2003 Chevrolet SSR Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 70%of 10 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 2,050miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the body and structure of the 2003 Chevrolet SSR, 70% of the 10 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,050 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While standing next to the hood the hood dropped down from the open position. This could have LED to serious injury if I had been leaning into the engine compartment. The hood prop on 2003 Chevrolet SSR is not sufficient to hold the weight of the hood. The 2005 SSR's have a completely different design. Gm refuses to acknowledge the problem. I have notified my dealer and he says there is no fix for the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10086595, filed 2004-08, 2,525 miles“Hood prop rod is too flimsy to hold the heavy hood up(in the open position). My pro rod collapsed(bent) while my hood was being held open. Fortunately I was not under the hood when it fell or I would have been seriously injured or worse. The hood is much too heavy to be supported by the flimsy rod. Gm replaced my bent rod with a new rod of the same design. All 3,300 of the 2003 and 10,000 0f the 2004 Chevrolet SSR's have this same prop rod system. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086395, filed 2004-08, 2,050 miles“I was checking the oil on my 2003 Chevrolet SSR. It was parked outside with the hood up and held by the hood prop rod. A small gust of wind hit the hood and shook it slightly. I jumped back just to see the prop rod flexing quite a bit. I have always felt that the rod was not strong enough and since it has a bend in it so it can fit inside the engine compartment it just looks weak. After this I am extra cautious when working under the hood. I feel that the prop rod was never strong enough. When I mentioned this to the dealer they had no answer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086575, filed 2004-08, 5,105 miles“Hood prop on 2003 Chevrolet is not sufficient to hold the weight of the hood. Prop has bent and hood has fallen. The 2005 has a completely different design. Gm refuses to acknowledge the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10086497, filed 2004-08, 1,900 miles“2003 chevy SSR engine hood is extremely heavy (two or three times the weight of a normal hood) and Chevrolet has outfitted the 2003 and 2004 chevy SSR with a simple metal hood prop rod to support the hood when open. 1) the hood is so heavy many owners will not be able to or will struggle with the opening of the hood. This can lead to situations where the hood may be dropped on the person trying to open the hood with the possibility for severe injury. My wife cannot open the hood by herself due to the extreme weight of the hood. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086628, filed 2004-08, 45 milesRelated service bulletins
- 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…
- 10197294May 12, 2021This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
- 10114894Oct 14, 2015This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vibration complaints that are one of the most challenging complaints to accurately…
Body and structure: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Chevrolet SSR
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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