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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

449 reports
64,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Service Brakes

IN APRIL OF '14, A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THAT LINE WAS REPLACED. ON 6/3/14, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS AFFECTED BOTH REAR BREAKS. ON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ALL OF THE STEEL TUBING OF THE BREAK LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHER INS…

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IN APRIL OF '14, A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THAT LINE WAS REPLACED. ON 6/3/14, I HAD ANOTHER BRAKE LINE FAILURE DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS AFFECTED BOTH REAR BREAKS. ON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ALL OF THE STEEL TUBING OF THE BREAK LINES WERE BADLY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, I ALSO FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE ALSO RUSTING BADLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609041

134,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE WITH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE WITH CAUTION. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FOUR BRAKE LINES, WHICH RUPTURED DUE TO RUST CORROSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10608497

80,000 miles · Jul 2, 2014
Engine

MY 2003 CHEVY 2500 HD HAS AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK AND THIS IS AN ONGOING AND CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF HOT EXHAUST GASES LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607921

98,000 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Service Brakes

BLEW A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE AT BOAT LANDING. LUCKILY I GOT IT STOPPED BEFORE IT WENT INTO THE LAKE. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH IF IT HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT TIME. I THINK A RECALL IS NECESSARY AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAD THE S…

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BLEW A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE AT BOAT LANDING. LUCKILY I GOT IT STOPPED BEFORE IT WENT INTO THE LAKE. ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH IF IT HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT TIME. I THINK A RECALL IS NECESSARY AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON HIS 2004 SIERRA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605088

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2014
Fuel System, Diesel

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL INJECTORS PROBLEM . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS MIS-DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER NEVER CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS, IN WHICH WHITE SOME WAS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE GLOW PLUGS, WHICH WAS N…

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2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL INJECTORS PROBLEM . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS MIS-DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER NEVER CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS, IN WHICH WHITE SOME WAS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE GLOW PLUGS, WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10596123

145,000 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUST QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THE CLUSTER WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON GM; THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ON ME. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH GM OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PART. WHY DO THEY KEEP PRODUCING CRAP? UNTIL THE CLUSTER IS REPLACED, I HAVE NO IDEA OF ENG…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUST QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THE CLUSTER WILL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TWO WERE ON GM; THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ON ME. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH GM OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS PART. WHY DO THEY KEEP PRODUCING CRAP? UNTIL THE CLUSTER IS REPLACED, I HAVE NO IDEA OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY GPS, I'D HAVE NO IDEA OF MY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597515

131,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WHETHER ON A REGULAR STREET OR AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EITHER DIES, REDUCES DOWN TO IDLE SPEED OR IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THE REDUCED POWER SIGNAL COMES ON, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON REGULAR STREETS. WE …

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WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WHETHER ON A REGULAR STREET OR AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY EITHER DIES, REDUCES DOWN TO IDLE SPEED OR IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THE REDUCED POWER SIGNAL COMES ON, ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON REGULAR STREETS. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AT PENSKE CHEVROLET, AND ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 8/2013, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY AND THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO US. SINCE 12/2013, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND NOW WE DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THE CHEVROLET COMPANY HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596908

85,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014
Service Brakes

DURING TEST DRIVE FOR UNRELATED REPAIR THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION RESULTED IN FINDING THE BRAKE LINE HAD "BLOWN" OUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION. THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES HAD SIMILAR CORROSION AND WHEN TOUCHED WOULD PRACTICALLY DISINTEGRATE. RESULT WAS E…

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DURING TEST DRIVE FOR UNRELATED REPAIR THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. INSPECTION RESULTED IN FINDING THE BRAKE LINE HAD "BLOWN" OUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION. THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES HAD SIMILAR CORROSION AND WHEN TOUCHED WOULD PRACTICALLY DISINTEGRATE. RESULT WAS ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED/FABRICATED TO AVOID FUTURE BLOW OUT OF THE OTHER LINES. NO WARNING OF "SOFT" BRAKE WAS EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THANKFULLY, INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SMALL SIDE ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596323

60,000 miles · May 27, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. ON A SECOND OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASH…

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TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. ON A SECOND OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. PM

NHTSA ODI #10594343

97,000 miles · May 26, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS LOADED UP ON MY 2003 2500HD CHEVROLET SILVERADO FOR THE WEEKEND HOLIDAY CAMP TRIP WITH TRUCK CAMPER, AND BOAT ON TRAILER BEHIND. FOR LAST MINUTE SAFETY MY PARTNER WAS INSIDE THE TRUCK AND I OUTSIDE TO TEST THE BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNALS USUAL STUFF BEFORE TAKING OFF. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE…

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I WAS LOADED UP ON MY 2003 2500HD CHEVROLET SILVERADO FOR THE WEEKEND HOLIDAY CAMP TRIP WITH TRUCK CAMPER, AND BOAT ON TRAILER BEHIND. FOR LAST MINUTE SAFETY MY PARTNER WAS INSIDE THE TRUCK AND I OUTSIDE TO TEST THE BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNALS USUAL STUFF BEFORE TAKING OFF. FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN LOOKING CLOSER THE SECOND LINE FROM THE DRIVER DOOR ON TOP OF THE FRAME HAS A SPLIT IN IT. I HAVE NOW LOOKED AT THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. I HAVE LOOKED AT GM'S RESPONSE FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND TEND TO WONDER HOW MANY PERSONS AT GM WOULD PURCHASE A VEHICLE FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR LOVED ONES KNOWING OF THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT JUST IN SALT RELATED PLACES. EVEN IF THEY WERE DOES GM NOT BUILD THEIR VEHICLES FOR ALL STATES AND ROAD CONDITIONS??? I CAN SAY I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT THIS JUST HAPPENED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. WHERE WERE GOING ENTAILED MOUNTAIN DRIVING AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN THEN I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS DAILY AND THE FEAR THAT GOES WITH THE THOUGHT OF, WHAT IF WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS? DOES NOT GO AWAY. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS STEEL ONES AND IT IS GOING TO BE COSTLY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS NOR SHOULD HAVE ALL THE OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE HAD TO. THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOME FATALITY HAPPENS IF NOT ALREADY. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE SAFE IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND AREAS PERIOD. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES ON THIS WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS 6.1 MILLION. I AM APPALLED THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY RECALLED ON THIS AND PORTRAYED SUCH A LAME EXCUSE AS TO NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE FIX THIS NOW! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594088

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.