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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

Service Brakes complaints

127 reports
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115,000 miles · Jan 1, 2015
Service Brakes

IN APPROXIMATELY MAY OF 2014 I HOOKED MY 2003 SILVERADO UP TO MY CAMPER TO PULL IT. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JENNINGS CHEVROLET IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA FOR REPAIR WHICH COST MORE THAN $400…

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IN APPROXIMATELY MAY OF 2014 I HOOKED MY 2003 SILVERADO UP TO MY CAMPER TO PULL IT. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JENNINGS CHEVROLET IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA FOR REPAIR WHICH COST MORE THAN $400. THEN LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS USING THE TRUCK AND HE CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO A STORE TO BUY BRAKE FLUID. HE SAID THE TRUCK IS LEAKING FROM A REAR BRAKE LINE THIS TIME. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AGAIN. I'M HOPING THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS I'VE NEVER HAD THE BRAKE LINE FAIL ON THE SAME VEHICLE TWICE, EVEN A VEHICLE 12 YEARS OLD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669459

110,000 miles · Dec 28, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING HWY 19W TOWARD BURNSVILLE, N.C. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. I WAS WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF A GARAGE AND I SLOWLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO IT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND ADVISED THAT I HAVE THEM ALL REP…

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I WAS DRIVING HWY 19W TOWARD BURNSVILLE, N.C. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. I WAS WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF A GARAGE AND I SLOWLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO IT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND ADVISED THAT I HAVE THEM ALL REPLACED AS THEY HAD ALL RUSTED OUT. THE FUEL LINES RUSTED IN TWO IN 2013. THE CAB STARTED RUSTING IN 2008, AND NOW HAS HOLES FROM FRONT TO BACK INCLUDING BUMPERS FROM RUST. THE CAB MOUNTS HAVE ALSO RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668590

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

83,020 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Service Brakes

PUSHED BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND COULD CLEARLY SEE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND THAT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. AFTER FURTHER LOOK COULD SEE THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD MORE THAN ONE LEAK. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO FAIL. NO FLUID IN DRIV…

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PUSHED BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND COULD CLEARLY SEE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND THAT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. AFTER FURTHER LOOK COULD SEE THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD MORE THAN ONE LEAK. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO FAIL. NO FLUID IN DRIVEWAY OR LACK OF BRAKE PERFORMANCE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. GOOD THING WE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667015

166,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ODI #10659256

104,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD GOING 30 MPH WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I HIT THE BRAKES AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. BABIED IT HOME AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING IN THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE BACK BY THE FUEL TANK. WE LOOKED AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED WHICH IS WHAT CAUSE THE LINE TO BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655008

71,850 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Service Brakes

WHILE TOWING A 6000 LB. TRAILER, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT DOWN NEAR FLOOR. I THOUGHT TRAILER BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR HOME. NEXT MORNING I NOTICED LARGE POOL OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. I FOUND THAT BADLY RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON THE 2003 SILVERADO WERE LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652008

35,000 miles · Oct 18, 2014
Service Brakes

CORRODED BRAKE LINE FAILED. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. NO BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648580

175,000 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

AFTER LOANING MY DAUGHTER MY TRUCK WE MET AT A LOCATION TO EXCHANGE VEHICLES. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY PEDAL PRESSURE. I HAD MY TRUCK TAKEN TO MY RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND FOUND…

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AFTER LOANING MY DAUGHTER MY TRUCK WE MET AT A LOCATION TO EXCHANGE VEHICLES. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY PEDAL PRESSURE. I HAD MY TRUCK TAKEN TO MY RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR STEEL LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND CREATED A LOSS OF FLUID. IN MY OPINION THIS LINE RUSTING OUT IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE OLDER AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE OR FUEL LINES RUSTING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643579

88,695 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Service Brakes

WHILE BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO THE FLOOR. HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. LUCKILY, I WAS ON LEVEL GROUND. DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID ALONG THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUPTURED AND I HAD TO HAVE ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO EXTREME RUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641864

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.