2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 27about this part
- Share
- 3%of 805 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the body and structure of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 3% of the 805 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was extremely lucky because I had just gotten off the freeway and was pulling into the parking lot of the auction that I was attending. When I heard a noise I parked the truck and looked back to see a woman rolling a tire towards me. She said you lost your tire. Sure enough the tire along with the mechanism that drops and raises the tire came off the frame. I`m so glad it happened in the parking lot and not on the free way.”
NHTSA complaint #10572496, filed 2014-03, 124,000 miles“While driving home on 5/1/2014 traffic stopped short. I hit the brakes to stop. The truck stopped ok. Traveled about another 2 blocks and when I hit the brake pedel to stop. It went to the floor and I ad no brakes. I hit the back of another car due to not being able to stop, after the truck was towed to repair shop it was found to have rusted, broken brake line. This caused the truck not to stop. The insurance company wound up totaling the truck due to the damage.”
NHTSA complaint #10593609, filed 2014-05, 88,000 miles“In bumper to bumper traffic for aprox 4 mins and stopping and starting hit the brakes , peddle goes to floor hitting car in front of me because no brakes. After accident police officers noticed fluid coming from under truck, called for a tow truck because no brakes at all, when on tow truck{ flat bed} they saw that brakes lines that run along frame were totally rotted out and popped causing this accident. Truck at the shop as we speak getting all new lines installed at the cost of 1000.00. …”
NHTSA complaint #10521731, filed 2013-06, 81,232 miles“On friday, june 21, 2014 while on a friends property in placerville, ca, my spare tire fell off the underside of the bed of my truck. I'd bought the truck new in 2003 and don't recall ever having used the tire since I bought it new. I was able to find a couple of the parts that secured the spare under the bed of the truck. In one sense, I was glad it didn't happen while on a freeway doing 65 MPH. What a catastrophe that would have been for other drivers behind me. The vehicle is not used for off-road purposes.”
NHTSA complaint #10617769, filed 2014-07, 160,000 miles“I just bought my truck about a month ago. I was under it changing the oil and I noticed an alarming amount of rust on the frame members and the brake lines. Some of it looks so bad that I am concerned of having either frame breakage or a brake line failing. I have read many other stories of the same thing happening to other trucks. I have not had a failure yet but I believe it is just a matter of time. After reading all of the horror stories from other owners on various web sites, I am terrified every time I drive it that the brakes are going to fail. …”
NHTSA complaint #10893880, filed 2016-08, 188,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10237648May 9, 2023This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10213818May 31, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
- 10211764Apr 13, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10154601Dec 17, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10151874Nov 26, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with weight capacity for the tailgate and cargo loops in the bed.
- 10151839Nov 14, 2018This Preliminary Information communicates an issues with the headliner sagging and how to reattach the velcro using Hardman Double Bubble Epoxy part number 04001.
- 10129889Feb 13, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a lean to the left or right. Technician will need to measure fender…
- 10123253Oct 16, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with weight capacity for the tailgate and cargo loops in the bed.
- 10190934Jan 1, 2014Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more…
- 10190933Jan 1, 2014Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 2% |
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 8 | 3% |
| 2023 | 7 | 2% |
| 2022 | 13 | 2% |
| 2021 | 29 | 3% |
| 2020 | 26 | 3% |
| 2019 | 22 | 2% |
| 2018 | 11 | 2% |
| 2017 | 20 | 3% |
| 2016 | 21 | 3% |
| 2015 | 46 | 4% |
| 2014 | 90 | 6% |
| 2013 | 75 | 25% |
| 2012 | 35 | 16% |
| 2011 | 72 | 13% |
| 2010 | 38 | 10% |
| 2009 | 54 | 12% |
| 2008 | 60 | 7% |
| 2007 | 55 | 6% |
| 2006 | 16 | 4% |
| 2005 | 15 | 3% |
| 2004 | 15 | 2% |
| 2003 | 27 | 3% |
| 2002 | 30 | 6% |
| 2001 | 30 | 6% |
| 2000 | 33 | 5% |
| 1999 | 53 | 9% |
| 1998 | 15 | 4% |
| 1997 | 12 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
429 complaintsElectrical system
195 complaintsSteering
56 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsFuel system
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsEngine
15 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsSuspension
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology