2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Consumer Reviews

Great Value, Reliable Truck

Written by: Carolinaguy on 04/22/2009

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab Work Truck Rwd SB (4.3L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I bought this truck with 30K miles, and have driven it to 80K with not a single problem. I regularly get 20 MPG on mostly highway driving, and it is comfortable on longer trips. I've also owned a Ford F150 and Ford Ranger, and it's unreal how much more room this extended cab has in it. I can't imagine how much the double cab has. This has been a great ownership experience and I love this truck. I see many with 150-200K miles so I look forward to owning this one for a while.

Favorite Features

Mileage for full size V8 is impressive, good ride, towing ability and engine feels strong.

Suggested Improvements

Nothing, bang for the buck and that's what I was looking for.

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Good ol truck

Written by: garlinghouse on 04/15/2009

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LT 4WD SB (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Purchased truck from family member, excellent condition at 40k miles. Has the infamous clunk in steering and clunk in transmission. But the ride quality, comfort and awesome 4wd more than makes up for annoying clunks. Z71 package really helped when I ran over a log in the road, the Z71 skid plates protected my trans and oil pan. The log only damaged exhaust ypipe,rear shock and both skid plates. Not bad considering the damage could have been worse without the Z71 package skid plates. No domestic truck is perfect but neither are humans! So in this case the good qualities definitely out weigh the bad. Highly recommended.

Favorite Features

Bose system is clear and sweet, comfy interior, nice exhaust note, great mpgs for full size 4wd v8 (16.5- 17mpgavg) good family vehicle for trips even better for duck hunting and hauling boat.

Suggested Improvements

cold air induction, flowmaster exhaust, find solution to clunks.

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03 Silverado

Written by: scott on 01/15/2009

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LS 4WD LB (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

Overall a very nice truck. It does have its share of build negatives, but no more or less than any other make. Strongly recommend replacing brakes/rotors with aftermarket. OEM is inadequate and duly noted by GM. Corrosion should be monitored. (frame and underbody components). Power, ride, comfort, and reliability are all there. I got mine 4yrs old with 48k, for only 15 g's. mint cond. Previous owner(1st owner) paid 35 g's for this new. It also carries a heavy payload with ease.

Favorite Features

Interior comfort. Floor shift 4wd. Handling. Looks. 15-20 mpg(5.3L). Power.

Suggested Improvements

Underbody corrosion control. Higher quality OEM brakes/rotors.

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Big Chevy works

Written by: Mt,Engineer on 12/18/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab 4WD LB (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

In 2 wheel drive I get up to 18MPG Highway. Overall MPG is about 15. Have the 5.3 V8,4WD Extended Cab with Long Bed and at 65000 miles is now due for a steering gear ($224 for the part,I will install) but I guess that is acceptable because my wife totaled the front end (twice) the dealer repaired the truck with Genuine GM parts and you can't tell it was ever wrecked. The full size Toyota truck she hit got the worst of the deal. Replaced pads and rotors at 55,000 miles about average for OEM Brakes Usede wager aftermarket pads and rotors and will probably get 65000 miles out of these based on prior experience. No rust, but I installed a Rhino spray in bed liner when new. We work this truck hard.

Favorite Features

Comfy ride, good mileage for its size. LS1 engine which is the best V8 worldwide

Suggested Improvements

Go back to drum brakes on the rear. Disc on the rear don't stop a vehicle this size any faster

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2003 Silverado 4wd xcab

Written by: scott1450 on 11/30/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LS 4WD LB (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

I like the truck. Bought it used 1 owner, low miles. Hasn't let me down, but has required some parts and upgrading, all of which I do myself to avoid being jacked up by the dealer. Was quite shocked at the quality of oem parts compared to years past. In one year, she needed aftermarket rotors and brakes, as the oem parts are trash. A power steering pump. Rusted lines at the pump. U joints were dried out, rusted and fused together. Underbody rust is atrocious. Front shocks gone at 55k. No engine or trans problems. Some areas are overdone and others are thrown together. Overall, I got what I paid for in todays market.

Favorite Features

Comfort, drivability, handling, load capacity, and style.

Suggested Improvements

Steel drivehaft, undercarriage integrity, less tech service bulletins

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Nice

Written by: ljordan09 on 10/08/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LS Rwd LB (5.3L 8cyl 4A)

Review

We picked up the absolute most basic model. Since day one it is destined as a work truck. And its an excelent one. The only one problem is one blown tranny. But that was more our fault than anything. We didn't change the oil for 26,000 miles. Hey if it can hold on for that long, props man. I love how the base model is comfortable and the floor is plastic, the best part about that is no worries! I only have the V6 with 200 hp and im very surprised with 0-60 times. all in all, good job.

Favorite Features

V6 power. basic setup (very easy to modify). Unbelievable durability. Exterior design.

Suggested Improvements

AC. the rear fold up seats are great when you want them out of the way, but their set up too high. Its a little uncomfortable to be up higher the driver and have to duck to sea the road ahead. rear leg room.

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Never again, GM, Never!

Written by: quidproquo on 08/26/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LS 4WD SB (4.8L 8cyl 4A)

Review

My first and absolute last GM product, ever! It would be easier to list what hasn't broken or worn out prematurely than what has, with GM never taking any responsibility! (Quick list-Tranny imploded, water pumpx2, brakes a total joke, wheel bearingsx3, rust everywhere! and no, harsh environment except a heated and cooled garage, transaxle, now engine is bad have babied this truck from day one (Synthetic oil changes every 1500 miles), never towed or off road, never remotely abused or driven hard, Pure junk. I have bought new 6 Japanese cars, 5 American and two German cars and understand there may be some problems upon delivery, but to not stand behind your product I have found only with GM.

Favorite Features

Nice ride when something isn't broken or falling off. Oh wait, that hasn't happened yet! Every day I open the door to find mystery screws appearing, something else not working! Buy again? Not if it was free, GM! Not if it was free!

Suggested Improvements

Go out of business, GM. I love how the magazines are writing about how much improved the Silverado or the Corvette is. What about the customers who bought the garbage you put out in the previous years GM?

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Chevy Truck

Written by: Chevy Owner on 05/17/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab LS 4WD SB (4.8L 8cyl 4A)

Review

I absolutely love this truck. Purchased used with 83000 miles on it and so far no problems. 5.3L V8 engine runs real strong. The truck is well designed and very well built. I like the design of the interior a lot. Extended cab is very roomy and the cloth seats are very comfortable on short or long trips. I have the Z71 off road package, which really handles well off road. The automatic 4wd works well and there is a very smooth transfer from 2wd to 4wd. Gas mileage isn't great(14mpg) but hey its a truck. A friend of mine has a '98 Ford F150 with the 4.8L V8 and he only gets 12mpg. Chevrolet needs to keep building trucks like this because this is what a truck should be.

Favorite Features

5.3 V8 has lots of power. Interior design is perfect. Z71 off road package is great. Auto 4wd works very well.

Suggested Improvements

None

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Great Truck!

Written by: sixty8camaro on 05/12/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2dr Regular Cab LS 4WD SB (4.3L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I have over 110,000 miles on my p/u and have had only one part break ($25 U-joint + 1 hour of my time to replace). I'd say that's great reliability! Still runs close to as strong as when I bought it and can pull a loaded trailer (roughly 5,000 lbs) with no problems.

Favorite Features

4-wheel drive works great. Never been stuck in the mud, snow, water, ice, or sand.

Suggested Improvements

Electronics seem flakey. CD player randomly shuts off from time to time. Not a big deal, just a minor annoyance on 12 hour drives. Wish I would have purchased an extended cab or crew cab when I bought it.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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One Awesome Truck

Written by: Dave Man on 03/18/2008

Vehicle

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4dr Extended Cab 4WD SB (4.8L 8cyl 4A)

Review

This truck is the best truck I have ever owned, my 4th of the GM full size family. It's a Z71 with 151,000 on it now and have no problems at all since I bought it in 05' with 70,000 on it been camping to remote destinations, driven on trails, and even hauled several pallets of sod in the bed. It's extremely comfortable and rides like a car. Have made many comfortable trips with the family in it and no complaints at all. Never broken down only have changed the battery once by choice with an Optima yellow top. Only cost is oil, wipers and 3 sets of tires. This truck it truly built like a rock and takes the abuse of 2 boys 3 dirt bikes and many off road outings to have fun.

Favorite Features

I love that all I have to do is wash, wax, change oil, and throw some new shoes on it to have a lot of fun.

Suggested Improvements

The only thing I would improve is making driver seat power recline and passenger seat full power standard. I might also redesign the front fender wells to make the back 2 spark plugs more easy to change. But that might make a great truck something less in other areas.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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