IllustrationI PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW. 3 TIMES THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE LOWER WELD ON SEAT BACK FRAME.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 2500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
6225–50K
8850–75K
8375–100K
105100–150K
47150K+
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 reports5 OUT OF 8 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND 2 ON DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE 120K MILES ON VEHICLE.
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BREAKING CREATING A FIRE HAZARD FROM THE HOT EXHAUST REACHING THE WIRING HARNESS, IT IS ALSO CREATING FUMES IN MY CAB. FIRST NOTED A NOISE A WEEK AGO, FOUND IT TO BE A EXHAUST LEAK AND THE LEAK HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE. I AM UNABLE TO NOT DRIVE TO THE TRUCK DUE TO WORK.
ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED…
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ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST. REAR SECTION OF FRAME IS RUSTING ALONG WITH LINES ON DIESEL FUEL COOLER AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS NOT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. WE USE IT FOR TRIPS AND TO PULL OUR CAMPER. I HAVE TRIED TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON SALTY AND SLOPPY ROADS. THE PAINT ON OUTSIDE AND THE INTERIOR LOOKS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED ON HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND TOW.
BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE LEAKING AND DEVELOPING SMALL CRACKS IN THEM.
THE VEHICLE GOES INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE LOSES POWER TO ABOUT 20 MPH. IF DRIVING 70 MPH IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE SUDDEN REDUCED ENGINE POWER WILL CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEBODY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST FEW MONTHS. *TR
THE BRAKE LINE TO THE FRONT BRAKES BURST AND RESULTED IN NO BRAKES. IN 2013 THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BURST AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN EITHER CASE. I REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND I EXPECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE MY RESEARCH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOW…
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THE BRAKE LINE TO THE FRONT BRAKES BURST AND RESULTED IN NO BRAKES. IN 2013 THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BURST AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN EITHER CASE. I REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND I EXPECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE MY RESEARCH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT A VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IS TEN YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE ITS BRAKES FAIL COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES ALLOWED TO BE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE LINES MADE OF MATERIALS THAT WILL CERTAINLY FAIL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DRIVER, ESPECIALLY AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER HAS THEIR BRAKES FAIL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. YOU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES INVOLVED.
INVOLVING MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO C2500HD, VIN: [XXX]; WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THIS VEHICLE,ON A FLAT SURFACE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL. NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE...MINUTES EARLIER I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY. THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE…
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INVOLVING MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO C2500HD, VIN: [XXX]; WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THIS VEHICLE,ON A FLAT SURFACE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL. NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE...MINUTES EARLIER I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY. THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED DUE TO A FRACTURED ALUMINUM RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE ACTING ERRATICALLY, SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 110 MPH AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WOULD READ 0- 1000 RPM AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HAD TO SEND CLUSTER FOR REPAIR. MAIN GROUNDING STRAP WAS BROKEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND REPLACED AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER. AIR BAG SERVICE LIGH…
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THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WERE ACTING ERRATICALLY, SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 110 MPH AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TACHOMETER WOULD READ 0- 1000 RPM AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HAD TO SEND CLUSTER FOR REPAIR. MAIN GROUNDING STRAP WAS BROKEN DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND REPLACED AFTER BEING TOWED TO DEALER. AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED.
Official recalls
0No 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
1EA04012 · 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.