2003 model reliability/durability issues?

[Duke W.]

A couple of months ago a friend of mine from high school and college passed away. We also served together in engineering capacities at Los Angeles Air Force Station, El Segundo, CA, a couple of miles south of LAX, back in the seventies. The night we were commissioned as Air Force 2LTs in June '68 he rode with me back to Seattle's U-district from downtown after the bars closed on the deserted I5 express lanes in my 340 HP/3.08 axle SWC. We pulled 6000 revs, about 150 MPH at the apex of the ship canal bridge. The car had a fresh set of 205HR-15 Pirell Cinturato CN-72 fabric belted radials.

Steve owned a couple of Corvettes over the years - an '85 coupe and then a 2003 Golden Anniversary automatic couple. His son was thinking of keeping the car, but then in an incredibly tragic turn of events, he died at age 44 two weeks ago. At least Steve's wife still has her daughter and her daughter's two children left in the family.

I've agreed to help Steve's wife find a good home for the Golden Anniversary Corvette. She lives not far from me. So I need to get educated on 2003 Corvettes. I recall that Steve told me a year or two ago that there was a long running electrical problem that was not uncommon on this model, but it took some time until he found an independent who could fix it.

This car has less than 12,000 miles, and knowing Steve he saved every piece of paperwork associated with the car since he bought it new. Recent BaT sales of low mileage Golden Anniversary models indicate it's worth up to about $30,000.

So if you know the 2003 model year, let me know... the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Reply here or send me an email.

Thanks,
Duke

[Leo G.]

[David H.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

... So if you know the 2003 model year let me know... the good, bad, ...Duke

My 2003 was a pretty reliable car, owned 4 years - 55k miles. Pretty much gas and oil car. (Also had a 2001, much the same. )

Both 2003 and 2001, had a driver's side (left side) leaking transaxle seal - common problem. Passenger side seal was never a problem.

Both car's seal leak began around 12K miles. After repair, was not a problem. A VIN dealer's service report will show if this repair was made.

My 2003 had a strange electrical problem (at around 30k miles) - while driving, suddenly gages showed no oil pressure, no electrical charging, no tachometer/speedo, every warning light & buzzer engaged, every fault code you can imaging scrolling across the DtC, windows would not roll up/down, etc, etc.

Of course, the car was actually running fine.

Pulled over, shut it off, waited a few seconds and restarted. Absolutely no issues showing.

Was in town so drove over to Chevy dealer. On the way, did the "total everything wrong" thing again.

Pulled into service - not shutting car off so the faults remained.

Twenty minutes later was on my way. Service Tech found/replaced a bad computer in driver's door. Problems were all related to modules not being able to communicate with one another.

I never had this problem, but some years had batteries that leaked acid down on wiring below.

Dave

[Ed H.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Duke, do you have info on the nature of the problem. One recall of the cars that had sport auto seats was a fault that would show up as a problem in the airbag system. The recall came out of GM Canada. The airbag system on the auto seats has a relationship with the seat belts and a small computer under the driver's seat. If the seat is set all the way down and one moves the seat control back or forward the connection is disturbed and a small red airbag light will display on the Driver Info Ctr. The cure is to remove the seat make sure all of the wires are connected then use a zip tie to secure the computer to an upper secure part of the seat frame. I have 51K on my 2007 when that problem showed up. I moved the D/S to the upper position, moved the seat back and forward airbag light went out. Never had a computer problem in my 56, 57, or 60, isn't progress wonderful. Have a dealer fault check, that should I/D any problem.

[Duke W.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Within the next couple of weeks I will visit and review all the records, so I will report back when I have more info.

Thanks for the reports.

Duke

[Mark E.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Here's a tech's perspective:

https://youtu.be/ChuqnWwyt_M

[Mike E.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Steering column lock issues are legendary with those C5's.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Duke,

The C5 and C6 automatics have a flaw which occurs when the shifter and transmission cable bushings fail. Typically age and heat exacerbates the problem.

Usually after being stuck in traffic on a hot day, the plastic disintegrates. Upon the next transmission shift, the shifter is now disconnected leaving the driver stranded. Much discussion about this problem over the web.

The heat generated in the tunnel, and even more so at the rear transaxle area just above the exhaust appears to be why they fail. The bushings are made of plastic, of unknown composition, and offshore so who knows what the quality is. GM never provided these bushings separately in Service, only the entire cable(offshore). The bushings are replaceable and are available in the aftermarket.

You cannot see the condition of the bushing in the shifter tunnel without removal. The rear bushing can be see at the bellcrank on the transmission, left side of car above the left exhaust pipe.

Rich

[John S.]

[Mike T.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

My black 03 6 spd coupe has 4K miles. Bought it new. Only issues have been the driver's window came off the track and the traction control/ABS lights are on all the time.
The center of the steering wheel became "sticky" a few years ago. I used that "Goo Be Gone" on a rag and wiped it off. Cheap plastic.
Perfect other than that. Love it.
Dealer Service Writer told me that a bunch of the C5's had issues with the headlights failing to pop up.

[Bob D.]

Re: 2003 model reliability/durability issues?

Duke

Have a 2003 50th anniversary from new. If it is an automatic, it does not have the steering lock installed. For whatever reason GM did not install them on automatics. I confirmed this by taking my '03 to the dealer to have it disconnected when getting ready for PV. One problem that has occurred with the '03 is the shift cable breaking or bending--happened without warning. Fix was a new cable. Otherwise these cars are very reliable. Mine has 34,000+ miles.

Bob