2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 805 | 1,170 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 218 | 28 |
| Investigations | 3 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 26 | 76 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 13–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Dodge Ram 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 21 | 457 |
| Service Brakes | 273 | 8 |
| Structure | 27 | 237 |
| Electrical System | 195 | 61 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 151 | 62 |
| Power Train | 26 | 125 |
| Steering | 56 | 44 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 56 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 298 | 28 |
| Brake problems | 113 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 24 | 6 |
| Stalling | 17 | 43 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 41 |
| Airbag warning light | 8 | 22 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2003 Dodge Ram 1500
Compare all Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs Dodge Ram 1500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.