Most common 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet C/K Series complaints by model year
Best C/K Series years: 1999. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series:
Parking brake failure
Odi opened pe03-057 to assess parking brake ineffectiveness in the subject vehicles.these vehicles are equipped with four wheel disc brakes that incorporate a single-shoe drum-in-hat parking brake independent of the service brakes.complaint and warranty data indicate that the parking brake linings tend to wear out early in the life of the vehicle (at an average of 24 months in service), reducing the parking brake…
Hydraulic pump failres
GM is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between May 1999 and October 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early October 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes.
Parking brake failure
Odi's review of complaint data received since the close of ea04-011 revealed no indication that the investigation should be re-opened.more details can be found in the federal register notice enclosed in the dp05-009 public file.odi reserves the right to reopen the investigation in the future should conditions warrant.
What 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series owners say
Electrical system
2003 cehvrolet 3500 duramax diesel, when computer thinks engine will stall it is programed to jump the RPM's 300 by it self, happened within 10 days of owners hip and several times after, dealer had truck 5 out of the first 8 weeks of ownership can not fix as they cannot duplicate and it does not send a fault code. I have wokrd my way up at chev and was told tough, iand if I had an ccident and caused injury to some one that they have lawyers on staff fo that. The owner of the dealership addmitted to me he would not drive the vehicle or let anyone in his do so. After 8 wks they offered to do a buy back at over an $8000. Loss. I have beed advised that if I trade or sell the truck I have to disclose this defect or else I am liable. I have done an informal survey and dicovered at least 20% do the same thing and the real number could be as high as a third do. …
When the weather gets cold the instrument panel quits working, or parts of it quit working. When the weather gets above 20 degrees above zero the gauges start working. It is a very dangerous thing to have happen when driving. We have contacted the service department to learn this is a common problem with 2003-2003 GM pickup trucks. This is a factory defect according to our service man at our local vehicle repair center. He said he has had several of these trucks in with the same problem. He believes the problem is, when the weather gets cold, the connections retract and no longer make contact. He said he has had to send the instrument panel back to GM and they fix it and return it at a cost of over $250.00. We purchased this truck new and do not believe this instrument panel should be failing when the weather gets cold. It is dangerous, and very annoying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 C/K Series rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the C/K Series at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series?
The electrical system — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (1) and body & structure (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet C/K Series?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999. See the full Chevrolet C/K Series years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet C/K Series problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 25,000 miles; 71% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.