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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hd

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado 1500 Hd years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hd are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

21 reports
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85,000 miles · Jan 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. BRAKE LINE CORROSION. BRAKE LINE BURST. PENNSYLVANIA. BRAKE LINE BURST ON DRIVERS SIDE. BRAKE LINE BURST WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WAS THE RESULT. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON RESIDENTIAL STREET- THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO RESOLVE PROB…

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2003 CHEVY SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. BRAKE LINE CORROSION. BRAKE LINE BURST. PENNSYLVANIA. BRAKE LINE BURST ON DRIVERS SIDE. BRAKE LINE BURST WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WAS THE RESULT. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON RESIDENTIAL STREET- THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DEFECT OF CHEVROLET'S BRAKE-LINE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO. HAVE PROOF OF REPAIR. IS CHEVY GOING TO RECALL THE INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN THESE BRAKE LINES? *LN

NHTSA ODI #10376841

65,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A MINI VAN WITH 5 OCCUPANTS THAT SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR ON 12/28 AT A GM DEALER I WAS TOLD MY BRAKE SYSTEM WAS RUSTED OUT AND CORRODED CAU…

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MY BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A MINI VAN WITH 5 OCCUPANTS THAT SWERVED OFF THE ROAD TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CAR ON 12/28 AT A GM DEALER I WAS TOLD MY BRAKE SYSTEM WAS RUSTED OUT AND CORRODED CAUSING MY BRAKES TO FAIL. I HAVE INVESTIGATED MYSELF THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT IT IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS TRUCK IS AT RISK OF CRASHING AND DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT. I WAS ONE OF THEM UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO.I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ONLY BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE WILL NOT SUPPLY ME WITH A CONTACT NUMBER FOR A ZONE REP OR ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAULTY BRAKE LINES BEFORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373245

65,000 miles · Dec 28, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY NIGHTMARE STARTED WHEN I PULLED ONTO A FROM MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE ABOUT A HALF BLOCK TO THE STOP SIGN IN MY 2003 SILVERADO AND NOTICED A MINI VAN GOING SOUTH. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I COULDN'T STOP. NO WARNING ON THE DASH NOTHING. THE VAN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID M…

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MY NIGHTMARE STARTED WHEN I PULLED ONTO A FROM MY DRIVE WAY AND DROVE ABOUT A HALF BLOCK TO THE STOP SIGN IN MY 2003 SILVERADO AND NOTICED A MINI VAN GOING SOUTH. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I COULDN'T STOP. NO WARNING ON THE DASH NOTHING. THE VAN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME AND ALMOST TIPPED OVER CONTAINING 5 PEOPLE. I SAW HIM COMING BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE LAST THING ON MY MIND WAS NO BRAKES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 39 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE IN MY LIFE. YESTERDAY I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE USUAL RUN AROUND. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED THEY WERE VERY CLEAR THAT MY CAR EVEN THOUGH ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND IS KEPT IN A GARAGE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THE BEST PART WAS THEY WILL REPLACE THE LINES WITH STANDARD GM PARTS THE SAME ONES THAT ARE ON THE VEHICLE NOW. DOING THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME RESULTS AND A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. EVEN IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM PLEASE DON'T LET THEM DO THE REPAIRS WITH THE SAME INFERIOR BRAKE LINES THAT WE ALL HAVE NOW !!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373179

6,000 miles · Dec 7, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DECELERATING THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE UNUSUALLY AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORME…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE BRAKE LINE. IN ADDITION, WHEN DECELERATING THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE UNUSUALLY AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369524

82,220 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500HD 4X4 QUAD CAB TRUCK. AFTER PICKING UP A CAMPER TRAILER AND RETURNING TO MY HOME I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE IN THE PEDAL. UPON ARRIVING HOME I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM A BRAKE LINE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE 2 LINES THAT RUN FROM …

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I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500HD 4X4 QUAD CAB TRUCK. AFTER PICKING UP A CAMPER TRAILER AND RETURNING TO MY HOME I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE IN THE PEDAL. UPON ARRIVING HOME I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM A BRAKE LINE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE 2 LINES THAT RUN FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT AND THE 2 LINES THAT RUN FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED (RUSTED). I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM MYSELF BY REPLACING ALL THE BRAKE LINES. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 82,220 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR. IF A VEHICLE WOULD HAVE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME WHILE RETURNING TO MY HOUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I UNDERSTAND BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE ITEMS THAT ARE SUBJECTED TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT BRAKE LINES SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNLESS THEY ARE CHAFFING SOMEWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348184

20,000 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN JUNE 2008 WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE ABS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SENSORS AND SURFACE AREAS WERE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN JUNE 2008 WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE ABS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SENSORS AND SURFACE AREAS WERE TAKEN OUT AND CLEANED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER AND BEGAN TO OCCUR EVERY TIME THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIR. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ALSO GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,500.

NHTSA ODI #10334947

64,107 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CORRECTION 03 1500HD SILVERADO 64,000 MILES, LEFT REAR METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND ALL 4 METAL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. FAILED WHILE PULLING MY BOAT FROM DRIVEWAY FORTUNATELY AT LOW SPEED AND FLAT TERRAIN, ABLE TO STOP WITH PARKING BRAKE. THERE IS NO WAY THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTED TO THE FAILURE POINT CONSIDERING THE VE…

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CORRECTION 03 1500HD SILVERADO 64,000 MILES, LEFT REAR METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND ALL 4 METAL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. FAILED WHILE PULLING MY BOAT FROM DRIVEWAY FORTUNATELY AT LOW SPEED AND FLAT TERRAIN, ABLE TO STOP WITH PARKING BRAKE. THERE IS NO WAY THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTED TO THE FAILURE POINT CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT 5 YEARS IN PA AND 2 IN NC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334178

72,000 miles · May 27, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

03 1500HD SILVERADO APPROX 72K MILES, LEFT REAR METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND ALL 4 METAL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. FAILED WHILE PULLING MY BOAT FROM DRIVEWAY FORTUNATELY AT LOW SPEED AND FLAT TERRAIN, ABLE TO STOP WITH PARKING BRAKE. THERE IS NO WAY THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTED TO THE FAILURE POINT CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE HAS…

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03 1500HD SILVERADO APPROX 72K MILES, LEFT REAR METAL BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND ALL 4 METAL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED. FAILED WHILE PULLING MY BOAT FROM DRIVEWAY FORTUNATELY AT LOW SPEED AND FLAT TERRAIN, ABLE TO STOP WITH PARKING BRAKE. THERE IS NO WAY THESE LINES SHOULD BE RUSTED TO THE FAILURE POINT CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE HAS SPENT 5 YEARS IN PA AND 2 IN NC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332596

137,700 miles · May 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 1500HD CREW CAB. ON 5-21-2010 I FOUND THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I GOT IN TO BACK DOWN A BOAT RAMP TO LOAD MY BOAT. I FOUND THAT TWO METAL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED INTO. THE RUST WAS UNDER A PLASTIC CLAMP THAT HELD THE BRAKE LINES IN PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON ON THIS TRUCK M…

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 1500HD CREW CAB. ON 5-21-2010 I FOUND THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I GOT IN TO BACK DOWN A BOAT RAMP TO LOAD MY BOAT. I FOUND THAT TWO METAL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED INTO. THE RUST WAS UNDER A PLASTIC CLAMP THAT HELD THE BRAKE LINES IN PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON ON THIS TRUCK MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331876

37,500 miles · May 10, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WE HAVE HAD TO DO EXTENSIVE WORK TO MAINTAIN THE BRAKES IN OUR CHEVY SILVERADO IN SAFE WORKING CONDITION. THEY FAILED SUDDENLY, TWICE, MAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND. COSTS FOR REPAIRS WERE SIGNIFICANT, BUT THANKFULLY NO INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329544

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.