IllustrationREPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TAIL GATE ON THE 2003 CHEVROLET C2500. *MR GM LED THE CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT THE TAILGATE HE REPLACED WAS GOING TO BE REPLACED BY THEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PARTS IF THE DEALER AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE CAUSED BY THE TAILGATE CABLES. *SC *JB
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
240–25K
6225–50K
8850–75K
8375–100K
105100–150K
47150K+
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 reportsI BOUGHT A NEW 2003 CHEVY EXPRESS CARGO VAN (2500) IN 2003.WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER LOAD,TRAVELING ON ROADS WITH SIX/SEVEN PERCENT DOWNHILL GRADES,THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY. SIMPLY TAPPING THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING IT UNDER CONTROL,YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKES,OR TAKE THE RISK OF BEING TOSSED OFF THE HIGHWAY.T…
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I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 CHEVY EXPRESS CARGO VAN (2500) IN 2003.WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS UNDER LOAD,TRAVELING ON ROADS WITH SIX/SEVEN PERCENT DOWNHILL GRADES,THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY. SIMPLY TAPPING THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING IT UNDER CONTROL,YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY SLAM ON THE BRAKES,OR TAKE THE RISK OF BEING TOSSED OFF THE HIGHWAY.THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN STRESSED IN ANY WAY (WRECKS,HITTING CURBS,ETC) THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I WANT A DEALERSHIP TO TAKE IT,WITH ME,TO A ROAD OF MY ABOVE DESCRIPTION AND FIND THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I AM POSITIVE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS MODEL VAN,WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO ETERNITY IN THIS VAN BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION.I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VAN IN THREE MONTHS BECAUSE OF ANXIETY WITH THE PROBLEM. DYING IN A CHEVY VAN BECAUSE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS NO PART OF WHAT I WANT IN MY FUTURE.
THE TRANSFER CASE ON MY CHEVROLET 2500 HD CREW CAB HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS, 1ST INCIDENT WAS MARCH 2004 ,AND NOW APRIL 2005. PLASTIC GEARS SEEM TO STRIP WHENEVER ENGAGED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AFTER NOT BEING UTILIZED FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.*AK
WHEN LOADING AND GOING AROUND CURVES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL WITH GEAR SHIFT STILL IN DRIVE. THE MOTOR RACED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP TWICE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES WILL GO BLANK. WHEN THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS GO BLANK CONSUMER CANNOT DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES.*AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SMOKE AND FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *PH *JB
VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY RADIATOR HOSE AND HEATER HOSE ALONG WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS.*MR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER FELT THE PROBLEMS HAD BECAME WORSE AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE MECHANIC AFTER IT'S THIRD REPAIR. THE CABLE FOR THE PARKING BRAKE WAS REPLACED. *PH *JB
2003 CHEVY 2500 TRUCK, 6.0 LITER ENGINE WITH STANDARD SHIFT TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK HAS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. THE THROTTLE HAS A DELAY OFF OF IDLE IN RPM AND POWER. WHEN THE TRUCK IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON A HILL YOU CANNOT PREVENT EXCESSIVE ROLL-BACK OR STALL BECAUSE OF THE DELAY. IF THE TRUCK IS IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT THE…
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2003 CHEVY 2500 TRUCK, 6.0 LITER ENGINE WITH STANDARD SHIFT TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK HAS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. THE THROTTLE HAS A DELAY OFF OF IDLE IN RPM AND POWER. WHEN THE TRUCK IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT ON A HILL YOU CANNOT PREVENT EXCESSIVE ROLL-BACK OR STALL BECAUSE OF THE DELAY. IF THE TRUCK IS IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT THE PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT TELL WHAT THE ENGINE WILL DO, OR IS DOING UNLESS YOU STARE AT THE TACHOMETER. YOU CAN NOT PREDICT ENGINE RESPONSE FROM THE THROTTLE POSITION WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP ON A GRADE. I HAVE OWNED 3 CARS, 2 TURCKS, BACKHOE AND FARM TRACTOR WITH A STANDARD SHIFT TRANSMISSION AND HAVE A VALID STATE OF OHIO CDL LICENSE.*JB
THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED ERRATICALLY, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK AND THE VEHICLE TO SPIN. *JB
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.