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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.

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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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123,173 miles · Dec 26, 2014
Fuel System, DieselLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTING AND THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,173.

NHTSA ODI #10668314

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

2003 CHEVY SILERADO TAILGATE POPS OPEN, HARD TO CLOSE AND HAS BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES. THIS IS AN ACCIENDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE CARGO CAN FALL OUT OF THE BED. I SPOKE WITH OTHERS AND THEY HAVE REPORTED THE SAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410381

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2007
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO BRAKE PROBLEM. CONTACT STATES BRAKES PULSATED IN REAR ROTORS. BRAKE WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS. *BF THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE USE OF ASBESTOS BRAKES HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED, BRAKE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE HAD BEEN REDUCED. THE DEALER WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT TH…

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2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO BRAKE PROBLEM. CONTACT STATES BRAKES PULSATED IN REAR ROTORS. BRAKE WERE HEAVILY CORRODED AND DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS. *BF THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE USE OF ASBESTOS BRAKES HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED, BRAKE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE HAD BEEN REDUCED. THE DEALER WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THE PAD MATERIAL FORMS DEPOSITS ON THE ROTORS CAUSING THE SURFACE TO BECOME LESS SMOOTH AND EVENTUALLY GIVING A PULSATING SENSATION LEADING TO POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE. ON JULY 20, 2007 THE CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE PULSATING ISSUE AGAIN, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NON-USE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THEIR FINDINGS, STATING THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THE CONSUMER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE OLD ROTORS AND SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE WORN TWICE AS HARD AS THE FRONT ROTORS THAT WERE ORIGINAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE PRODUCING THE MAJORITY OF STOPPING POWER ON THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW LATCH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10212790

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.