IllustrationUNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD 6.0L GAS ENGINE. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 2500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
6225–50K
8850–75K
8375–100K
105100–150K
47150K+
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
12 reportsCONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 2003 SILVERADO. *TS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT, THE REVERSE GEAR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS LOOSE. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE FRONT SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORN AND LEAKING, AS WELL AS…
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CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 2003 SILVERADO. *TS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT, THE REVERSE GEAR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS LOOSE. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE FRONT SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORN AND LEAKING, AS WELL AS THE LOWER HOSE. THE WATER PUMP GASKET AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE A/C WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT AIR FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. THE A/C HEATER MODE DOOR ACTUATOR WAS WORN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. THE PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS WARPED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK, DUE TO A PIN HOLE LOCATED IN THE SIDEWALL. THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE TAIL GATE SUPPORT CABLES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE SECOND ROW SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
1EA04012 · 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.