← New search

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado 2500 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

409 reports with mileage · 40 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2023
Air Bags

When starting vehicle , after initial dash lights times out, I now get an AIRBAG 9malfunction light). Tried resetting, did not work. Now, every time I start the engine, the comes on and stays on.

NHTSA ODI #11529895

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2018
Air Bags

AIR BAD SERVICE LIGHT IS GOING ON. PLUGGED IN COMPUTER AND IT STATED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR IS FAULTY. AFTER CHECKING BOTH SENSORS NOTHING IS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #11111149

95,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE ACTING ERRATICALLY, SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 110 MPH AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WOULD READ 0- 1000 RPM AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HAD TO SEND CLUSTER FOR REPAIR. MAIN GROUNDING STRAP WAS BROKEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND REPLACED AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER. AIR BAG SERVICE LIGH…

Read full complaint

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE ACTING ERRATICALLY, SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 110 MPH AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WOULD READ 0- 1000 RPM AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HAD TO SEND CLUSTER FOR REPAIR. MAIN GROUNDING STRAP WAS BROKEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND REPLACED AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER. AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED.

NHTSA ODI #10906734

196,000 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Air BagsEngineSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NERVE PAIN IN THE BACK AND LEGS FROM THE I…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NERVE PAIN IN THE BACK AND LEGS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

NHTSA ODI #10837778

100,000 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED LUM…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BRIDGE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED LUMBAR SPINE INJURIES, FRACTURED RIBS, AND AN INJURED LUNG. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE AND SCALP AND METAL FRAGMENTS WERE PRESENT ON THE FACE AND IN THE SCALP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10745070

173,776 miles · Aug 7, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING T 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING T 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,776.

NHTSA ODI #10620702

139,000 miles · Aug 27, 2012
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAGS WAS UNKNOWN.…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAGS WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10472651

58,000 miles · Nov 1, 2011
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RETAIN ITS PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT ALSO S…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO FAILED TO RETAIN ITS PASSENGER. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INVOLVED SUFFERED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433816

70,247 miles · May 14, 2009
Air Bags

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO PICKUP WITH 71937 MILES TODAY JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE DIC DISPLAY IT PUT A MESSAGE OUT OF SERVICE AIR BAGS AND RED LIGHT IS ON DASH ALSO. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND OH HE SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO PICKUP WITH 71937 MILES TODAY JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON THE DIC DISPLAY IT PUT A MESSAGE OUT OF SERVICE AIR BAGS AND RED LIGHT IS ON DASH ALSO. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND OH HE SAID THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. ALL THE FORUMS I HAVE READ SO FAR SAY THAT THE PROBLEM AFTER THEY HAVE IT REPAIRED STILL COMES BACK. IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM ? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268767

162,462 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Air BagsElectrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE SMOKE AND POWDER THAT EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAG. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS AND NOTICED THAT ALL ELECTRICITY IN T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY, ALONG WITH THE SMOKE AND POWDER THAT EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAG. HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS AND NOTICED THAT ALL ELECTRICITY IN THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. HE COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS OR ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 162,462.

NHTSA ODI #10258036

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

1

EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres

Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.