BRAKE LINES ROTED OUT TOTAL SYSTEM FAILED NO BRAKES GOT TO STOP ON E BRAKE CLAMPED LINE ADDED FLUID TO GET HOME CHANGED ALL LINES. *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
449 reportsI WAS RIVING DOWN THE A ROAD IN GEORGIA. TRAFFIC LIGHT AT BOTTOM OF HILL CHANGED (RIGHT AT THAT POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION), I HIT BRAKES PRETTY HARD TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE DIDN'T EVEN SLOW ONE BIT. IT WAS TOO FAST TO HIT PARKING BRAKE, WENT RIGHT THROUGH INTERSECTION SWERVING WILDLY T…
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I WAS RIVING DOWN THE A ROAD IN GEORGIA. TRAFFIC LIGHT AT BOTTOM OF HILL CHANGED (RIGHT AT THAT POINT WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION), I HIT BRAKES PRETTY HARD TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, VEHICLE DIDN'T EVEN SLOW ONE BIT. IT WAS TOO FAST TO HIT PARKING BRAKE, WENT RIGHT THROUGH INTERSECTION SWERVING WILDLY TO MISS TWO OTHER VEHICLES. SO GLAD I WASN'T TOWING MY 8000 POUND BOAT OR I WOULD HAVE EITHER KILLED PEOPLE OR DRIVEN OFF A CLIFF. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR ANY LEAK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. WHEN I GOT IT TOWED HOME, I DISCOVERED THAT A BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM JUNCTION BOX UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BURST. IT HAD SOME RUST ON IT, BUT EVERY BRAKE LINE ON EVERY CAR DOES. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE BURST. THE PROPORTIONING VALVE DID NOT DIVIDE THE BRAKE PRESSURE TO OTHER WHEELS, THE PEDAL SIMPLY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO STOPPING ACTION WHATSOEVER. MAYBE IF I WAS GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WOULD HAVE WORKED DIFFERENTLY, BUT HITTING THEM HARD, IT DID NOTHING. SUCCESSIVE PUMPS WERE EQUALLY USELESS. I JUST PURCHASED $450 WORTH OF BRAKE LINES AND TUBING AND I WILL FIND SOMEONE TO REPLACE THEM AND BLEED THE BRAKES. I READ ONLINE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOR YEARS ON THIS. I COULD HAVE KILLED 10 PEOPLE. WHY IS THERE NOT AT LEAST A NOTICE TO OWNERS TELLING THEM OF THIS PROBLEM. I WOULDN'T RISK LIVES OVER $1000, I WOULD HAVE HAD IT FIXED. PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN CONTACT SOMEONE BEYOND THIS COMPLAINT. OWNERS KNOWING ABOUT THIS WOULD SAVE LIVES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING T 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING T 30 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES HOWEVER, THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,776.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES. CAUSE CORROSIVE REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I ALMOST CRASHED AND COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. HOW MANY P…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NO BRAKES. CAUSE CORROSIVE REAR BRAKE LINE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. I ALMOST CRASHED AND COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE GM WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO?!! *TR
THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THREW WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE FOR DRIVING.THE FUEL LINES ARE GOING TO GO NEXT AFTER INSPECTION ALL THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ARE BAD. *TR
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO ALMOST 2 OUT OF 10 ON THE PRESSURE GAUGE. I STOPPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND LET THE ENGINE COOL FOR 20 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND COLOR. IT WAS OK IN BOTH RESPECTS. AFTER ANOTHER 30 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED HOME. I WATCHED THE PRESSURE…
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AT FREEWAY SPEEDS I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO ALMOST 2 OUT OF 10 ON THE PRESSURE GAUGE. I STOPPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND LET THE ENGINE COOL FOR 20 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND COLOR. IT WAS OK IN BOTH RESPECTS. AFTER ANOTHER 30 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED HOME. I WATCHED THE PRESSURE GAGE FOR ANOTHER HOUR AND SAW THE PRESSURE READING CONTINUE TO FALL TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE CHEVY DEALER IN EL CENTRO, CA 92243 FOR THEIR ANALYSIS. THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY POOR OIL AND NEEDED CHANGING. I LET THEM SERVICE THE TRUCK AS THEY WISHED. THEY ALSO SCANNED (SWEPT) THE GAUGES AND CHANGED THE OIL AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THE NEXT DAY IT DID THE SAME THING. I DID NOT RETURN TO THE DEALER AS I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR AN ARGUMENT. *TR
HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, NO WARNING TILL SLOWING DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF BUSY ROAD. APX. 100 YARDS BEFORE STOP LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WAS SOFT,PUMPED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR! I QUICKLY PUMPED BRAKES AND CAME TO STOP IN THE INTERSECTION NOT 2 SECONDS AFTER MOTORCYCLE WITH PASSENGER PASSED IN FRONT OF ME!…
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HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, NO WARNING TILL SLOWING DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF BUSY ROAD. APX. 100 YARDS BEFORE STOP LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WAS SOFT,PUMPED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR! I QUICKLY PUMPED BRAKES AND CAME TO STOP IN THE INTERSECTION NOT 2 SECONDS AFTER MOTORCYCLE WITH PASSENGER PASSED IN FRONT OF ME! NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT EVER ALERTED, FOUND STEEL BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND RUPTURED. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 65000 MILES ON IT, FOUND ANOTHER LINE IS VERY RUSTED IN SAME PLACE AS IT CROSSES OVER FRAME. AFTER RESEARCH ON REPAIRS, FOUND THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS FROM 1999 TO 2003. THIS ONE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL,AS MOTORCYCLE WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 45 MPH. THESE TRUCKS ARE ALL COMING TO THE AGE OF FAILURE. THANK GOD, I WAS NOT PULLING MY BOAT THAT WEIGHS 6700 LBS AS THIS TRUCK CAN NO LONGER BE TRUSTED. I WILL BE CHECKING INTO REPAIRS,AND IT WILL BE SOLD ! *TR
TRUCK WAS PARKED AT HOME ON A HILL. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACKUP WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A TREE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL. BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. I HAD TO SHUT …
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TRUCK WAS PARKED AT HOME ON A HILL. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND STARTED TO BACKUP WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO GO INTO A TREE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE QUARTER PANEL. BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. I HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND NOW CALLING A TOW TRUCK. *TR
WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT TO LEAVE WORK AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BEING A CHEVY TRUCK AND KNOWING THAT THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT, I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK UNDERNEATH AND SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK, ALONG THE DRIVER SID…
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WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT TO LEAVE WORK AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BEING A CHEVY TRUCK AND KNOWING THAT THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT, I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK UNDERNEATH AND SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK, ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. HAD RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES REPLACED BY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR $605.60. I ONLY DROVE THE TRUCK THIS DAY TO PICK UP ITEMS FROM A HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE. NORMALLY THIS TRUCK IS ONLY USED BY MY WIFE TO PULL A HORSE TRAILER. OTHER THAN THAT IT SITS IN OUR GARAGE OUT OF THE WEATHER. I AM SO GLAD THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE AT A STOP AS OPPOSED TO HER WHILE DRIVING ON THE WINDING NORTHERN KENTUCKY ROADS PULLING A TRAILER LOADED WITH HORSES! *JS
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.
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