I MADE A PANIC STOP AND THEN LOST BRAKES ..LINES FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO BRAKE MODULE AND FROM MODULE TO FRONT AND REAR BRAKES BURST AT RUSTED AREA ........SEEMS TO BE LEAKING WHERE LINE MOUNTING CLIPS ARE LOCATED ... *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
449 reportsABOUT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO MY INCIDENT MY FATHER HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WE BOTH OWN 2500 HD 2003 CHEVY TRUCKS BOUGHT ON SAME DAY. MY INCIDENT WAS I WAS LEAVING MY SISTERS HOUSE AND STARTED MY TRUCK BACKED UP THEN PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE STARTED FORWARD THERE IS A STOP SIGN CLOSE TO THE DRIVEWAY SO I STARTED BRAKING BUT PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR …
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ABOUT 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO MY INCIDENT MY FATHER HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WE BOTH OWN 2500 HD 2003 CHEVY TRUCKS BOUGHT ON SAME DAY. MY INCIDENT WAS I WAS LEAVING MY SISTERS HOUSE AND STARTED MY TRUCK BACKED UP THEN PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE STARTED FORWARD THERE IS A STOP SIGN CLOSE TO THE DRIVEWAY SO I STARTED BRAKING BUT PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR SO I DID IT AGAIN SAME THING NO BRAKES. SO I USED E BRAKE TO STOP MYSELF GOT OUT AND SURE ENOUGH BUSTED BRAKE LINE UNDER CAB DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SAME PLACE MY FATHERS BUSTED A COUPLE WEEKS BE FOR MINE. HE LOCAL GARAGE WHERE MY DAD HAD HIS FIXED SAID HE HAVE CHANGED SEVERAL BRAKE LINES WITH SAME PROBLEM. ALSO NET AND FOUND THIS IS COMMON. WAY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS YET COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND LIFE THREATENING. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO HD2500. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH IT. I'VE SPENT $1000'S FIXING THIS PIECE OF JUNK GM CALLS A TRUCK. I MUST HAVE REPLACED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THIS TRUCK, SOME THINGS TWO OR THREE TIMES. THE LATEST BEING THE BRAKE LINES, THE …
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I OWN A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO HD2500. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 70 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THE ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH IT. I'VE SPENT $1000'S FIXING THIS PIECE OF JUNK GM CALLS A TRUCK. I MUST HAVE REPLACED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THIS TRUCK, SOME THINGS TWO OR THREE TIMES. THE LATEST BEING THE BRAKE LINES, THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED THROUGH WITH NO WARNING. I WAS TOWING 4000 POUNDS OF WOOD WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES AND THE PEDDLE DROPPED TO THE FLOOR ? I ALMOST GOT KILLED! THIS TRUCK WAS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER FOR THE 1ST 7 YEARS, UNTIL I FELT LIKE I WAS GETTING SCREWED BY GM AND USING THERE JUNK PARTS. IT IS A[XXX] SHAME WHEN AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE MUCH BETTER QUALITY THAN GM OEM PARTS ? I WILL NEVER USE GM PARTS AGAIN. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS UNTIL I REPLACED THEM FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH AFTERMARKET ROTORS AND NOW THEY SEEM TO BE FINE NOW. GM MUST BE GETTING THEIR JUNK OEM PARTS FROM CHINA!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR VEHICLES BEING UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SECURED FOR THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 109,000.
I WAS DRIVING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ENTIRELY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS GONNA HIT MY GARAGE. THANKFULLY I HAVE GOOD REFLEXES AND WAS ABLE TO HIT THE PARKING BRAKE (WHICH ISN'T AN EASY TASK IN A P/U TRUCK. WHEN I GOT OUT, I NOTICED A LARGE LEAK UNDER MY DRIVER DOOR. WI…
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I WAS DRIVING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ENTIRELY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS GONNA HIT MY GARAGE. THANKFULLY I HAVE GOOD REFLEXES AND WAS ABLE TO HIT THE PARKING BRAKE (WHICH ISN'T AN EASY TASK IN A P/U TRUCK. WHEN I GOT OUT, I NOTICED A LARGE LEAK UNDER MY DRIVER DOOR. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. ONE OF THEM HAD SPRUNG A LEAK AND WAS SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. THE OVER ALL STATE OF THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM IS IN HORRIBLE CONDITION. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE IN MY '93 CHEVY TRUCK... BUT ITS EXPECTED AT TWICE THE AGE OF MY '03 TRUCK. I SAW THE NHTSA HAD AN INVESTIGATION THAT WAS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND WANTED TO REPORT IT. *TR
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE AS APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND PULL INTO EMPTY LANE. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO MECHANIC. BRAKE LINE WAS SO BADLY CORRODED IT BROKE AND ALL BRAKE FLUID HAD BEEN LOST. ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. BRAKE ROTORS ARE SO RUSTED THEY HAVE TO BE R…
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SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE AS APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND PULL INTO EMPTY LANE. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO MECHANIC. BRAKE LINE WAS SO BADLY CORRODED IT BROKE AND ALL BRAKE FLUID HAD BEEN LOST. ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. BRAKE ROTORS ARE SO RUSTED THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE SO BADLY RUSTED ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND ROTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE $1500.00. I HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND HAD TO BRAKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID BEING CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID BEING CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD BURST, CAUSING A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,711. UPDATED 12/6/12*LJ UPDATED 12/06/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE AROUND THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. AS THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING BRAKE FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND HE WOULD HA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE AROUND THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. AS THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING BRAKE FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND PULL INTO MY DRIVE WAY THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT WITH MY GARAGE DOOR AND IT WAS DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND PULL INTO MY DRIVE WAY THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE MADE CONTACT WITH MY GARAGE DOOR AND IT WAS DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND THE LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
TO START OFF, MY BRAKE LINE ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AS THE WAS A NEW ENGLAND TRUCK FOR THE FIRST 8 YEARS OF ITS LIFE. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, I WENT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK YESTERDAY. UPON STARTING IT, I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN. I ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND THAT THE PEDA…
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TO START OFF, MY BRAKE LINE ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AS THE WAS A NEW ENGLAND TRUCK FOR THE FIRST 8 YEARS OF ITS LIFE. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, I WENT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK YESTERDAY. UPON STARTING IT, I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE "SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN. I ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND THAT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS EMPTY AND SEVERAL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE WET WITH BRAKE FLUID. I HAD JUST CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID (WITH ALL OF MY OTHER FLUIDS THIS WEEK AS I WAS ON A CAMPING TRIP WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I LOOKED THIS UP ON THE INTERNET WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP10003 THAT DISCUSSED THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE ON THE STATUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU. *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.
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