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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

Parking Brake complaints

5 reports
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75,000 miles · Mar 20, 2012
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2009 WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE AGENCY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE COMPLAINT, I HAD MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACE A SECTION OF BRAKE LINE BY THE ABS MODULE THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO EXTREME CORROSION. THIS PAST WEEK I RETURNED TO THE SAME…

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I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2009 WITH THE NHTSA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE AGENCY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE COMPLAINT, I HAD MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACE A SECTION OF BRAKE LINE BY THE ABS MODULE THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO EXTREME CORROSION. THIS PAST WEEK I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER TO HAVE THEM REPAIR ANOTHER SECTION THAT HAD ALSO FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT, DUE TO POSSIBLE LITIGATION THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE LINE AS THEY HAD IN THE PAST, BUT WOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRETY OF THE LINE FOR AN ESTIMATE OF $1200.00. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT FIGURE COULD GO HIGHER AS MORE WAS DISCOVERED. I CAN'T SEE PUTTING THIS KIND OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT MORE FAILURES ARE SURE TO FOLLOW EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 95,000 MILES ON IT NOW. GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY COULD CARE LESS AND THE CUSTOMER IS GOING TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THEIR MALFEASANCE AS USUAL. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10452458

130,000 miles · Feb 18, 2009
Electrical SystemParking BrakePower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DESIGNED WITH A DEFECT. AS A RESULT, THE PUMP IN THE TRANSFER CASE WORE A HOLE FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS ALLOWED THE OIL IN THE TRANSFER CASE TO PUMP OUT THE HOLE AND CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DESIGNED WITH A DEFECT. AS A RESULT, THE PUMP IN THE TRANSFER CASE WORE A HOLE FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS ALLOWED THE OIL IN THE TRANSFER CASE TO PUMP OUT THE HOLE AND CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO RUN DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN THE POWER STEERING STARTED LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE HYDRO BOOSTER ONTO THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER LOST HIS BRAKES. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BOOSTER ROD WAS MISSING. THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AS WELL. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK IT WAS READING 60 MPH EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10259252

30,000 miles · Jun 23, 2008
Parking Brake

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED IN HALF AND CAUSED THE MOTOR OF THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CABLE SNAPPED AND SHORT CIRCUITED A FUSE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT RESEARC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED IN HALF AND CAUSED THE MOTOR OF THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CABLE SNAPPED AND SHORT CIRCUITED A FUSE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED A RECALL EXPLAINING THE SAME FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED SINCE IT WAS AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT AS WELL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000. UPDATED 07/09/08 *BF UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10232035

8,000 miles · Jul 6, 2005
Parking Brake

THE PARKING BRAKE ON 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCKS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON EVEN A VERY SLIGHT GRADE WITHOUT CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS BEING MADE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IF THERE IS A TRAILER BEING TOWED OR A LOAD BEING CARRIED IN THE TRUCK BED, THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD EVEN FOLLOWING A…

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THE PARKING BRAKE ON 2003 CHEVROLET 2500 SILVERADO PICKUP TRUCKS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON EVEN A VERY SLIGHT GRADE WITHOUT CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS BEING MADE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IF THERE IS A TRAILER BEING TOWED OR A LOAD BEING CARRIED IN THE TRUCK BED, THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD EVEN FOLLOWING A DEALER SERVICE ADUSTMENT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND BEYOND ADJUSTING THE BRAKE THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. MY TRUCK HAS 48000 MILES ON IT AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING. THE TRUCK HAS NEARLY RUN INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING, ROLLED OUT OF ITS PARKING SPACE, AND STARTED ROLLING DOWN A HILL WHILE I WAS EXITING THE TRUCK. I CANNOT SAFELY PARK THE TRUCK UNLESS IT IS ON LEVEL GROUND, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AND TRANSMISSION PLACED IN REVERSE. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET 3500 SILVERADO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10127701

3,690 miles · Aug 6, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingParking Brake

VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR HOSE AND HEATER HOSE ALONG WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS.*MR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER FELT THE PROBLEMS HAD BECAME WORSE AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE MECHANIC AFTER IT'S THIRD REPAIR. THE CABLE FOR THE PARKING BRAKE WAS REPLACED. *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10032304

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.