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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SLOWLY WITH THE BATTERY RUNNING OUT BECAUSE SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE BUT EVERYTHING IS OFF. THE GAS GAUGE GEAR CONTROL LIGHTING ON THE PANEL DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING WAS CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND HE ADDRESS THAT SOMETHING IS…

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BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SLOWLY WITH THE BATTERY RUNNING OUT BECAUSE SOMETHING IS STILL RUNNING IN THE VEHICLE BUT EVERYTHING IS OFF. THE GAS GAUGE GEAR CONTROL LIGHTING ON THE PANEL DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING WAS CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND HE ADDRESS THAT SOMETHING IS NOT CONSTANT RUNNING EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING IS TURNED OFF THAT CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN WHEN IT IS OFF. ALSO THE LIGHTS DON'T LIGHT ON THE RIGHT SIDE STAYS ON AND NEVER GOES OFF WHEN RUNNING THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THIS ON A LOT OF 2500 CHEVY TRUCKS. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECK. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU SUN.

NHTSA ODI #11217532

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

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE JUST COASTS ALONG AND RUNS ROUGH. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CLEAR THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. TH…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE JUST COASTS ALONG AND RUNS ROUGH. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CLEAR THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY AND NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY, ON BUSY EXPRESSWAYS OR ON MAIN ROADS AND SIDE ROADS. THE GAS PEDAL LOSES COMMUNICATION WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS IS NERVE WRACKING WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE WONT RESPOND TO STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. TRYING TO GET OVER SEVERAL LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. IT IS ALSO BAD WHEN ON A BUSY, MAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE "ACTS UP". I HAVE TO PULL OVER, BLOCKING TRAFFIC, UNTIL I CAN GET IT GOING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560532

162,000 miles · Jul 19, 2013
Service BrakesStructureVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10525721

70,000 miles · Dec 16, 2011
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY INCREASES, DECREASE OR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. OIL GAUGE FLUCTUATES ALSO THE HEATER RESISTORS BURNED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10440159

100,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HOWEVER WHEN THEY WERE OFF, THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS WERE OPERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HOWEVER WHEN THEY WERE OFF, THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, REACTIVATE THE LIGHTS, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10340504

110,000 miles · Jun 28, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD MUCH FARTHER THAN NORMAL HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HEAVY DUTY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD MUCH FARTHER THAN NORMAL HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE DEALER RE-ROUTED THE INSIDE ENGINE HARNESS YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE RELEARN SERVICE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10340401

100,000 miles · Feb 8, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

SEVERE SURGING/BUCKING OF VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING DOWNHILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON.

NHTSA ODI #10307413

38,200 miles · May 14, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

2003 CHEVROLET 2500HD 4X4 SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT 38,000 MILES. VEHICLE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. READ FORUMS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. GM SHOULD RECALL. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190659

27,300 miles · Apr 7, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO JUMP AROUND AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING. DEALER TOLD ME IT WASN'T A RECALL ISSUE, BUT TOO MANY GM OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187239

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.