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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.

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

Visibility complaints

4 reports
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65,500 miles · Mar 11, 2016
Electrical SystemVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE USING THE FIRST THREE SETTINGS. THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN THE NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE SETTINGS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE USING THE FIRST THREE SETTINGS. THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN THE NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE SETTINGS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500.

NHTSA ODI #10846154

89,000 miles · Jan 6, 2010
VisibilityFire

WIRING ON HEATER BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATED AND MELTED WIRE CASING PUTTING SMOKE INTO THE CAB AND LOOKS LIKE POSSIBLE SMALL FIRE WHEN I PULLED THE COVER OFF TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. FUSES DID NOT MELT WHEN WIRES MELTED TOGETHER AND BURNT CASING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298473

23,000 miles · Nov 15, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. LAST FALL, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WOULD NOT PUMP FLUID AS WELL. AS OF LATE, THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. LAST FALL, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ONLY OPERATE AT HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WOULD NOT PUMP FLUID AS WELL. AS OF LATE, THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT NEEDED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED CONTROL FOR THE WASHER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE $500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ODI #10209052

54,385 miles · Jun 12, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10160513

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.