IllustrationBODY AND UNDER BODY RUST AND ROT TO INCLUDE FRAME, BRAKE LINES AND SHOCK MOUNTS. BRAKE LINES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THANKFULLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
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
240–25K
6225–50K
8850–75K
8375–100K
105100–150K
47150K+
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
Structure complaints
15 reportsNOT MY VEH. NEVER HAS BEEN, TOLD DEALER 3 TIMES, STILL GETTING NOTICES.
ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED…
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ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST. REAR SECTION OF FRAME IS RUSTING ALONG WITH LINES ON DIESEL FUEL COOLER AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS NOT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. WE USE IT FOR TRIPS AND TO PULL OUR CAMPER. I HAVE TRIED TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON SALTY AND SLOPPY ROADS. THE PAINT ON OUTSIDE AND THE INTERIOR LOOKS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED ON HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND TOW.
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. PULLED OVER AND WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.
AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES.A LEAKING FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. GROUNDING CABLE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ENGINE BLOCK TO TAIL PIPE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING BOTH MANIFOLDS, DUE TO RUST. THE FRONT AND REAR BU…
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AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES.A LEAKING FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. GROUNDING CABLE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ENGINE BLOCK TO TAIL PIPE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING BOTH MANIFOLDS, DUE TO RUST. THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS ARE RUSTING THROUGH. NONE OF THESE DEFECTS HAVE RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS.
WE WERE TRAVELING EAST ON I-90 IN MASS. TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INVESTIGATION AFTER THE CRASH WE FOUND AT LEAST TWO BADLY CORRODED BRAKE LINES THAT HAD BURST.*JB
DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL WHILE HOOKING TO TRAILER PREPARING TO HAUL FARM EQUIPMENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I FOUND FLUID RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK CHECKED LINES AND FOUND BURST LINE AND ALL LINES LOOKED TERRIBLY RUSTED/ROTTEN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A NEAR MISS SINCE I WAS ON A GRAVEL HILLSIDE AND H…
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DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL WHILE HOOKING TO TRAILER PREPARING TO HAUL FARM EQUIPMENT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I FOUND FLUID RUNNING DOWN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK CHECKED LINES AND FOUND BURST LINE AND ALL LINES LOOKED TERRIBLY RUSTED/ROTTEN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A NEAR MISS SINCE I WAS ON A GRAVEL HILLSIDE AND HAD I BEEN HOOKED TO THE TRAILER I WOULD HAVE HAD A VEHICLE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND JUST KEPT GOING INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO REPLACED. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
2003 CHEVY 2500HD TRUCK BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN LEAVING GARAGE.....UNDER VEHICLE FOUND BRAKE FLUID PUDDLE....UPON INSPECTION FOUND SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING.....YEAR PRIOR HAD SAME ISSUE WITH A DIFFERENT LINE, SO CHANGED OUT LINE. EVEN CHANGED A RUSTED LINE THAT WASN'T LEAKING....WHEN FILLED RESERVOIR …
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2003 CHEVY 2500HD TRUCK BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN LEAVING GARAGE.....UNDER VEHICLE FOUND BRAKE FLUID PUDDLE....UPON INSPECTION FOUND SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING.....YEAR PRIOR HAD SAME ISSUE WITH A DIFFERENT LINE, SO CHANGED OUT LINE. EVEN CHANGED A RUSTED LINE THAT WASN'T LEAKING....WHEN FILLED RESERVOIR WITH FLUID AND PRESSED PEDAL, BRAKE LINE GOING TO REAR OF TRUCK IN AN OBSCURED, ABOVE THE GAS TANK LOCATION, STARTED TO LEAK....ONCE AGAIN .....SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINE, IN AN AREA FREE FROM ANY ROAD DEBRIS....SO ALAS, AFTER DROPPING THE GAS TANK AND REPLACING THIS LINE, WHICH MEANT EVERY LINE HAS BEEN REPLACED......NO LEAKS!!! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE LINES.....I BABY THIS TRUCK AND IT IS IN THE GARAGE 95% OF THE TIME ALWAYS CLEAN...THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED!!!! AFTER BEING A CHEVY MAN ALL MY LIFE.......I'M DONE.... DRIVE SHAFT, FUEL TANK GUARD, AND FUEL LINES AND FILTER ALL RUSTED.....FROM WHAT????? *TR
LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. FOUND SEVERLY ROTTED BRAKE LINE . THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES ATER FIRST ISSUE. *TR
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.