Chevrolet / Silverado 2500 / 2003
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Owners have filed 561 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with NHTSA. Service brakes, hydraulic account for 22.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes at 22.6%.
Complaints561
Crashes33
Fires10
Injuries16
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes, hydraulic 22.8% · 128
Service brakes 22.6% · 127
Electrical system 15.3% · 86
Power train 5.3% · 30
Steering 3.0% · 17
Engine and engine cooling 3.0% · 17
Engine 2.7% · 15
Structure 2.7% · 15
Severity
Of those complaints, 33 describe a crash, 10 describe a fire and 16 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 17 model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 in this data, 2003 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 81,355 miles.
In owners' own words
2003 Chevy 2500hd truck. Brake rotors "severely rusted" as stated by dealer. Truck only has 37,500 miles; brake pads only making contact with 1/3 of rotor surface on all 4 rotors. Dealer resurfaced rotors but expects problem to continue, with all 4 rotors need to be replaced in near future due to poor rotor quality; was told even if I replaced the rotors, I'd still have the same problem again within 30k miles. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 37,509 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 hd. The contact was driving in reverse approximately 5 mph and applied the brakes. The brake pedal depressed into the floorboard abnormally and the contact discovered that brake fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repairs. The failure and current mileage was 120,000. The brake lines failed due to rust. 08/19/11 Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 hd. The contact started the vehicle and noticed that the abs light was illuminated on the instrument panel. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the abs electronic brain failed. The repair cost was quoted at $1,300. The failure mileage was 83,000 and current mileage was 83,400. Updated 05/26/09 *bf updated 05/28/09. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 83,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…