2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 805 | 78 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 218 | 62 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 26 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 15–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 70,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Ford Explorer Sport Trac |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 273 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 195 | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 151 | 4 |
| Steering | 56 | 4 |
| Structure | 27 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 5 |
| Power Train | 26 | 8 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 9 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 298 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 113 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 24 | 0 |
| Stalling | 17 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 7 |
| Airbag warning light | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Compare all Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs Ford Explorer Sport Trac 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.