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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
54,800 miles · Oct 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2003 SILVERADO 2500 HD WITH ONLY 55K MILES ON IT DID NOT PASS A RECENT SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THE TRUCK GETS VERY LITTLE USE AND I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DISTURBING THAT BRAKE LINES ARE FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. HAD I NOT GOTTEN AN INSPECTION I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS EMMINENT AND DANGEROUS…

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MY 2003 SILVERADO 2500 HD WITH ONLY 55K MILES ON IT DID NOT PASS A RECENT SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THE TRUCK GETS VERY LITTLE USE AND I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DISTURBING THAT BRAKE LINES ARE FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. HAD I NOT GOTTEN AN INSPECTION I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS EMMINENT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10432870

75,000 miles · Oct 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL HUMMING AND RUBBING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES AND HOSES, H…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL HUMMING AND RUBBING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES AND HOSES, HE CONTACT FOUND CORROSION AND RUST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD REPLACE THE LINES AND HOSES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THE DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432848

25,000 miles · Oct 19, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

NHTSA ODI #10430821

69,871 miles · Oct 13, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,871. UPDATED 11/16/11*LJ UPDATED 02/01/12

NHTSA ODI #10430051

73,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND BEGAN EXTENDING ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND BEGAN EXTENDING ABRUPTLY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO FAULTY BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428343

110,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD A EXHAUST LEAK THAT I FINALLY PINPOINTED TO BE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW BY ME AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY EXHAUST WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR DONE. APPARENTLY THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM, WITH THESE BOLTS. THIS I UNDERSTAND TO BE AN E…

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I HAVE HAD A EXHAUST LEAK THAT I FINALLY PINPOINTED TO BE BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW BY ME AND HAS NEVER HAD ANY EXHAUST WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR DONE. APPARENTLY THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM, WITH THESE BOLTS. THIS I UNDERSTAND TO BE AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLTS, WHY WONT THEY MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428267

114,747 miles · Sep 28, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE. WHO HAS TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS RECALLED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427818

98,000 miles · Sep 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CHEVY TRUCK HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AT ALL. GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK. BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE FOOT AREA. BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. GOT TRUCK TO MECHANIC AND FOUND REAR BRAKE LINES HAD PREVIOUSLY RUSTED THRU. NOW FRO…

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CHEVY TRUCK HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AT ALL. GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK. BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE FOOT AREA. BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. GOT TRUCK TO MECHANIC AND FOUND REAR BRAKE LINES HAD PREVIOUSLY RUSTED THRU. NOW FRONT BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THRU. HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES.I DID SO WITH AFTERMARKET SS LINES. FRONT LEFT CALIPER WAS FROZEN. MECHANIC SAYS REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPER NEED REPLACING ALSO. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS AND CALIPERS ON THIS TRUCK. MECHANIC ALSO NOTED THAT THE TRUCK FRAME NEEDS TO BE CLEANED AND COATED DUE TO RUST. THIS IS LAST GM PRODUCT I'LL EVER PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427146

71,080 miles · Sep 21, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. FOUND SEVERLY ROTTED BRAKE LINE . THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES ATER FIRST ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426692

62,500 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE WAITING FOR FUEL PUMP. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DURING FILL-UP, INSPECTED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW FLUID DRIPPING FROM FRONT END. IDENTIFIED LIQUID AS BRAKE FLUID. REAR BRAKES STILL FUNCTIONED MINIMALLY. TOOK INTO MECHANIC. FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED. NEARLY ENTIRE BRAK…

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VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE WAITING FOR FUEL PUMP. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DURING FILL-UP, INSPECTED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW FLUID DRIPPING FROM FRONT END. IDENTIFIED LIQUID AS BRAKE FLUID. REAR BRAKES STILL FUNCTIONED MINIMALLY. TOOK INTO MECHANIC. FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED. NEARLY ENTIRE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. AT MECHANIC'S SUGGESTION BASED ON SAFETY, REPLACED ALL BRAKE LINES -- $2100 (APPROX $300 PARTS, $1700 LABOR). MECHANIC APPLIED UNDERCOAT SPRAY TO BRAKE LINE AS RUST PROTECTION. I KEPT A SECTION OF BRAKE LINE. NOTE: PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1991 CHEVROLET C1500 HAD SIMILAR FAILURE ON THE BRAKE LINES AROUND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425689

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.