IllustrationTAILGATES CABLES NEEDS TO BE REPLACE IT....
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
7 reportsTHE 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
THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED SO SUDDENLY THAT I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AROUND THE WHEELS OR TRUCK. I GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. I HEARD A SQUEEZING SOUN…
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THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I STOPPED SO SUDDENLY THAT I THOUGHT I HIT SOMETHING. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AROUND THE WHEELS OR TRUCK. I GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. I HEARD A SQUEEZING SOUND AND SAW FLUID SQUIRTING FROM BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE STEEL BRAKE LINE ON TOP OF THE TRUCK FRAME WAS RUSTED AND DEVELOPED A HOLE FROM WHICH THE BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTED. THERE IS SECOND STEEL BRAKE LINE ON TOP OF THE THE FAILED LINE, WHICH IS ALSO RUSTED. THE BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. MY LAST VEHICLE HAD OVER 135,000 MILES AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE IN GREAT CONDITION.
MY 2003 CHEVROLET 2500HD TRUCK HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP GO OUT THREE TIMES. WHEN IT GOES OUT THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL AND MAKE IT VERY HAZARDOUS TO CONTINUE REQUIRING ME TO STOP AND HAVE SOME ONE PICK UP MY TRUCK AND HAUL IT HOME. I'VE ALSO HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING GO OUT TWICE AND IS NEARING FAILURE AGAIN. THE FRO…
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MY 2003 CHEVROLET 2500HD TRUCK HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP GO OUT THREE TIMES. WHEN IT GOES OUT THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL AND MAKE IT VERY HAZARDOUS TO CONTINUE REQUIRING ME TO STOP AND HAVE SOME ONE PICK UP MY TRUCK AND HAUL IT HOME. I'VE ALSO HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING GO OUT TWICE AND IS NEARING FAILURE AGAIN. THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY HAS ALSO GONE OUT TWICE ON THIS TRUCK. ONCE THE REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
MY SPEEDO WENT OUT ON MY 2003 SHEVY 2500HD AT 116000 MILES.I WENT TO START IT ON A COLD DAY AND IT WAS READING 20MPH IN PARK.TODAY IT READS 70 MPH IN PARK AND IS READING OVER 70 MPH OVER THE SPEED THAT I AM DRIVING.*CN
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH AND THE SPARE TIRE AND SUPPORT BRACKET CAME OFF THE TRUCK AND LANDED IN THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS THAT THE THE 1 BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE BRACKET AND TIRE TO THE TRUCK HAD BACKED OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 25 DEGREES THE HEATER DOES NOT BLOW HOT AIR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM WITHIN THE HEATING SYSTEM. UPDATED 2/13/2006 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 25 DEGREES THE HEATER DOES NOT BLOW HOT AIR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM WITHIN THE HEATING SYSTEM. UPDATED 2/13/2006 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *NM
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.