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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
74,000 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BRAKES WORK FINE UP TO ABOUT 10 MPH THEN THE BRAKES SEEM TO RELEASE. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF COMING TO A STOP WITH NORMAL STOPPING DISTANCE THE PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205838

62,438 miles · Sep 25, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP CREATED A HOLE IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BACK HALF OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,438 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP CREATED A HOLE IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BACK HALF OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,438 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204056

53,500 miles · Sep 24, 2007
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 2500 H.D. CREW CAB TRUCK. IN AUG OF 2007 MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP. IT WOULD STOP AT 20 MPH WHEN I WAS AT A DEAD STOP. I CAN START THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL GO DOWN 5 MPH FOR EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I HIT 0 IT WILL BE FINE FOR A WHILE. IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME I DO IT. FROM READING ON…

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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY 2500 H.D. CREW CAB TRUCK. IN AUG OF 2007 MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP. IT WOULD STOP AT 20 MPH WHEN I WAS AT A DEAD STOP. I CAN START THE VEHICLE AND IT WILL GO DOWN 5 MPH FOR EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. WHEN I HIT 0 IT WILL BE FINE FOR A WHILE. IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERY TIME I DO IT. FROM READING ON THE INTERNET I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204012

116,600 miles · Sep 14, 2007
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD HAS QUIT WORKING. THERE WAS NOT WARNING THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING ALL THE NEEDLES ACROSS THE PANEL WERE STUCK AT ZERO. NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *T…

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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD HAS QUIT WORKING. THERE WAS NOT WARNING THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING ALL THE NEEDLES ACROSS THE PANEL WERE STUCK AT ZERO. NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202978

36,000 miles · Sep 13, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATING WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE LAST 5-10 FEET OF BRAKING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD NEARLY CAUSING ME, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO REAR-END VERHICLE IN FRONT OF ME - ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202875

84,900 miles · Aug 21, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE LT, SIZE 245/75/R16 TIRES. FIVE HOURS AFTER THE CONTACT PLACED AIR IN HER TIRE, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED A BLOW OUT. SHE STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS INTACT, BUT THE THREAD WAS ALSO SEPARATED. THE DEALER SENT HER A LETTER STATIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE LT, SIZE 245/75/R16 TIRES. FIVE HOURS AFTER THE CONTACT PLACED AIR IN HER TIRE, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED A BLOW OUT. SHE STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS INTACT, BUT THE THREAD WAS ALSO SEPARATED. THE DEALER SENT HER A LETTER STATING THAT THE TIRE EXCEEDED DEFLECTION. SHE CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHAT EXCEEDED DEFLECTION MEANT AND THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THIS REFERRED TO HER VEHICLE'S WEIGHT OVERLOAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE THAT WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE WAS A BRAND NEW SPARE TIRE. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,890 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,900.

NHTSA ODI #10200247

17,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
SuspensionInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET C/K 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE RIM, TIRE, AND WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND PAIN IN …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET C/K 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE RIM, TIRE, AND WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND PAIN IN THE SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

NHTSA ODI #10198869

94,000 miles · Jul 24, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. HE STATED THAT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS CRACKED. THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE, BUT THERE IS A STRESS CRACK ON THE OUTER CASE. THE REPAIR WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $3…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING FLUID WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. HE STATED THAT THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE WAS CRACKED. THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE, BUT THERE IS A STRESS CRACK ON THE OUTER CASE. THE REPAIR WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $3,000 - $4,000 AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197385

47,000 miles · Jul 13, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THERE WERE 3,000 MILES ON THE TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS LATER, WH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THERE WERE 3,000 MILES ON THE TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THERE WERE 13,000 MILES ON THE TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. THE TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INCORRECT TIRES. THE FAILED TIRE WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED A GASH ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. THE TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED WITHIN AN 18 MONTH PERIOD WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10196277

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE HOSE RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE CAUSING A LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192365

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.