HE WENT TO RESTART IT AND THE DASH SAID 'UNKNOWN DRIVER". THROUGH SOME RESEARCH WE DISCOVERED IT IS A FAULTY PASSLOCK SYSTEM. WE WENT THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND IT WAS FIXED. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN TODAY AUGUST 18, 2011 WHILE DRIVING AND I NOW CAN NOT START MY VEHICLE OR HAVE IT TOWED BECAUSE IT CAN NOT BE PUT ON A TRUCK BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP TIGHT AND CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. WE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE KEY FOBS TO NO AVAIL. THE WINDOWS ARE STUCK OPEN AND IT IS RAINY SEASON HERE. THEY LIGHTS COME ON AND THE INFORMATION CENTER KEEPS SAYS 'UNKNOWN DRIVER." I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK FOR FEAR THAT THE NEXT TIME I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT. I HAVE AN 18 YEAR OLD THAT DRIVES MY TRUCK TO COLLEGE AND I LIVE IN GREAT FEAR THAT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IF IT DOES THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420734

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2011
Electrical System

GM PASSLOCK THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STRANDED . THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408963

111,128 miles · Oct 21, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING.WHEN REPLACING BULBS FOUND SOCKETS BURNED TO BULB BASE AND WIRES TO SOCKETS BURNT. HAD TO REPLACE SECTION OF WIRES AND BREAK BULB BASE TO REMOVE. CONDITION CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361641

92,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE AT 92,000 MILES. SPEEDOMETER SWINGS OVER ACTUAL SPEED. THIS IS A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL CHEVROLET MODELS TAHOES AND PICKUPS. I HAVE A NEIGHBOR AND HIS WENT OUT AT 82, 000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10307782

98,000 miles · Jul 25, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE STOPPED OPERATING, EXCEPT THE SPEEDOMETER. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197430

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.