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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.

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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

Electrical System complaints

86 reports
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103,000 miles · Mar 22, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN I TURN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON, IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES IT TURNS BOTH TURN SIGNALS ON LIKE THE HAZARDS. IF I HAVE MY CRUISE SET AND USE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, IT SHUTS THE CRUISE OFF. TR

NHTSA ODI #10700962

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

133,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD AT THE SPEED AROUND 75+ MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AMONG OTHERS AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED OR HIGHER WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASES TO NO SPEED, AND A THIS WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH PANEL, THAT SAYS REDUCED SPEED AND ALL THESE 18 WHEELERS…

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I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD AT THE SPEED AROUND 75+ MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AMONG OTHERS AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED OR HIGHER WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASES TO NO SPEED, AND A THIS WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH PANEL, THAT SAYS REDUCED SPEED AND ALL THESE 18 WHEELERS ARE BEHIND ME AND AROUND ME. THE MORE I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD DO NOTHING BUT ALMOST COST MY WIFE A HEART ATTACK FROM THE BIG TRUCKS BLOWING THERE HORN AND FEARING THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF MY FAMILY. THEN A WEEK LATER THE CLUSTER STARTS ACTING ALL CRAZY WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OUT AND ON, AND NOW THEY AREN'T WORKING AT ALL. THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING THE SPEED ALONG WITH GAS GAUGES ETC... WHILE I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANYTHING OTHER THAN "CHEVY'S", TRUCKS AND CARS I HAVE SERIOUSLY BEEN CONSIDERING ANOTHER NAME & MAKE IN MY NEXT CHOICE OF PURCHASE.... SO A LOYAL FRIEND ADVISED ME TO SEND GM A E-MAIL EXPLAINING MY ISSUES... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639432

86,800 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

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

NHTSA ODI #10610865

145,000 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUST QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THE CLUSTER WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON GM; THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ON ME. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH GM OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PART. WHY DO THEY KEEP PRODUCING CRAP? UNTIL THE CLUSTER IS REPLACED, I HAVE NO IDEA OF ENG…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUST QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THE CLUSTER WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON GM; THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ON ME. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH GM OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PART. WHY DO THEY KEEP PRODUCING CRAP? UNTIL THE CLUSTER IS REPLACED, I HAVE NO IDEA OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY GPS, I'D HAVE NO IDEA OF MY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597515

131,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WHETHER ON A REGULAR STREET OR AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EITHER DIES, REDUCES DOWN TO IDLE SPEED OR IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THE REDUCED POWER SIGNAL COMES ON, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON REGULAR STREETS. WE …

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WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WHETHER ON A REGULAR STREET OR AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EITHER DIES, REDUCES DOWN TO IDLE SPEED OR IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THE REDUCED POWER SIGNAL COMES ON, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON REGULAR STREETS. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AT PENSKE CHEVROLET, AND ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 8/2013, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY AND THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US. SINCE 12/2013, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND NOW WE DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THE CHEVROLET COMPANY HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596908

143,416 miles · Mar 9, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM A 2 WEEK VACATION (30 MILES FROM HOME) SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON A CITY STREET IN WOODLAND, CA, THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO ENGINE, TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. IT WAS EVERYTHING I COULD DO TO MAKE THE TURN AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT THE TIME I WAS PULLING MY 2009 BIGHOR…

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WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM A 2 WEEK VACATION (30 MILES FROM HOME) SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON A CITY STREET IN WOODLAND, CA, THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO ENGINE, TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. IT WAS EVERYTHING I COULD DO TO MAKE THE TURN AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT THE TIME I WAS PULLING MY 2009 BIGHORN FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. IT WAS A SCARY TIME. I FINALLY STOPPED, LUCKY THERE WAS NO CARS PARKED ON THE RIGHT NEAR THE CURB. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THEN WE CONTINUED THE TRIP HOME TO WINTERS, CA. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO IMLER DIESEL IN SACRAMENTO TO CHECK THE ENGINE OUT. THEY REPLACED THE INJECTORS WHICH WE HAD AGREED TO DO PRIOR TO MAKING THE TWO WEEK TRIP. THE NEXT TRIP WAS TO BODEGA BAY ON JANUARY 14, 2014. WE TRAVELED ABOUT 100 MILES. AGAIN WE WERE PULLING OUR FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. SLOWING DOWN FROM 55 MPH TO 15 MPH, PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN DORAN BEACH PARK AT BODEGA BAY, THE TRUCK SHUT DOWN AGAIN.I CAME SO CLOSE TO HITTING A TREE. ONCOMING TRAFFIC STOPPED JUST IN TIME AS THE SPEED LIMIT AT 55 MPH SEEMED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING GIVING ME TIME TO RESTART AND MOVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. MY WIFE AND I WERE BOTH SHAKEN UP A BIT, BUT ALSO FEELING VERY LUCKY NOT HAVING A CRASH. WE CONTINUED HOME 4 DAYS LATER. WE PARKED THE TRUCK.THE MILEAGE WAS 143579 AT THE START OF THE TRIP AND 143819 AT END. I HAVE NOT USED THE TRUCK SINCE. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY TWICE, DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO RISK A THIRD TRY. LOOKING BACK, THE SHUTDOWN DID HAPPEN TWO OTHER TIMES BUT I WAS NOT PULLING THE FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE DATES. CHEVROLET LT 2500 HD 4X4 DIESEL 2003 TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568064

149,200 miles · Mar 7, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

A FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. HE WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH WHEN THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE NEEDLE SAID IT HAD HALF A TANK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RADIO LOCKED UP AND ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE DASH STARTED GOING CRAZY ALL THE EMBLEMS ON THE DASH LITE UP. WE PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE TRUCK. AS SOON AS WE WE…

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A FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. HE WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH WHEN THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE NEEDLE SAID IT HAD HALF A TANK. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RADIO LOCKED UP AND ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE DASH STARTED GOING CRAZY ALL THE EMBLEMS ON THE DASH LITE UP. WE PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE TRUCK. AS SOON AS WE WENT TO TURN BACK WE HAD JUST STARTED IT NOT EVEN 3 MINUTES LATER ALL OF THE GAUGES AND LIGHTS ON THE TRUCK IT STARTED FREAKING OUT AGAIN AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR AND WINDOW CONTROL WOULD NO LONGER WORK. EARLIER THAT DAY I HAD TAKEN IT IN A REPUTABLE SHOP TO GET THE TRUCK SMOGGED AND GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE TRUCK PASSED SMOG AND THEY SAID THE TRUCK HAD NO PROBLEMS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10567889

94,000 miles · Feb 23, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

STARTED THE TRUCK AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS NO BRAKE AND NO STEERING CONTROL. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALL FLUIDS WERE TOPPED OFF AS NORMAL AND I REGULARLY MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ISSUE IN THE DIESEL FORUM NUMEROUS DURAMAX OWNERS HAVE ENDURED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SOME E…

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STARTED THE TRUCK AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THERE WAS NO BRAKE AND NO STEERING CONTROL. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALL FLUIDS WERE TOPPED OFF AS NORMAL AND I REGULARLY MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ISSUE IN THE DIESEL FORUM NUMEROUS DURAMAX OWNERS HAVE ENDURED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SOME ENDING IN CRASHES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!! SIMULTANEOUS BRAKE AND STEERING FAILURE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WOW! I TRIED CHATTING WITH GM AND WAS DUMPED DURING THE CHAT. NO HELP THERE! I'LL TRY AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565489

68,420 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Electrical System

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY GAUGES FLUCTUATED,STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS SPEEDOMETER. CALLED GM THEY SAID IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY,COST APROX 600.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558032

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.