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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
130,000 miles · Jan 12, 2009
Power Train

NOTICED TRANSMISSION LEAKING, IDENTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD CRACKED IN THE SLOTS THAT HOLD THE PUMP. IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ON DURAMAX TRANS MISSIONS, AND IDENTIFIED AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT WAS MADE TO PREVENT FURTHER CRACKS FROM OCCURRING. IT SEEMS THAT THE HOUSING IS MADE OF MAGNESIUM AND IS NON SIMILAR M…

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NOTICED TRANSMISSION LEAKING, IDENTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD CRACKED IN THE SLOTS THAT HOLD THE PUMP. IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ON DURAMAX TRANS MISSIONS, AND IDENTIFIED AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT WAS MADE TO PREVENT FURTHER CRACKS FROM OCCURRING. IT SEEMS THAT THE HOUSING IS MADE OF MAGNESIUM AND IS NON SIMILAR METALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254792

65,000 miles · Dec 9, 2008
Service Brakes, Electric

MY ABS BRAKES ARE FAILING WITH 65,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. MY MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A RECALL. I CHECKED WITH MY DEALER WHICH TOLD ME IT'S ONLY ON 1/2 TON TRUCKS, MINE IS A 3'4 TON. WITH THIS BEING SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD, WHY ISN'T IT COVER ON ALL THE TRUCKS IF THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251162

75,680 miles · Dec 7, 2008
Power Train

20030 CHEVY 2500 HD TRANSFER CASE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A HOLE IN TOP OF CASE. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS WORN FROM INSIDE OUT. THEY SAY THEY HAVE HEARD OF THAT AND GM DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE TRUCK IS TO OLD. I HAVE 75,680 MILES ON TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250999

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2008
Electrical System

2003 CHEVY 2500HD SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249407

94,000 miles · Nov 19, 2008
Electrical SystemFire

DROVE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FAN BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING, LOCATED FUSE FOR BLOWER, PULLED AND VERIFIED FUSE IS OK. PUT FUSE BACK IN CHECKED BLOWER AND FAN WAS WORKING. THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX.10 MIN AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH (PASS. SIDE). HE TURNED AROUND, CAME HOME AND WE USE…

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DROVE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FAN BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING, LOCATED FUSE FOR BLOWER, PULLED AND VERIFIED FUSE IS OK. PUT FUSE BACK IN CHECKED BLOWER AND FAN WAS WORKING. THE NEXT DAY MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX.10 MIN AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH (PASS. SIDE). HE TURNED AROUND, CAME HOME AND WE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE UNDER THE GLOVE BOX AND ALSO COVERED BY A PLASTIC COVERING NOT QUICKLY ABLE TO BE REMOVED. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERIES AND REMOVED THE COVER EXPOSING THE WIRING. WE CAN SEE THE WIRING AND RELAY THAT HAVE MELTED. CALLED GM (11/3, 9 - 10 BUS. DAYS TO RESPOND), THE VEHICLE IS OVER WARRANTY COVERAGE, BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THAT A 5YR VEHICLE SHOULD JUST CATCH ON FIRE. GM RESPONDED WITH A DENIAL BECAUSE OF MA LAWS BUT I LIVE IN ME SO THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT AGAIN WITH THE CS REP THAT HANDLES ME. MEANWHILE I DO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TAILLIGHT BURNING HOUSING AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. SOCKET LOOKS BURNT, LIGHT BULB IS FINE BUT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY WORK. HAVE ALSO HAD THE SPEEDO ISSUE - GM FIXED, REPLACED FRONT HUBS MY COST, & REPLACED GLOW PLUGS. NOW TRYING TO DETERMINE IF I'M HAVING SAME TRANNY ISSUES OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. SO FAR NOT SO IMPRESSED. HAVE REPORTED FIRE ISSUE TO MY INSURANCE CO. TO DOCUMENT PROBLEM. UNTIL TRUCK IS PLUGGED IN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE EXTENT OF DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249328

45,000 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON - SRS SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONAL.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10247587

119,725 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Tires

TIRE BELT FAILURE, WITH TREAD SEPARATION . I PURCHASED A MATCHED SET OF FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER ATR M&S LT265/75R16 TIRES BRAND NEW. THEY HAVE BEEN REGULARLY CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE AND BALANCED AN ROTATED. ON JUNE 28,2008, 26 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND WITH ABOUT 24000 MILES ON THEM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FAILED . I REPLACED TIRE W…

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TIRE BELT FAILURE, WITH TREAD SEPARATION . I PURCHASED A MATCHED SET OF FOUR COOPER DISCOVERER ATR M&S LT265/75R16 TIRES BRAND NEW. THEY HAVE BEEN REGULARLY CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE AND BALANCED AN ROTATED. ON JUNE 28,2008, 26 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND WITH ABOUT 24000 MILES ON THEM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE FAILED . I REPLACED TIRE WITH SPARE. ON 10/10/08 WITH ABOUT 27000 MILES ON IT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. WITH 2 OF 4 TIRES COMING APART IN TIS MANNER, I REMOVED THE REMAINING TIRES AS I FEEL THERE MUST BE A DEFECT. THEY ARE UNSAFE AND I HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH NEW FIRESTONE TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246356

9,000 miles · Oct 3, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK. BRAKE ROTORS ROTTED AND RUSTED AND REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS OLD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT 5 YEARS OLD AND 13,000 MILES ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND FAILED ALMOST LEADING TO A CRASH. BOTH REPAIRS VERY COSTLY. TRUCK IS A HUNK OF JUNK, I WANT TO SELL IT BUT FEEL BAD STICKING THE NEXT GUY WIT…

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2003 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK. BRAKE ROTORS ROTTED AND RUSTED AND REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS OLD. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT 5 YEARS OLD AND 13,000 MILES ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND FAILED ALMOST LEADING TO A CRASH. BOTH REPAIRS VERY COSTLY. TRUCK IS A HUNK OF JUNK, I WANT TO SELL IT BUT FEEL BAD STICKING THE NEXT GUY WITH THIS JUNK. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244324

91,000 miles · Sep 25, 2008
Fuel System, Diesel

2003 CHEVY 2500 HD TRUCK: INJECTOR FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE; GM IS DECLINING THE WARRANTY ALTHOUGH IT IS UNDER THE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243428

40,000 miles · Aug 20, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER READING WAY OFF BOUNCES UP AND DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239102

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.