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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 1
Average Mileage:
56,411 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #46

Jun 102010

Silverado 3500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

GM passlock theft deterrent system is leaving thousands of people stranded. This problem is widespread and needs to be addressed.

- Joliet, IL, USA

problem #45

Mar 152011

Silverado 3500

  • 54,000 miles
I have a 2003 Chevy Silverado. I've started having trouble with the electronic dash. About two months ago it sometimes came on then off, but now it just stays off. Nothing shows up. I have no clue how much gas I have, how fast I am going, how many miles on the truck etc... now I am told that it happens a lot with Chevy's. the only way to get it fixed is to bring it in and taken apart then has to get sent out so then can computerize it to that truck. There is no other way, and that will take between a week or two. Crazy!!!! now I have to rent a car in the mean time. Chevy needs to pay for this.

- Medford, NY, USA

problem #44

Oct 182010

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 111,128 miles
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.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #43

Jun 152010

Silverado 3500

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have an 03 Chevy Silverado. My speedometer works intermittently if at all. When it does work it is usually off by a good bit (high and low). It has never been in an accident and is a one owner. I googled "Silverado speedometer bad" and found hundreds of similar complaints as mine. It is a regularly occurring problem for me and many others as well. Dealer says it is a $500 repair. I now rely on my gps which has a speedometer feature on it.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #42

Apr 302010

Silverado 3500

  • 96,000 miles
In-dash gear selector light is inoperable. Light stopped burning for no reason and during the day time can not see what gear the vehicle is currently in. There is a possibility that vehicle could not be in park and could roll away from vehicle operator when it was thought to be in a parked position. To fix the light one large part that covers multiple dash components is replaced not just a single component and this part costs hundreds of dollars even if other components are working fine. This component also has to be installed by a dealership since it covers the odometer.

- Fort Polk, LA, USA

problem #41

Jan 072010

Silverado 3500

  • 92,000 miles
Speedometer failure at 92,000 miles. Speedometer swings over actual speed. This is a problem on several Chevrolet models Tahoe and pickups. I have a neighbor and his went out at 82, 000 miles.

- Bellville, TX, USA

problem #40

Dec 212009

Silverado 3500

  • 66,547 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2003 Chevy Silverado speedometer. Started giving incorrect readings last month. Now unit is stuck at 45 mph. Sometimes needle will move.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #39

Jul 162009

Silverado 3500

  • miles
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500hd diesel. Speedometer maxed out when really only doing 45mph. Gauge stuck at maxed out position.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #38

Oct 272006

Silverado 3500

  • miles
Bought 2003 Silverado 3500 4X4 used in 2006. It had 125,000 miles and ran great. In October 2006, the speedometer started reading inaccurately the oil and battery charge gauge are not accurate either. I consider this a safety issue. I received a letter stating, the instrument panel may be defective. The problem I have is the mileage. It is over the maximum allowed to replace the cluster. I have over 200,000 miles on my truck. The truck runs great and I would not think twice about taking long trips(over 2,000 miles) as I do because of my work. I don't think there should be a mileage limit at all. There is clearly a major problem with the cluster. I think there needs to be a recall period, not just a letter stating there is just a problem. Please look into this again. Thanks D.H

- Doyline, LA, USA

problem #37

Aug 142008

Silverado 3500

  • 80,000 miles
I have a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado with 85,000 miles. The oil pressure gauge on the instrument panel stopped working at 80,000 miles. Without the engine running the needle moves all the way to the maximum. I have herd from many Silverado owners that they have experienced the same problem with there vehicles. Why is there no recall with so many complaints?

- Dacono, CO, USA

problem #36

Aug 292008

Silverado 3500

  • 97,356 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speedometer fails to read, or reports incorrect speed.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #35

Jan 082006

Silverado 3500

  • 25,000 miles
The daytime running lights have failed due to what appears to be the overheating of the lamp sockets. When you go to replace the lamp' the sockets appears to be burnt and brittle and are missing the little metal tabs used to make contact with the lamp base. You cant replace the lamp. Therefore I only have 1 daytime running light and am worried about a possible fire hazard with the other one. The one that works looks like it's not far from failing and very soon wont be working either. The more I see the amount of GM vehicles (trucks, Silverado, Tahoe, trailblazer, Sierra, Yukon & Envoy's) without two daytime running lights, I really do wonder if GM has a real problem. I see several each and every day without one or both. I have spoke to other owners and they have the same problem with one or both of them. Thank you for your time.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #34

Aug 032007

Silverado 3500

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving approximately 60 mph, the contact decelerated and the speedometer displayed inaccurate readings. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The failure was identical to the one mentioned in the recall; however, the vehicle was excluded from the recall due to its excessive mileage. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 88,500.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

problem #33

Jan 062008

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles
On January 5, 2008 I arrived home at 11:30 pm and parked my truck in the garage attached to my house. I went to bed and at around 2:00 am I smelt smoke. I walked through the house checking rooms, when I got to the screen door to the garage the handle was hot. I then went out my front door and called 911. The truck was a loss and part of my garage. In less then 11 months this is the 2nd Chevrolet/Silverado that I have owned that has burnt.

- Rushville, IN, USA

problem #32

Oct 122007

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,155 miles
I am the owner of a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck. Approximately one month after the truck was purchased, it was being driven at about 45 mph and began to lose power while being driven. Pushing on the accelerator made no change. The truck was taken to the dealership from where it was purchased, they tested the truck and reported no problem found. This problem has continued with the truck since that time. The truck has been in service on 4 different occasions, and the dealership reports that they have fixed the problem by replacing the wiring harness, replacing broken wires, replacing wiring that is broken inside insulation etc. This has not resolved the problem to date. The most recent incident occurred when the assistant service manager from the dealership took the truck out for a test drive (for a total of 120 miles), and he reported that the truck never lost power. I picked up the truck and drove it home and later that evening was driving the truck at approximately 45 miles per hour, when the truck began to lose power. Several times when this has occurred, I have narrowly avoided being hit by other vehicles on the road because the truck loses all power within 20 seconds.

- Weatherford, TX, USA

problem #31

Sep 272007

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles
If it rains and wipers are used wipers will not turn off unless fuse is pulled. Water gets into wiper module and cause short circuit., which depending on the occurrence and weather situation, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a crash.

- Barrington, NH, USA

problem #30

Nov 202006

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2003 Chevrolet Silverado speedometer very erratic will be sitting still and will show 60 70 or 80 mph and will go to max when doing around 30 or 35... this is a safety issue not knowing your speed. My vehicle only has 37,000 miles to date.

- Church Hill, TN, USA

problem #29

Oct 152006

Silverado 3500 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles
Speedometer is acting up and giving me wrong readings while driving. It rests at about 75 mph while I am parked, and while driving some times goes as high as 125+ mph when I am clearly going 60-70. 2003 Chevrolet Silverado with 51,000 miles. Nothing significant happened to make this problem happen, as I was just driving on the freeway when it occurred. I have done nothing to the vehicle to attempt to fix it as I feel there should be a recall on this faulty part.

- Nacogdoches, TX, USA

problem #28

Feb 102006

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
We all need to contact GM at www.Chevrolet.com and complain. I purchased my 2003 Chevy 2500 hd in Nov. 2005. It had 32000 miles on it. The warranty ran out at 36000 and when I hit 38000 miles the problems started. The electrical system started acting up. I had went to leave and everything was dead no power at all. I would jump it and then it was fine for the first couple of times. The last time I jumped it, it cranked but I had no power it wouldn't move in drive or reverse and all the gauges went crazy. I disconnected the battery waited a minute and reconnected it and everything was working fine again. A week later the speed odometer went crazy and wouldn't go back to zero. Now starting a few weeks ago the drive train is making a loud clanking noise and the rear wheels are wanting to lock up when I try to start off. These problems don't occur every time, but the drive train noise is getting worse from all the feedback I see on this web site I feel I would waste my time contacting GM. All of us Chevy owners with problems needs to contact GM every day about our $30,000 and $40,000 dollar hunk of scrap metal. I hope mine will burn and I will not ever buy another Chevrolet product again. Here is there web site www.Chevrolet.com. I have been calling the phone # on the web site, but it just stops ringing. You can send them E-mails and letters.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #27

Jan 232006

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,426 miles
For what appears to be no reason at all, the speedometer needle will go 'ballistic', registering higher than traveling speed, and occasionally even pegging out. "over a period of time, it will then drop back to normal operation. This phenomenon will occur in warm or cool temperatures, within 5 miles of starting, or well into a longer distance of travel. Upon inquiry at several dealerships (I am a full-time driver and travel a lot), I have heard various reasons for this occurrence, the most prominent having to do with the cluster in the dash, and the 'cure' depends upon the person to whom I am speaking. At one dealership, I was told parts were on backorder for 7 weeks. At another I was told I would have to park the truck and wait for a third-party repair service to do that work. I would be unable to move the vehicle while waiting, as the mileage would have to be re-programmed into the repaired cluster. Waiting time for that was estimated at 4-6 weeks! (as stated, I rv full time, and this is my only means of transportation.) customer service at GM gives the impression that ours' is an isolated situation (explain that 7-week backorder at the dealership to me again!), and therefore must be of little consequence to them! I am concerned from the safety standpoint, as it is impossible to know what one's speed is. (going too slowly can be as dangerous as going to fast--I fear being rear-ended as much as anything!) there must be more folks out there who have not complained, to account for the lengthy wait involved in getting a solution to the problem. Please help.

- Eugene, OR, USA

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