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 reports
166,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
NHTSA ODI #10659256
104,000 miles · Nov 14, 2014
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD GOING 30 MPH WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I HIT THE BRAKES AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. BABIED IT HOME AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING IN THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE BACK BY THE FUEL TANK. WE LOOKED AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED WHICH IS WHAT CAUSE THE LINE TO BREAK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10655008
71,850 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Service Brakes
WHILE TOWING A 6000 LB. TRAILER, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT DOWN NEAR FLOOR. I THOUGHT TRAILER BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORTUNATELY I WAS NEAR HOME. NEXT MORNING I NOTICED LARGE POOL OF BRAKE FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. I FOUND THAT BADLY RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON THE 2003 SILVERADO WERE LEAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652008
35,000 miles · Oct 18, 2014
Service Brakes
CORRODED BRAKE LINE FAILED. COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. NO BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10648580
175,000 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes
AFTER LOANING MY DAUGHTER MY TRUCK WE MET AT A LOCATION TO EXCHANGE VEHICLES. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY PEDAL PRESSURE. I HAD MY TRUCK TAKEN TO MY RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND FOUND…
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AFTER LOANING MY DAUGHTER MY TRUCK WE MET AT A LOCATION TO EXCHANGE VEHICLES. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY PEDAL PRESSURE. I HAD MY TRUCK TAKEN TO MY RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR STEEL LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND CREATED A LOSS OF FLUID. IN MY OPINION THIS LINE RUSTING OUT IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE OLDER AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE OR FUEL LINES RUSTING OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10643579
88,695 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Service Brakes
WHILE BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO THE FLOOR. HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. LUCKILY, I WAS ON LEVEL GROUND. DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID ALONG THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUPTURED AND I HAD TO HAVE ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED DUE TO EXTREME RUST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10641864
126,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL LINE LEAK ALONG DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF FUEL LINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640058
126,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Service Brakes
EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO REAR BRAKE LINES CAUSED BRAKING MALFUNCTION. COULD NOT STOP EFFECTIVELY. THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE MOVING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. BOTH REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK. SECTION OF BRAKE LINE FORWARD OF BRAKE LINE TEE ON DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERAD…
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EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO REAR BRAKE LINES CAUSED BRAKING MALFUNCTION. COULD NOT STOP EFFECTIVELY. THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE MOVING VEHICLE TO ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. BOTH REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK. SECTION OF BRAKE LINE FORWARD OF BRAKE LINE TEE ON DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD LS CREWCAB DURAMAX 6.6L. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640053
133,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD AT THE SPEED AROUND 75+ MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AMONG OTHERS AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED OR HIGHER WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASES TO NO SPEED, AND A THIS WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH PANEL, THAT SAYS REDUCED SPEED AND ALL THESE 18 WHEELERS…
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I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FAMILY ABOARD AT THE SPEED AROUND 75+ MPH AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES SPEED WHILE TRAVELING AMONG OTHERS AT AROUND THE SAME SPEED OR HIGHER WHEN SUDDENLY THE SPEED DECREASES TO NO SPEED, AND A THIS WARNING COMES ACROSS THE DASH PANEL, THAT SAYS REDUCED SPEED AND ALL THESE 18 WHEELERS ARE BEHIND ME AND AROUND ME. THE MORE I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULD DO NOTHING BUT ALMOST COST MY WIFE A HEART ATTACK FROM THE BIG TRUCKS BLOWING THERE HORN AND FEARING THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF MY FAMILY. THEN A WEEK LATER THE CLUSTER STARTS ACTING ALL CRAZY WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OUT AND ON, AND NOW THEY AREN'T WORKING AT ALL. THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING THE SPEED ALONG WITH GAS GAUGES ETC... WHILE I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANYTHING OTHER THAN "CHEVY'S", TRUCKS AND CARS I HAVE SERIOUSLY BEEN CONSIDERING ANOTHER NAME & MAKE IN MY NEXT CHOICE OF PURCHASE.... SO A LOYAL FRIEND ADVISED ME TO SEND GM A E-MAIL EXPLAINING MY ISSUES... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10639432
84,645 miles · Aug 30, 2014
Service Brakes
I WAS TRAVELING ALONG AT 45 MPH., AND GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES AS I WAS NEARING AN INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I HAD NO BRAKES. LUCKILY I THOUGHT QUICK ENOUGH TO STEP DOWN ON THE PARKING BRAKE, OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK. TURNS OUT THAT A STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME…
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I WAS TRAVELING ALONG AT 45 MPH., AND GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES AS I WAS NEARING AN INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND I HAD NO BRAKES. LUCKILY I THOUGHT QUICK ENOUGH TO STEP DOWN ON THE PARKING BRAKE, OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK. TURNS OUT THAT A STEEL BRAKE LINE BURST THAT RUNS ALONG THE FRAME IN BEHIND THE FUEL TANK. HAS THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM? SEEMS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL SO THEY DON'T RUST. THANK GOD MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629641
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.
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