The 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak has 4 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.
Pictured: a 2004 model; the 2003 may differ in details. Photo: 2004 Chevrolet Kodiak by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2003 compares
Lowest
Fewest complaintsMost complaints
Lowest complaint count among 6 Kodiak model years — 6th most.
4recalls
1complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
69,000median miles
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.
Does your car have an open recall? Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Oct 4, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V469000 · 990 vehicles
Problem: On certain medium duty trucks equipped with zf model 8018 steering gears, the steering gear May have been produced incorrectly. A steering gear with this condition May produce the feeling of hitting a curb and a cracking or pinging sound when the steering wheel is turned.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THE STEERING GEAR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED INCORRECTLY. A STEERING GEAR WITH THIS CONDITION MAY PRODUCE THE FEELING OF HITTING A CURB AND A CRACKING OR PINGING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
Risk: The steering wheel position May be off-center and increased effort May be required when turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY BE OFF-CENTER AND INCREASED EFFORT MAY BE REQUIRED WHEN TURNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will inspect for certain date codes and verify the mileage on steering gears and replace gears as necessary. The recall began on October 25, 2007. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or Isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Gm recall no. 07220.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Service Brakes
Jun 16, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V288000 · 6,698 vehicles
Problem: Certain 2003-2005 model year 4500/5500 series Chevrolet kodiak, school bus chassis, and GMC topkick vehicles; and 2003-2004 model year GMC school bus chassis vehicles equipped with an 8.1L engine and hydromax brake system. The power steering hose May come into contact with a portion of the intermediate steering shaft. A hole could be worn in the hose and a loss of hydraulic fluid would occur.
Original NHTSA wording
CERTAIN 2003-2005 MODEL YEAR 4500/5500 SERIES CHEVROLET KODIAK, SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, AND GMC TOPKICK VEHICLES; AND 2003-2004 MODEL YEAR GMC SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L ENGINE AND HYDROMAX BRAKE SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. A HOLE COULD BE WORN IN THE HOSE AND A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WOULD OCCUR.
Risk: If there is sufficient amount of fluid loss, the driver will hear a noise from the power steering pump, the brake warning light and warning tone will activate. Increased effort May be required for steering and braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF FLUID LOSS, THE DRIVER WILL HEAR A NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND WARNING TONE WILL ACTIVATE. INCREASED EFFORT MAY BE REQUIRED FOR STEERING AND BRAKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy & notes
Gm will notify its customers and dealers will reroute the power steering hose. If the steel braiding of the hose is exposed, dealers are to replace the hose free of charge. The recall began on July 12, 2005. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or GMC at 866-996-9463.
Gm recall no. 05051.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Structure
Mar 17, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V129000 · 3,662,211 vehicles
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position May corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
Original NHTSA wording
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.
Risk: Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate May drop even lower. Additionally, if there is cargo on the tailgate the cargo May fall off if the support cables fracture.
Original NHTSA wording
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURE.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on April 7, 20004. The recall began on September 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through October 29, 2004. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or visit www.mygmlink.com, and enter your vehicle identification number.
Gm recall no. 04007.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Electrical System
Oct 1, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V267000 · 276 vehicles
Problem: Certain medium duty trucks equipped with the optional caterpillar diesel engine (LG5) option were built with a misrouted battery cable that could come in contact with the exhaust pipe. The conduit and the nylon cable coating could degrade to the point where the copper wire strands of the cable are exposed.
Original NHTSA wording
CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINE (LG5) OPTION WERE BUILT WITH A MISROUTED BATTERY CABLE THAT COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONDUIT AND THE NYLON CABLE COATING COULD DEGRADE TO THE POINT WHERE THE COPPER WIRE STRANDS OF THE CABLE ARE EXPOSED.
Risk: If the cable strands contacted the exhaust pipe a short circuit could cause the battery cable coatings to ignite and possibly lead to an engine compartment fire.
Original NHTSA wording
IF THE CABLE STRANDS CONTACTED THE EXHAUST PIPE A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY CABLE COATINGS TO IGNITE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy & notes
Dealers will inspect the battery cable for proper routing and reroute the cable if necessary. Owner notification began October 25, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.
2003 vs. other Chevrolet Kodiak years
Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.
Questions
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak, the latest from Oct 4, 2007 (steering). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Kodiak?
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.
Recalls by Model
