On the advice of council, I have been instructed to outline and document to general motors corp. Details concerning a vehicle incident that took place on january 29, 2004, approximately 7:45 pm, while driving our 2003 chevy silverado 2500hd [xxx] my wife and I were driving on s.r. 224 east of findlay at 40mph when without warning, the entire front end locked up on the vehicle (later duplicated by the service technician at lariche chevrolet in findlay, ohio) throwing my wife and I violently against our restraints. This resulted in a total loss of control and inability to move the vehicle from oncoming traffic. We were stranded in the middle of a road that is frequented by semi trailers and vehicles traveling in the 55-60mph range, and were completely unable to get the vehicle to move. The vehicle would not go forward or backward. After pushing the 2wd/4wd buttons frantically on the dash and shifting from park to reverse to drive, the vehicle finally moved in reverse (2wd). I then shifted to drive and was able to pull into a nearby driveway. After testing the vehicle up and down the driveway, we proceeded to get off the main road and went directly home (approximately 0.5 miles). The vehicle was towed to lariche chevrolet the following morning. (complete background of service work in memo page) as you can see this was a terrifying experience for both of us, leaving my wife unwilling to travel in this vehicle. Fortunately, our problem was duplicated by a technician at lariche chevrolet who in the manager's words your truck about put my service tech through the windshield". Because we are afraid to ride in this vehicle, we are asking to have chevrolet exchange this vehicle with another equivalent model. This was our second chevrolet in 2 years, so we are happy with the brand, just not this truck. Please advise us of your decision. *ak updated 07/30/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
2003 Chevrolet Silverado transmission complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 81, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Power train & transmission, clunks & slips quite often on acceleration and sometimes will downshift unexpectedly at lower speeds.
Steering wheel intermittently locked up, mostly when making right turns, and some when making left turns. Vehicle had been at dealer on three occasions. Dealer replaced the serpentine belt and the left hub. However, dealer was unable to resolve this problem.
Service four wheel drive light comes on. This truck has been to the dealership three times to have the sensor replaced. No apparent cause and no fix for it.
At 6,130 miles the message "check 4x4" was displayed. At the same time, the 4x4 control buttons went inoperable. The 4x4 system was completely disable and inoperable. Onstar confirmed vehicle required service. Redwood city boardwalk found "mode switch shorted, replaced mode switch" and the problem was corrected. Dealer replaced switch module with different color (gray) module than was provided with the truck new (black), gray does not match dashboard.
Upon depressing four wheel drive indicator consumer notice vehicle did not respond to the shift change. Vehicle was traveling in two wheel drive.
Constant wind noise from hood hinge flaps and top windshield seal at 50 and above. Also driver door seal squeals. I repaired the flapping noises myself after the dealer tried 6 times and said it was my bug deflector. The door seal was replaced after 6 trips and is worse now than then. I repaired this as well as I could. They replaced 1 of 3 seals. After 6 visits for my goodyear tires (nothing found wrong again) they decide to replace them. It took 2 weeks to get tires and then they replaced 2. The trans is clunker and has computer software issues causing shifting problems and dealer can not duplicate. The computer thinks it is ok so no codes will be stored. I also pointed out the gm tsb's to them on this problem. I may as well go to the zoo for service at least I get to expect poor service from wild animals. I wrote the vp of gm and he responded to me and forwarded my letter to vp of sales and service. Went back for repairs and still have same problems and the new tires with 1000 miles are bad just like the others. $38,000 piece of junk with $3.00 hr monkeys repairing it. What a joke, they can have this truck back since there is nothing wrong with it. I was also refused service two times by my local dealer because I bought it else where. Service manager said: "you are not our loyal customer and if we decide to service you, you go behind our loyal customers, reguardless of order". I think he may be looking for other employment now that the vp called me to discuss my concerns, but that is still against the law and the gm contract. Think I am going to just get a horse and when it stops working just shoot it.
When taking off from a stop transmission slips, causing vehicle to fail to move, then engages when rpms is high causing vehicle to jerk into gear. Can be very dangerous when pulling into a intersection and vehicle fails to move. I have almost wrecked several times because of the delay. Does not happen all the time dealership has been notified 7 times and failed to fix it.
On one occasion the viehicle shifted into towing mode by itself, without any reason, (ie: no buttons pressed). Yesterday, the truck shifted into 4wd - low range at highway speed by itself without any reason. This caused the front wheels to temporarily screech and the engine to over-rev. I stopped the truck on the side of the road, turned it off and then the 4wd control panel was inoperative and the service 4wd indicator was on. I took the truck to my local dealer, they told me they didn't have time to diagnose the problem right then, but not to worry because the error code would be stored and they could retrieve it after lunch. I took it back after lunch, and no error code. This is the third time I've had the truck in on 4wd problems, but the first time that the problems have presented a real danger. I had the truck in five times with transmission problems without a fix.
Transmission has rough studder/slippage when shifting from first to second gear. It doesn't occur every acceleration.
4 wheel drive becomes non operative and the dash light turns off and message service 4 wheel drive comes on. The vehicle has been to the dealer 4 times and they cannot fix it.
Clanking in transmission between 1 and 2.
Drive line "clunk". Appears to be too much play in the drive train. Clunking sound when automatic tran shifts. Been to two dealers 4 times. They say it's "normal". Talked to gm and they say it's "normal".
Harsh 1-2 shift slipping 1-2 shift followed by harsh engagement.
While driving between first and second gears transmission slipped intermittently, causing vehicle shutter violently, and became very hard to down shift.
Problems with encoder motor sensor.*mr the four wheel drive light illuminated several times, the dealer replaced the transfer case shift. Also the service engine soon light illuminated and the dealer replaced the evaporative emission canister vent solenoid. *ts
While driving and making left or right turns steering made a noise. Also, brakes and transmission problems. Dealer notified.
2003 chevrolet silverado 4wd, abrupt jerking from transmission or drive train, tends to occur when accelerating at low speeds, distracts from good control of truck. Truck has 14,000 miles and problem has been evident for last 10,000 miles.
Problem with transmissiopn hard shift from 1 to second and at times wont shift until you release gas and step on gas again. This happens at any time and with any road condition
2003 chevrolet silverado the truck will shift in 4 low while driving.the service 4 wheel drive light will come on. The truck has been to the dealer,dealer can not give reason why the truck does this or has been able to repair it.sooner or later this truck will cause a accident when it pops into 4 low on its own.
Transmission failure.
While driving, the vehicle shifted into 4 wheel drive high without warning. For the third time the sensor motor had to be replaced by the service dealer. *jb *cb
At low RPM the transmission will free wheel after stop or between low gears. After stopping the truck will raise rpms, but not move, then drop into gear. Runs fine for a while then without warning can re-appear. Has been a major factor in two near-collisions when exiting shopping areas and finding no power connected as truck rolls into intersection. Has also rolled backwards once only on uphill when transmission free wheeled. Has been presented to dealer four times (five but once did not even look at) and can not duplicate problem. Once also to dealer because brake petal went to floor while stopped at intersection - was told this was a normal function of the anti-lock braking system. Date is of first incident.
While driving at any speed up a hill, the transmission decelerated even when the consumer's foot was on the accelerator, which made the vehicle difficult to control. The vehicle also died on take off. Grommets on lower controls rubbed the torsion bars. While pushing accelerator pedal the consumer had to build up rpms by pressing the gas. The vehicle did not take fuel until the rmps built up when climbing hills. *jb *cb
Transfer case/differential,service 4x4 lights keep coming on, brakes, shocks, bumper pad falling off, transmission clunking noise, would not start. Goes into four wheel drive on its on. Very dangerous when this happens. Was told by gm that there was no fix. Dealer has put several parts on including reprogrammed module in transfer case, replaced differential case and gear kit, brake pedal would go to the floor, dealer replaced left front shock because of leaking fluid onto rotor, clunking noise from forward to reverse was told this was normal, engine cranks but does not start, towed in, dealer replaced body control module. This truck has less than 9,000 miles on it. The four wheel drive system ( transfer case) the dealer is just guessing that they have fixed the problem. Was told that my truck was a tester to see if they could fix the transfer case problem. What could go wrong next!
The vehicle shifted into 4 wheel drive without warning.
While driving the second gear of the automatic transmission didn't shift properly. The dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate or correct the problem.
4wd drive is inop. The transfer case automatically switched to 4 lo on the move. The truck has been in 5 times for the same problem. The dealer and gm says there is no fix at this time, time frame for fix is unknown. Dealer says it can not replace encoder because gm will not allow parts to be installed because it will not fix the problem. This truck has less than 2500 miles on it.
Purchased 2/2003; "service transmission" light comes on intermittently; dealer unable to fix problem. Grinding noise in transmission; advised by dealer not to use 4wd low as it may become stuck.
The 4 wheel drive system malfunctioned, and the 4 wheel drive automatically engaged in 4 wheel drive low, no matter what the consumer attempted, the vehicle failed to disengage. Mr *ts the consumer was told there was no fix for the problem.
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