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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

What owners actually said

449 reports
84,498 miles · Oct 2, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THREE OF THE BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MODULATOR VALVE WOULD ALSO REQUIRE REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,498 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,550.

NHTSA ODI #10546508

103,552 miles · Sep 30, 2013
Service Brakes

EXITING HIGHWAY AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. MADE IT HOME SLOWLY. CHECKED TODAY AND FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID ON THE GROUND. FOUND BRAKE LINE SPLIT AND OTHERS APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO FOLLOW. FIRST TIME EVER HAVING RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546322

150,000 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Service Brakes

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH CHIME AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON DASH DISPLAY. CHEVY SERVICE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED RUPTURED CONNECTION FROM LINE TO BRAKE MODULATOR CAUSED BY CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES AT COST OF $1700. ORDINARY STEEL IN THIS APPLICATION IS A POOR MATERIALS CHOICE…

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BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH CHIME AND "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON DASH DISPLAY. CHEVY SERVICE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED RUPTURED CONNECTION FROM LINE TO BRAKE MODULATOR CAUSED BY CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES AT COST OF $1700. ORDINARY STEEL IN THIS APPLICATION IS A POOR MATERIALS CHOICE--STAINLESS STEEL WOULD HAVE LASTED THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM TOLD NEW LINES ARE RUBBER COATED FOR LONGER LIFE. ANTIQUE VEHICLES (OVER 25 YEARS OLD), ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THIS ISSUE, NOT A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545560

88,697 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT WOULD LOSE PEDAL PRESSURE QUICKLY. AFTER I ARRIVED AT HOME I INSPECTED MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS EMPTY. INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS COVERED ON TH…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT WOULD LOSE PEDAL PRESSURE QUICKLY. AFTER I ARRIVED AT HOME I INSPECTED MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS EMPTY. INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS COVERED ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY UNDER MY SEAT. THE BRAKE LINES APPEARED BOTH CORRODED AND RUSTED. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING EMERGENCY VEHICLES FOR 30 YEARS SO I WAS ABLE TO AVERT DISASTER AND MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544675

73,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Service Brakes

DRIVING ALONG AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PULLED OVER AND BRAKE FLUID GUSHING OUT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT! ALMOST EVERYONE OF THEM. NO RUST ON TRUCK. NO RUST ON UNDERBELLY, NO RUST ANYWHERE EXCEPT BRAKE LINES AND TRANSMISSION LINES. GARAGE KEPT AND FOR 6 OUT OF THE 10 YEARS, NOT DRIVE…

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DRIVING ALONG AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PULLED OVER AND BRAKE FLUID GUSHING OUT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT! ALMOST EVERYONE OF THEM. NO RUST ON TRUCK. NO RUST ON UNDERBELLY, NO RUST ANYWHERE EXCEPT BRAKE LINES AND TRANSMISSION LINES. GARAGE KEPT AND FOR 6 OUT OF THE 10 YEARS, NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER. HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINES BUT HAVE NOT HAD THEM REPLACED YET. HAD TO REPLACE EVERY BRAKE LINE ON THE TRUCK. $1000 BILL. HAVE RECEIPT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544445

128,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013
Service Brakes

THE BRAKE LINE ON MY TRUCK CORRODED AND BLEW OUT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I NEEDED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543180

69,100 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Power Train

BEGAN HEARING LOW MOANING SOUND WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO DETERMINE CAUSE. FOUND TRANS FLUID LEAKING FROM ALLISON TRANS. TRANS. SHOP FOUND CRACKED EXTENSION HOUSING AND OLD METAL FRAGMENTS IN TRANS PAN. OLD METAL FRAGMENTS WERE CAKED INSIDE PAN INDICATING A LONG EXISTING PROBLEM AND NOT THE RESULT OF CUR…

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BEGAN HEARING LOW MOANING SOUND WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO DETERMINE CAUSE. FOUND TRANS FLUID LEAKING FROM ALLISON TRANS. TRANS. SHOP FOUND CRACKED EXTENSION HOUSING AND OLD METAL FRAGMENTS IN TRANS PAN. OLD METAL FRAGMENTS WERE CAKED INSIDE PAN INDICATING A LONG EXISTING PROBLEM AND NOT THE RESULT OF CURRENT CRACKED HOUSING. TRANS SHOP INFORMED ME THIS WAS A COMMON DEFECT IN THE CHEVY ALLISION TRANS, BUT WAS RARE IN VEHICLES WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE (69000) AND WELL MAINTAINED LIKE MY TRUCK. INFORMED GM OF PROBLEM. GM DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ALLISONS AND ARE REFUSING TO ASSIST IN RESOLVING ISSUE. CONTACTED ALLISON DIRECTLY AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANNY WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY THEM BUT IS MANUFACTURED BY GM AND THAT GM HAD MADE MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR DESIGN. THIS TRUCK ALSO EXPERIENCED $7000 WORTH OF FUEL INJECTOR ISSUES AT 50000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10542008

115,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
Service Brakes

I BACKED TRUCK UP TO DOCK TO LOAD BOAT ON IT AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. GETTING READY TO PULL AWAY I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THEN PUSHED ON BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN PULLED FORWARD TO SEE WHY I HAD NO BRAKES, ONLY TO FIND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR CHEVY AND GMC TRUCK…

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I BACKED TRUCK UP TO DOCK TO LOAD BOAT ON IT AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. GETTING READY TO PULL AWAY I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THEN PUSHED ON BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I THEN PULLED FORWARD TO SEE WHY I HAD NO BRAKES, ONLY TO FIND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR CHEVY AND GMC TRUCKS, JUST GLAD THAT NO ONE GOT HURT. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541839

33,500 miles · Sep 3, 2013
EngineService BrakesService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WE WERE TRAVELING EAST ON I-90 IN MASS. TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INVESTIGATION AFTER THE CRASH WE FOUND AT LEAST TWO BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINES THAT HAD BURST.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10538490

110,000 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Service Brakes

MY REAR STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST IN A PARKING LOT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE MAIN LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE ABS MODULE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS SO RUSTED IT BURST UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536677

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.