2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2003 Ford F-150
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 Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 805 | 422 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 218 | 94 |
| Investigations | 3 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 26 | 43 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 36 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–16 | 13–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 66,881 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Ford F-150 |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 273 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 195 | 46 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 151 | 17 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 69 |
| Power Train | 26 | 62 |
| Steering | 56 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 32 |
| Structure | 27 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 298 | 43 |
| Brake problems | 113 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 24 | 5 |
| Stalling | 17 | 18 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 15 |
| Airbag warning light | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2003 Ford F-150
Compare all Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs Ford F-150 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.