2003 Chevrolet Silverado recalls
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. Between them they involve seat belts, parking brake, body and structure, brakes and visibility. The most recent was received on April 22, 2005.
-
Seat belts
Seat belt routing
The defect: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the…
The risk: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
The remedy: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
-
Parking brake
Parking brake system
The 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.
The risk: If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
The 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.
-
Seat belts
GM/FMVSS 225/seating positions
The defect: Certain extended and regular cab pickup trucks and cargo vans converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' these vehicles have one seating position, the center rear seat, equipped with child restraint lower anchorages.
The risk: The standard requires child seat lower anchorages in two seating positions for vehicles with three rear seating positions. The standard cab and cargo van vehicles, which only have front seating positions, have an air bag off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have child restraint lower anchorages in the passenger seat. The standard requires passenger seat child seat lower anchorages in vehicles with an air bag off switch. However, the standard does not require vehicles…
The remedy: To bring the standard cab and cargo van vehicles into compliance, dealers will inject epoxy into the air bag off switch to prevent air bag activation, relocate the switch behind the instrument panel and then install a cover over the resulting opening. The sun visor label and owner's manual will also be changed. The correction for the extended cab vehicle will consist of changing the front passenger seat to a seat that has child restraint lower anchorages. The recall began on september 9, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
-
Body and structure
GM/tailgate support cable
The defect: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
The risk: Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate may drop even lower. Additionally, if there is cargo on the tailgate the cargo may fall off if the support cables fracture.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on april 7, 20004. The recall began on september 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through october 29, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or visit www.mygmlink.com, and enter your vehicle identification number.
-
Brakes
GM/FMVSS 135/brake valve
The 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
-
Visibility
GM/FMVSS 212/windshield bonding
The defect: Certain pickup trucks fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." some of these vehicles lack a continuous urethane bonding bead between the body surface and the windshield.
The risk: In vehicles with this condition, the windshield may not be retained in accordance with the safety standard during a vehicle crash.
The remedy: Dealers will remove, reseal, and reinstall the windshield. Owner notification began on january 28, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
Check by VIN
A campaign rarely covers every Silverado built in 2003. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.
Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.
Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.
What 2003 Chevrolet Silverado owners should do
- Check your VIN on NHTSA’s lookup to see which of these campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether any are still open.
- Call a Chevrolet dealer and book the repair, quoting the campaign numbers.
- If you have bought the vehicle used, the recall still applies: the repair is free whoever owns the vehicle now.
- Make sure your current address is on file with the manufacturer so the owner letters reach you.
Other Chevrolet Silverado model years
- 2016 2
- 2015 7
- 2014 13
- 2013 3
- 2012 2
- 2011 2
- 2008 1
- 2007 1
- 2006 4
- 2005 8
- 2004 8
- 2002 4
- 2001 4
- 2000 8
- 1999 5
Common questions
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 campaigns for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado: 05V-163 (Seat belt routing); 05V-161 (Parking brake system); 04V-225 (GM/FMVSS 225/seating positions); 04V-129 (GM/tailgate support cable); and 2 more.
How do I know if my 2003 Chevrolet Silverado has an open recall?
Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup. Most campaigns cover only part of a model year’s production, and the lookup also shows whether the repair has already been done on your vehicle.
Will the dealer charge to fix the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado?
No. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge by Chevrolet dealers. Quote the NHTSA campaign number when you book.