2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4.8L gas from North America

Summary:

Initial quality superb, but falls to pieces in under 5 years

Faults:

Tailgate cables broke before the recall notice, and bent the tailgate. Dealership fixed the tailgate and replaced the cables, but 40,000 miles later, the tailgate drops at random while driving.

Rear disc brakes pop and clunk at stops. Dealership blamed it on my workmanship in replacing pads/ rotors. I RE-redid the back brakes 5 times following their advice and still did not stop the pads from seizing in the slides.

Water pump gasket began leaking around 45,000 miles and is getting worse.

Low speed steering clunk was "fixed" twice at the dealership and has returned. It was a recall that did not fix the problem, but they refuse to fix it again under the recall since it's been "fixed" twice and it is now off warranty.

Parking brake release cable broke around 80,000 miles. Luckily, I found a manual release lever up the brake arm that allows me to release it if I forget and set it.

Transmission has always had a noticeable clunk between 2'nd and 3'rd gear. When I complained about this, they told me there was an updated shift program that would alleviate this, but it is not a recall and would cost me $89 to have installed.

I wrote to Chevrolet about all this earlier this summer and a very polite gentleman replied to me. He was very sincere about helping me resolve all these problems, but after about 45 minutes on the phone going over all this, the only thing Chevy did was coordinate a service appointment at my dealer, where I was to pay for a diagnostic fee of $89 and then I was to pay for all repairs. Thanks, but no thanks.

General Comments:

Initial quality was phenomenal. I loved this truck when I bought it and still do to a much lesser degree. Most of the miles are highway miles.

The 4.8L v8 is great. It has all the power I need on the expressway and towing an 18 foot fiberglass boat. The 4.8L has never faltered.

The Firestone Steeltex tires that came new on this truck are unsurpassed in quality. I have put all my 86,000 miles on these tires and will easily get another summer out of them.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th April, 2008

2003 Chevrolet Silverado LS 5.3 from North America

Summary:

Like a rock

Faults:

Right heated mirror never worked.

That is it.

General Comments:

Bought this truck brand new. Has been nothing but a pleasure to own.

The transmission clunk that everyone talks about is what the truck does. When it starts to slide into gear is when I will start to worry. The transmission is not your fathers powerglide tranny.

I would buy a new one in a second but the problem is that there is nothing wrong with this one with 50,000 miles on it. I hope something goes wrong with it soon to justify a new one.

Michael

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th November, 2007

2003 Chevrolet Silverado LS 5.3L from North America

Summary:

This truck is awesome

Faults:

With basic upkeep, I have had nothing go wrong so far.

General Comments:

This truck has plenty of hp for a half ton. I have the towing package with this unit, and have no problem hauling through any terrain.

The seats are the most comfortable of any vehicle I've owned thus far. I average 17.5 mpg unloaded and while pulling trailers 15mpg. The ride of this truck is comparable to that of a luxury sedan.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st July, 2007

2003 Chevrolet Silverado LS 5.3 gas from North America

Summary:

I'll never buy another one

Faults:

At approximately 50K miles I noticed an oil leak from the transfer case. I took it to the dealer in my area who diagnosed a faulty top seal on the transfer case, and charged me $500 for the repair as the vehicle was no longer in warranty. Two weeks and less than 1000 miles later, I noticed the same area was leaking. I took it back to the dealer and the technician told me "you have pinholes in the side of your case, it's like a flaw in the casting". They told me they would clean it off and apply a layer of JB Weld to it to seal it up. Well 3000 miles later guess what, it still leaks. GM customer care and the dealer told me I need a new case and they would gladly pay "half of the repair" ($875 would be my half). I feel it's a mfr defect, they know it is, they should pay for it all.

General Comments:

It has been a great truck, my third new Chevy

Lots of power

OK mileage for a 4WD

Very roomy interior

Rides better than my wife's Sebring Lxi.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th July, 2007

28th Apr 2008, 15:05

Re: GM Transfer Case Leak.

I've recently replace the transfer case with only 69000km on my 2003 GMC2500HD for the same (fluid missing) grinding metal particles reason. I also found that GM issued TSB that I located at http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166491&page=7 (then see item #67)

The GM bulletin clearly defines the problem, and has recommended the fix, however GM have never issued a recall.

I have completed a substantial internet/Google search on the topic of GM transfer case leaks, and the pinhole problem is the recurring cause. Apparently the cause is that the TC oil pump clip comes loose and eventually grinds a hole in the case, draining the fluid etc.

GM's customer care person was returning my calls and being very nice, up to the point that I told them I could send them a copy of their own TSB that proves GM recognized the problem and its cause, together with a definitive fix.

I'm sure that GM CCC could obtain from its parts department, the number of replacement units/rebuilds, and to this it should add the number of dealer and other repairs to rebuild and or weld the case.

Essentially, GM should have issued a recall some time ago, however, the transfer case recall concept would be very expensive, and not a career builder for the executive responsible.

I remember hearing that Ford had such quality control problems with certain electronic parts in the early 60's, and it refused to deal with its customers in a forthright manner. It took a few generations to rebuild its customer base, as GM was the beneficiary at that time.

GM must realize that Toyota, Ford, Chrysler and a number of other manufacturers make perfectly wonderful vehicles, and must also realize that it is much easier to retain a customer than to solicit new ones, especially after mistreating the last client-base.

Yes, this problem is expensive, but it will not go away unless GM take definitive action that solves the cause. However, the suggested fix (as outlined in the above mentioned TSB) that somehow a mechanic will find and fix the problem before the TC self-destructs, is wishful thinking, that begs the question:

Who is paying for the GM mechanic to find the problem that GM should have recalled, but has not? Answer: Owners.

The logic escapes me, and GM needs to understand the ramifications, as we all have more than one vehicle in the driveway, and there are many excellent manufacturers vying for our business.

Perhaps Car Survey could aggregate the owners of this problem, as we should be making a united presentation to GM.

R. Hay.

View 77 more comments