2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  9
• Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
  3
• Driveline
  2
• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  2
• Manual transmission
  1
• Driveline › Universal joint
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  314%
• 25k–50k
  314%
• 50k–75k
  15%
• 75k–100k
  629%
• 100k–150k
  419%
• 150k+
  419%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Vehicle was on cruise control prior to accident, I lost consciousness & do not remember anything about the crash early on. Was informed the vehicle rolled front to rear 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 times, prior to coming to rest on its top. The vehicle was a total loss due to this accident. I spent 3 days in icu and am now recuperating at home. No airbags deployed due to this accident . The vehicle was a total loss due to the accident.

Sound coming from transmission when push on gas,no power on right side gear light doesn't work I service 4 wd it's tell me to service I start up it's picks which gear (stationary) door on right stop working lost all power.

Drivetrain noise; ranging from clunk to metallic clank; problem has existed since new. 1-2 upshift causes clunk at driver side front. (4 wheel drive model) and clank iat differential. Situations with very light throttle (1-2 shift) result at times with impact/clank (w/ very audible metallic sound);sufficient to "shudder" vehicle. Shifting in 4w low (manufcturer instructions) also results in clank/shudder; not unlike being struck by a hammer. Slowing down/relasing throttle to negotiate 90 deg. Turns; throttle goes "dead" - no response - then responds abruply. On 2 occasions now-wet conditions-rear end (3.73 limited slip), this has resulted in rear end drifting. My concern is snow/ice conditions. I view this as a legitimate saftey issue. Dealer has looked at this 3 times and found nothing wrong; claiming all functions are normal. …

I have a 2003 Chevrolet pickup with approx. 26,000 miles on it and the transmission clunks loudly when upshifting and downshifting and gets worse by the week. It is now slamming into gear and I am afrfaid to drive it because it might fail at speed or in traffic and I am afraid it May cause an accident. The dealer and manufacturer both say it is a normal condition and they have not had any complaints of this type but there is a bulletin out about it. I am concerned that they May be trying to cover up an apparent defect on the affected vehicles. This was my husbands truck, who passed away in April and I need it to haul various things to the farm which is a 6 hr. Drive but now I am afraid to make the trips in this vehicle. It has never been abused or overloaded and I would appreciate any help you could affrod me on this matter. Thank you in advance for your attentuion to this matter. …

Five times truck (17 months old and 21000 miles) has been to dealerships for "service 4 wheel drive" message center indicator, ABS light, parking brake light, alarms, and inoperable. Also problems with clanking felt through the steering wheel. Every time truck was "fixed" by replacing/reprogramming the transfer case module, and lubing of steering column (which manufacture indicates was a poor lube job at construction). Problem recurred. Now dealership informs that the manufacture issued a TSB that instructs dealerships to not replace modules anymore, as GM is aware of problem and new modules will be not fix the problem. Were told that GM engineers are "investigating" it. Now, if module fails again, our 4-whhel drive truck will be without 4-wheel drive. Date is of first incident. Numerous tsbs have been posted concerning these problems, GM does not respond. …

I have a 2003 Silverado that has been having rough idling issues. The truck doesn't idle rough everyday,but when it does the voltage fluxuates between 10-14 volts. Before this started happening it stayed at a steady 14 volts. Now the voltage is dropping and the RPM's are dropping to around 200-300 rpms then some times it will die in motion. I have replaced the alternator and had the battery tested they are good. There was low fuel pressure so I replaced the pump,still nothing is helping. I found a internet site (www.topix.com) there is 15 pages of people with the same problem. Nobody can find a definite problem. There is people spending thousands on their vehicle to fix it and the parts don't always help. I have no warning lights coming on,so I don't even know where to start anymore. I'm broke. I feel that GM needs to do something for all the people affected by this.

Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While the vehicle was parked and with the keys in the ignition, a passenger turned the keys one notch. The vehicle was shifted out of the park position, which caused it to roll forward. The passenger did not have his foot on the brake pedal at any point. The service manager at the dealer stated that the vehicle is able to do that for towing purposes. The current and failure mileages were 126,000. The consumer stated when purchasing the vehicle he was informed you would have to push on the brake in order to transmission out of brake position and was alarmed to find that his vehicle was the only vehicle that has the defect. The consumer stated would like the dangerous defect investigate it as it is unsafe for not only him but also children that could easily get into the vehicle and move the it. Updated 08/24/07

Reduce engine power message. 2003 Chevy Silverado. Driving down major 3 lane highway, message appears and trucks power goes to 15 MPH. Tried to get into slower lane and off highway and was almost in a serious accident due to no power. Truck will not accelerate any faster than this. Has happened 3 times since. Major safety feature with Chevrolet. Other than dinger going off and immediately after that truck looses all power to accelerate. Can happen at any time. Codes are reading throttle positioning sensor. After doing some research on this it seems there are several other year and models doing same with people spending $1,000.00 or more and problem not resolved. Has happened 3 times since. After unhooking battery for approx. 10 min. It will reset itself and message will be gone until it happens again.

Just 100 miles after PCM was replaced , out of warranty, engine warning light came on. Since unable to get to dealership fast enough I did some research in my manual, which stated that if I shut down vehicle and light goes off then probably nothing major to worry about. Intermittently the light has came on, then gone off for the past 4000 miles. So with my oil change, had dealership run test on diagnostics, found bad catalytic converter. Cost of repair, $ 862. Well, I don't have that kind of money just floating around. Therefore, I couldn't get it done this time around. So I don't have that fixed. I was told GM gives up to 80,000 warranty on the PCM module and the catalytic converter. Strange how the light came on just 100 miles over the last work done. Why is this happening to me and my truck?

2003 thru 2007 GM full size trucks and vans.the automatic transmission shift lock control (formerly known as the brake transmission interlock (bsti)) does not operate with the key in the accessories position. Called GM and was told to take it in and have it diagnosed.GM dealer checked it out and gave me a GM bulletin that says"the shift lock mechanism is only active when the ignition is in the run or on position." I know that the years prior to 2003 and years after 2007 that is not possible to shift the transmission out of park with out the brake pedal applied with the key turned to the accessories position. If it was not a problem from 2003 to 2007 why did they change it and why wasn't it that way before? I think that this is a safety issue that could create serious injuries or worse.

Transmission complaints in other Silverado 1500 years