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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
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2018
Air Bags

AIR BAD SERVICE LIGHT IS GOING ON. PLUGGED IN COMPUTER AND IT STATED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR IS FAULTY. AFTER CHECKING BOTH SENSORS NOTHING IS WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #11111149

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TAILGATES CABLES NEEDS TO BE REPLACE IT....

NHTSA ODI #11091719

72,000 miles · Apr 16, 2018
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL OF ALL GAUGES INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GEAR SELECTION ' GAUGES CAN QUIT WORKING WITH NO WARNING , LEAVING THE DRIVER UNAWARE OF SPEED OR DISTANCE TRAVELED. ALSO NOT KNOWING WHAT POSITION THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN . ( PARK, NEUTRAL , DRIVE ETC. ) COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT AWAY ON IT OWN WITH NO O…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL OF ALL GAUGES INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER AND GEAR SELECTION ' GAUGES CAN QUIT WORKING WITH NO WARNING , LEAVING THE DRIVER UNAWARE OF SPEED OR DISTANCE TRAVELED. ALSO NOT KNOWING WHAT POSITION THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN . ( PARK, NEUTRAL , DRIVE ETC. ) COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT AWAY ON IT OWN WITH NO ONE BEHIND THE WHEEL WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN . CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT , ANY PLACE !

NHTSA ODI #11088494

130,000 miles · Mar 21, 2018
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT SIGNAL IT TURNED YELLOW. KNOWING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE IT TURNED RED I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP. WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES EVERYTHING FELT NORMAL WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE PEDAL UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT SIGNAL IT TURNED YELLOW. KNOWING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE IT TURNED RED I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP. WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES EVERYTHING FELT NORMAL WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE PEDAL UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS RESISTANCE OR PRESSURE AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD LITTLE TO NO BRAKES. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I THEN PULLED OVER AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. CORROSION THAT WAS CAUSED BY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT CANT SUSTAIN THE ELEMENTS IT'S USED IN. I NOW SEE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM HASN'T INFORMED ITS OWNERS OR RECALLED. SHAME ON THEM. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON AN ISSUE SUCH AS BRAKE FAILURE. THEY GOT LUCKY IN MY CASE.

NHTSA ODI #11080789

133,250 miles · Feb 10, 2018
Service Brakes

THE BRAKE LINE KEEP RUSTING OUT ON THESE VEHICLE AND THAT IS VERY DANGOURES TO ME AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE RODE

NHTSA ODI #11072091

160,000 miles · Dec 13, 2017
Engine

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BREAKING ON THE 6.0 ENGINE. I THINK GM SHOULD DO THIS REPAIR SINCE I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND THIS IS VERY COMMON. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I HAVE PUT UP WITH THIS AS IT STARTED AS A SMALL LEAK BUT IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #11054573

334,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Electrical System

THE ISSUE I'M REPORTING TOOK PLACE IN MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD VIN: [XXX] BUT THE VEHICLE ITSELF WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A EVERSTART MAXX BATTERY SERIAL# JCH1600480782 MANUFACTURED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS INC, SOLD BY WALMART. I NOTICED A PROBLEM ON 7/25/2017 AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN NEED…

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THE ISSUE I'M REPORTING TOOK PLACE IN MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD VIN: [XXX] BUT THE VEHICLE ITSELF WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A EVERSTART MAXX BATTERY SERIAL# JCH1600480782 MANUFACTURED BY JOHNSON CONTROLS INC, SOLD BY WALMART. I NOTICED A PROBLEM ON 7/25/2017 AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN NEEDING TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TO CLEAN INSECTS OFF TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY. WHEN I USED THE CONTROL TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER NOTHING HAPPENED. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE WASHER FLUID BUT IT WAS ALREADY HALF FULL. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND NOTICED LEAKING WASHER FLUID. I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE SO I INVESTIGATED IT. TO GET TO THE WASHER BOTTLE THE BATTERY MUST BE REMOVED AND WHEN REMOVED IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID EVERYWHERE. SOME ACID DID GET ON MY CLOTHING AND ATE THROUGH IT BUT THANKFULLY NONE MADE CONTACT WITH MY SKIN. THE BATTERY SITS ABOVE THE WASHER BOTTLE, PUMP, LINES, AND BATTERY TRAY - ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS WERE DESTROYED BY LEAKING ACID. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS INC, THE MAKER OF THE BATTERY AND THEY SEEM DISINTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE SAVED ALL DAMAGED PARTS, RECEIPTS, AND CORRESPONDENCE SO FAR. IN THE FOLLOWING PICTURES YOU WILL SEE THE WHITE CORROSION FROM THE ACID LEAK AND THE PARTS THAT WERE DESTROYED LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING AND REDUCING VISIBILITY. I'LL ALSO INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE SHIRT THAT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ACID WHEN LIFTING THE BATTERY OUT AND THE HOLES IT ATE THROUGH THE FABRIC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11021654

109,831 miles · Aug 14, 2017
SteeringSuspensionWheels

4 RUGGED TERRAIN T/A LT265/75R-16 PURCHASED AT ODOMETER 91681. TIRES ROTATED AT 100955. FOLLOWING HAPPENED WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. ON 8/19/2015, ODOMETER 109831, VEHICLE VIBRATING, FOUND BUBBLE (TREAD SEPARATION) ON LEFT REAR TIRE. TIRE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 8/4/2017, ODOMETER 121840, VEHICLE VIBRATING, FOUND BUBBLE (TR…

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4 RUGGED TERRAIN T/A LT265/75R-16 PURCHASED AT ODOMETER 91681. TIRES ROTATED AT 100955. FOLLOWING HAPPENED WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. ON 8/19/2015, ODOMETER 109831, VEHICLE VIBRATING, FOUND BUBBLE (TREAD SEPARATION) ON LEFT REAR TIRE. TIRE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 8/4/2017, ODOMETER 121840, VEHICLE VIBRATING, FOUND BUBBLE (TREAD SEPARATION) ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. HAVE NOT TAKEN TIRE TO DEALER YET. FRONT TIRES SEEM TO BE "SINGING" WITH A "RHYTHM" (BEST I CAN EXPLAIN). I'M HAVING ALL CHECKED OUT TODAY. I DON'T TRUST THESE TIRES ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #11015039

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2017
Structure

NOT MY VEH. NEVER HAS BEEN, TOLD DEALER 3 TIMES, STILL GETTING NOTICES.

NHTSA ODI #10995531

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2017
Electrical System

GAUGE CLUSTER MALFUNCTION REDUCED ENGINE POWER

NHTSA ODI #10981419

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.