This is the second of three fatal collisions investigated this year by my office involving chevrolet pickups that caught fire after being involved in frontal collisions. This was an off set head on, passenger side to passenger side. Passenger in pickup was pinned in vehicle due to crush and consumed by fire.
2003 Chevrolet Silverado engine problems
33 complaints (5% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 32,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 33
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical mileage
- 32,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine6
- Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2
- Engine: diesel2
- Exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
- Exhaust system: emission control1
- Exhaust system1
- Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1
- Cooling system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Silverado engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Knocking 12Stalling 11Check engine light 9Loss of power 7Overheating 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2003 Chevrolet Silverado owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 227,792.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado. The contact stated that the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart, but the failure recurred on multiple occasions. On one occasion, another vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle due to the failure. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred several times and only when making a turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start intermittently. The contact personally replaced the starter relay but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was not able to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
2 problems. Anti-lock brakes pulsate intermittently. Engine 6.0l exhaust manifold bolts are broken. Causing emissions codes to set and exhaust gases into cab. I have found that this a common problem for 1999 to 2007 v8 engines. Gm said there is no recall or warranty for this problem.
After a 3 mile ride, backing up truck noticed smoke then flames coming out from under the hood. Fire melted all electical lines, destroyed hood and windshield. Weather was perfect, air conditioning may have been on.
My truck has been blowing hot air when on cool. When it started doing it, I noticed sparks coming from what appeared to be my AC unit. This is a safety hazard. I believe that my actuator blend doors need to be replaced but do not know for sure.
I have several broken bolts on my exhaust manifolds. My check engine light goes on and off for emissions related codes. I will not be able to pass a smog test unless this is fixed. Several auto shops want about $1,000 to fix this. Its an ongoing problem and is known by chevy/gm and yet they will do nothing to help or fix it. This should be recalled immediately!
While idling at a red light the smell of exhaust fumes became prevalent inside the passenger cabin. Upon inspection of the exhaust system it was determined 5 of the exhaust manifold bolts had prematurely failed allowing exhaust gas to escape from the engine into the engine compartment and into the passenger cabin. The vehicle is currently used sparingly where family members or friends are not allowed to ride in the truck until the exhaust manifolds are repaired.
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado engine
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado have engine problems?
Owners have filed 33 complaints about the engine of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, 5% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Silverado engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 32,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Chevrolet Silverado have bad engine?
The Chevrolet Silverado model years with the most engine complaints are 2001 (95 complaints), 2000 (91 complaints) and 1999 (64 complaints).
Other 2003 Chevrolet Silverado problems
Brakes 257Electrical 116Transmission 81Steering 80Acceleration 29Suspension 28Tires 27Fuel system 26Airbags 21Visibility 20Body 19Locks 10Seat belts 10Lights 8Wheels 8Seats 6Driver assistance 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Chevrolet Silverado?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history