VehicleVerdict

2003 Chevrolet Silverado brakes problems

The 2003 Chevrolet Silverado has 280 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 33% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

280

Brakes complaints

33%

Share of year

11

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Silverado brakes complaints by model year1,073 complaints1988: 1 complaints1989: 6 complaints1990: 12 complaints1991: 7 complaints1992: 5 complaints1993: 8 complaints1994: 17 complaints1995: 33 complaints1996: 32 complaints1997: 72 complaints1998: 106 complaints1999: 1,073 complaints2000: 662 complaints2001: 452 complaints2002: 392 complaints2003: 280 complaints2004: 219 complaints2005: 89 complaints2006: 105 complaints2007: 36 complaints2008: 10 complaints2009: 7 complaints2010: 2 complaints2011: 9 complaints2012: 9 complaints2013: 2 complaints2014: 9 complaints2015: 8 complaints2017: 33 complaints
Silverado brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

05V161000BrakesApril 22, 2005 · 90,242 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

Consequence

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

04V045000BrakesFebruary 4, 2004 · 68,875 units

Defect

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 95 MY BRAKE LINE BROKE. IT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS. I HAD TO SWERVE ACROSS TRAFFIC AND DRIVE ON THE GRASS SHOULDER TO COME TO A STOP. VERY VERY SCARY. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 10, 2015 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado have?

NHTSA has 280 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado brakes — 33% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado brakes?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the brakes: 04V045000, 05V161000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.