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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2022
Engine And Engine Cooling

In the middle of the taxiway, while I was traveling my truck turned off while it was running and did not turn on again, putting my safety at risk by being in the middle of the taxiway, after several minutes the truck was able to be removed from the road, then I was able to investigate that I am not the only one that the same thi…

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In the middle of the taxiway, while I was traveling my truck turned off while it was running and did not turn on again, putting my safety at risk by being in the middle of the taxiway, after several minutes the truck was able to be removed from the road, then I was able to investigate that I am not the only one that the same thing has happened to him, there is no Safety Recall in this regard, the GM fabric is aware of these cases but only wrote a TSB, it was diagnosed with the scanner and it gave code U1800, before the event there were no lights warning but after the event there is a check engine light on.

NHTSA ODI #11460336

178,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

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

NHTSA ODI #10933894

150,000 miles · May 9, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN OFF IN BLOCK CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS COMPUTER GETTING MIXED SIGNALS, O2 SENSOR AND WILL CAUSE MOTOR TO GO BAD IN TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587505

99,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2003 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A COMMON AND RECURRENT PROBLEM. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK, AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. A FEW MINUTES OF WEB SEARCHING ON THIS TOPIC PRODUCED A NUMBER OF RESULTS AND MY CONCLUSION IS THE ISSUE IS COMMON. THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATE…

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MY 2003 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCK HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A COMMON AND RECURRENT PROBLEM. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK, AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR, THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. A FEW MINUTES OF WEB SEARCHING ON THIS TOPIC PRODUCED A NUMBER OF RESULTS AND MY CONCLUSION IS THE ISSUE IS COMMON. THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE SUCCESS RATE FOR THE REPAIR IS NOT GOOD, WITH MANY REPAIRED VEHICLES HAVING SUBSEQUENT BOLT FAILURES. MY VEHICLE IS IN AN AUTHORIZED CHEVY SERVICE GARAGE HAVING THE BOLTS REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS FOR $486, IF CYLINDER HEAD DID NOT NEED TO BE REMOVED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN BROKE A TAP OFF IN THE REAR MOST BOLT LOCATION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAPPENED BEFORE HEAD REMOVAL OR AFTER. IT BECAME NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE CYLINDER HEAD AND WAS REQUOTED AT $1600. A CALL WAS MADE TO GM 3-6-12. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE FORE THEY COULD BE OF NO ASSISTANCE IN THE MATTER. I AM CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE WARRANTY TERMS. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE SCALE OF THIS ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE COST TO THE OWNERS. THE ISSUE CAN CAUSE EMISSIONS PROBLEMS DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE AND FURTHER EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450482

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS VEHICLE FAILED STATE SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES AND LEAKING EXHAUST AROUND HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448351

72,986 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEADS OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE BREAKING OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439713

110,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD A EXHAUST LEAK THAT I FINALLY PINPOINTED TO BE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW BY ME AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY EXHAUST WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR DONE. APPARENTLY THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM, WITH THESE BOLTS. THIS I UNDERSTAND TO BE AN E…

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I HAVE HAD A EXHAUST LEAK THAT I FINALLY PINPOINTED TO BE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW BY ME AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY EXHAUST WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR DONE. APPARENTLY THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM, WITH THESE BOLTS. THIS I UNDERSTAND TO BE AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLTS, WHY WONT THEY MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428267

50,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD W/ 8.1L ENGINE. WITH 59,000 MILES. I NOTICED A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TOOK INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR SOME OTHER SERVICE AND HAD THEM CHECK THIS NOISE ALSO. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WARPED RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME ENGINE IN THERE MOTO…

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2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD W/ 8.1L ENGINE. WITH 59,000 MILES. I NOTICED A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I TOOK INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR SOME OTHER SERVICE AND HAD THEM CHECK THIS NOISE ALSO. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WARPED RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME ENGINE IN THERE MOTORHOMES THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392534

2,000 miles · Jan 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE FAILURE BECAME FREQUENT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THE FAILURE BECAME FREQUENT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 07V521000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; THEY AGREED TO CALL HIM AT A LATER DATE TO INFORM HIM IF THEY WERE GOING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10377036

130,000 miles · Dec 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 2500 SILVERADO WITH THE 6 LITER V8. 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I FOUND A BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 130,000 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE CHANGING OIL I FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN BOLT ON …

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 2500 SILVERADO WITH THE 6 LITER V8. 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I FOUND A BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 130,000 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHILE CHANGING OIL I FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS YEAR WHILE CHANGING PLUGS I FOUND ANOTHER BROKEN BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO GET SOME TIPS ON FIXING THE PROBLEM WHEN I CAME ACROSS A UTUBE VIDEO BY CARQUESTIONS AND FOUND OUT THIS IS NOT JUST BAD LUCK ON MY PART IT IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY GM. THIS IS NOT AN EASY FIX AND TO GET IT DONE IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY NOW BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IT HAS CREATED WITH THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS WAS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACTIONS OF MINE. I HAVE DONE THE MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN THIS VEHICLE. GM NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369949

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.