2003 Chevrolet Silverado Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 3%of 695 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 11,913miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, 3% of the 695 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 11,913 miles. 15 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 purchased a new Chevrolet Silverado truck on 8/15/2003. I drove it 15,000 miles and the transmission went out and was replaced. On another trip returning from denver to durango I was driving on a mountain road when the back wheels suddenly, without warning locked up. This caused the truck to go into an uncontrolled skid and I crashed into the side of the mountain. The truck bounced back into the road and almost forced other cars off the highway. The opposite side of the highway was very steep with no guardrail. Had I skidded that direction, I would have tumbled some 200 feet or more. …”
NHTSA complaint #10088906, filed 2004-08, 23,000 miles“While driving 55 MPH consumer's vehicle was involved in a front collision. Upon impact, dual air bags did not deploy. Driver sustained head injuries due to his head hitting the steering wheel. The Chevrolet testers came to inspect the vehicle. They concluded that the impact was not hard enough nor was the vehicle going fast enough for the air bag to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10089611, filed 2004-09, 19,900 miles“While driving 25 MPH the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, the front air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained neck and back injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10055994, filed 2004-03, 10,778 miles“2003 Chevrolet Silverado ext. Cab 4x4 with onstar, wrecked. Hit trees. Truck totalled, front-end damage, side and rear end damage. Air bag did not inflate. Onstar did not work.”
NHTSA complaint #10030725, filed 2003-08, 8,400 miles“Air bags not deploying on a new chevy Silverado pick-up/ following a vehicle crash. Driver was injured, and scarred. Was hospitlized and still having problems and will have a lifetime scar on face area. Also legs and thighs are scarred. Our son was traveling at a high rate of speed passing, lost control went off highway head on into deep ditch, flipped over, went side to side coming to rest sideways on tires that were now flat and still no airbag deployment. Sent a complaint and pictures, police report and medical records to GM, no satisfaction from there. …”
NHTSA complaint #10072429, filed 2004-05, 9,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10021016Feb 22, 2007Dual stage passenger air bag used in single stage application.
- 10013523Apr 21, 2005Sir light on steady after bulb test and no diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs).
- 10012542Jun 1, 2004Proper use of labor operation code when diagnosis leads to sir passenger presence system replacement.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 | 5% |
| 2016 | 2 | 40% |
| 2015 | 6 | 8% |
| 2014 | 8 | 6% |
| 2013 | 11 | 17% |
| 2012 | 15 | 22% |
| 2011 | 13 | 17% |
| 2010 | 8 | 13% |
| 2009 | 16 | 21% |
| 2008 | 62 | 38% |
| 2007 | 40 | 22% |
| 2006 | 11 | 6% |
| 2005 | 28 | 9% |
| 2004 | 31 | 5% |
| 2003 | 21 | 3% |
| 2002 | 30 | 4% |
| 2001 | 48 | 5% |
| 2000 | 53 | 4% |
| 1999 | 33 | 2% |
| 1998 | 7 | 3% |
| 1997 | 8 | 3% |
| 1996 | 11 | 6% |
| 1995 | 10 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado
257 complaintsElectrical system
116 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
81 complaintsSteering
80 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsSuspension
28 complaintsTires
27 complaintsEngine cooling
26 complaintsFuel system
26 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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