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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
122,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Service Brakes

WAS COMING TO A STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I DID GET THE TRUCK STOPPED. GO THE TRUCK HOME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID DROPPING FROM THE TRUCK. TOOK A LOOK AND IT WAS COMING FROM A BREAK LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RU…

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WAS COMING TO A STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I DID GET THE TRUCK STOPPED. GO THE TRUCK HOME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID DROPPING FROM THE TRUCK. TOOK A LOOK AND IT WAS COMING FROM A BREAK LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682053

62,000 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND MAKES THE ABS SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT COME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680670

82,244 miles · Jan 13, 2015
Service BrakesCrash

I WAS PLOWING SNOW, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A GARDEN SHED. NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHT. I PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND THE NEXT DAY FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I ADDED AN ENTIRE QUART OF FLUID, FO…

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I WAS PLOWING SNOW, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A GARDEN SHED. NO WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHT. I PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND THE NEXT DAY FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I ADDED AN ENTIRE QUART OF FLUID, FOUND A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE UNDER THE TRUCK (IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT LOCATION), STARTED THE TRUCK TO SEE IF ANY OF THE BRAKING WAS WORKING AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NO BRAKING WHATSOEVER, EVEN AFTER FILLING THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672119

160,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10671236

109,000 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Power Train

ON NOVEMBER 17, 2014, I WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A HIGHWAY WAITING TO PULL INTO BUSINESS PARKING LOT, WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PULL IN, MY TRUCK MOVED FORWARD AND THEN WOULD ONLY REV UP THE RPM'S, ALMOST GETTING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, I COASTED IN THE PARKING LOT, AS THE RPM'S WERE STILL UP, THE TRANSMISS…

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ON NOVEMBER 17, 2014, I WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A HIGHWAY WAITING TO PULL INTO BUSINESS PARKING LOT, WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PULL IN, MY TRUCK MOVED FORWARD AND THEN WOULD ONLY REV UP THE RPM'S, ALMOST GETTING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, I COASTED IN THE PARKING LOT, AS THE RPM'S WERE STILL UP, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE TRUCK MOVED FORWARD WITH A LOUD THUMP. LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED A PART ($900) AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON DECEMBER 27, 2014 WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND THE TRUCK JUST COASTED UNTIL IT ENGAGED CAUSING A LOUD THUMP. I CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGE WITH SERVICE WRITER. ON JANUARY 02, 2015, I WAS WITH 1/2 MILE OF MY HOUSE AND TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT, I WAS ABLE TO TURN AROUND AND DRIVE BACK TO THE HOUSE AT A VERY LOW SPEED KEEPING THE RPM'S LOW. TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR MY APPROVAL TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE WHICH HAS A PIN HOLE IN IT AND SOME OTHER PARTS FOR $3100. I REALIZE THAT PROBLEMS CAN HAPPEN WITH ANY MANUFACTURE, HOWEVER THIS GM ISSUE WITH A PINHOLE IN THE TRANSFER CASE THAT IS CAUSED BY AN INTERNAL PART THAT BREAKS AND DRIVERS LOSING POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. I FOUND MANY FORUMS AND SOLUTIONS ON THE INTERNET AND ONE ON NHTSA. AFTER MARKET PARTS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO REPLACE THE CHEAP PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSFER CASE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT RESEARCH THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO HAVING THE ISSUE. IN ADDITION, I CALLED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO GET AN ESTIMATE FOR THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACEMENT, I WAS TOLD THEY REPAIRED THREE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND TWO ARE IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVE TRAIN IS NOT SOMETHING TO IGNORE, FROM PERSONAL VEHICLES TO PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES, THIS POWER LOSS COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING MUCH LARGER THAN SOME ATF STAIN IN THE DRIVEWAY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10670468

185,000 miles · Jan 3, 2015
Service Brakes

ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AS I ATTEMPTED TO RELOCATE THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10669820

115,000 miles · Jan 1, 2015
Service Brakes

IN APPROXIMATELY MAY OF 2014 I HOOKED MY 2003 SILVERADO UP TO MY CAMPER TO PULL IT. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JENNINGS CHEVROLET IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA FOR REPAIR WHICH COST MORE THAN $400…

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IN APPROXIMATELY MAY OF 2014 I HOOKED MY 2003 SILVERADO UP TO MY CAMPER TO PULL IT. WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JENNINGS CHEVROLET IN CHAMBERSBURG, PA FOR REPAIR WHICH COST MORE THAN $400. THEN LAST NIGHT MY SON WAS USING THE TRUCK AND HE CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. HE HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO A STORE TO BUY BRAKE FLUID. HE SAID THE TRUCK IS LEAKING FROM A REAR BRAKE LINE THIS TIME. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AGAIN. I'M HOPING THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS I'VE NEVER HAD THE BRAKE LINE FAIL ON THE SAME VEHICLE TWICE, EVEN A VEHICLE 12 YEARS OLD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10669459

110,000 miles · Dec 28, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING HWY 19W TOWARD BURNSVILLE, N.C. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. I WAS WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF A GARAGE AND I SLOWLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO IT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND ADVISED THAT I HAVE THEM ALL REP…

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I WAS DRIVING HWY 19W TOWARD BURNSVILLE, N.C. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY SOFT. I RAN OFF THE ROAD AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. I WAS WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF A GARAGE AND I SLOWLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO IT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND ADVISED THAT I HAVE THEM ALL REPLACED AS THEY HAD ALL RUSTED OUT. THE FUEL LINES RUSTED IN TWO IN 2013. THE CAB STARTED RUSTING IN 2008, AND NOW HAS HOLES FROM FRONT TO BACK INCLUDING BUMPERS FROM RUST. THE CAB MOUNTS HAVE ALSO RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668590

123,173 miles · Dec 26, 2014
Fuel System, DieselLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTING AND THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS RUSTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,173.

NHTSA ODI #10668314

83,020 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Service Brakes

PUSHED BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND COULD CLEARLY SEE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND THAT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. AFTER FURTHER LOOK COULD SEE THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD MORE THAN ONE LEAK. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO FAIL. NO FLUID IN DRIV…

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PUSHED BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND COULD CLEARLY SEE FLUID ON THE GROUND AND THAT BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. AFTER FURTHER LOOK COULD SEE THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND HAD MORE THAN ONE LEAK. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION THAT BRAKES WERE ABOUT TO FAIL. NO FLUID IN DRIVEWAY OR LACK OF BRAKE PERFORMANCE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. GOOD THING WE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667015

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.