2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Brakes Problems

While driving down a 50 mph roadway there was a line of cars slowing for a vehicle to make a turn. When gently pushing the brakes to slow down, brake went clear to the floor and could not slow down. Truck was driven into the ditch to avoid rear-ending vehicles. This happened immediately without warning, all braking prior to this incident was normal. When taken to our mechanic, they advised the brake lines underneath were notorious for rusting out and failing, new stainless steel lines were then installed to correct the problem.

NHTSA ID

11731112

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

Hydroboost valve pump shows a recall.,and it's not working properly

NHTSA ID

11489582

Incident

Jun 3, 2021

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed causing the steering wheel to become hard to maneuver. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the hydro boost area when the brake pedal or accelerator pedal were depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the intermediate shaft was faulty. The intermediate shaft was replaced however, the failure recurred. The contact requested the dealer to replace the power steering pump but the dealer informed the contact that the failure was caused by the power steering pump. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11424383

Incident

Jul 12, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 2 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE LOW BRAKE FLUID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LINDSAY BUICK GMC (250 W SHIRLEY AVE, WARRENTON, VA 20186, (540) 987-2082) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,703.

NHTSA ID

11254984

Incident

Aug 21, 2019

Mileage

190,703 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FAILED, WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,900.

NHTSA ID

11254729

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

133,900 mi

I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD 15 YEARS AGO AND GAVE IT TO MY 16 YEAR OLD SON. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING WAS ACTING FUNNY AND MAKING A NOISE, SO WE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSES. THE PROBLEM ONLY STARTED GETTING WORSE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND AN OLD RECALL OR NOTICE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE THAT WAS DEFECTED BECAUSE OF O-RING FAILURE. JUST SEARCHING THE VEHICLE WILL SHOW SEVERAL SITES REVEALING THE PROBLEM. THE NADA SITE GOES INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE PARKED THE TRUCK UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE WHEN STEERING AND LOOSES BRAKING.

NHTSA ID

11232522

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

208,000 mi

BRAKE LINE FAILURE IN SEVERAL PLACES. WAS UNDER VEHICLE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE. NOTICED FLUID ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE REAR MOST HARD BRAKE LINE LEAKING. CONTINUED TO INSPECT ALL HARD LINES AND FOUND SEVERAL AREAS WHERE LEAKS WERE PRESENT. REMOVED VEHICLE FROM USE AND STARTED REPLACING ALL HARD BRAKE LINES. NEW LINES ARE STAINLESS STEEL THUS I SHOULD NEVER RUN INTO THIS ISSUE AGAIN. GM SHOULD HAVE USED STAINLESS STEEL LINES IN THE FIRST PLACE RATHER THAN PLAIN STEEL LINES. THE ORIGINAL BRAKES LINES BROKE LIKE TWIGS WHEN I BENT THEM TO THROW THEM AWAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKE LINES IN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION ON A VEHICLE WITH 130,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON A VEHICLE LIKE THE CHEVY SILVERADO. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO FORCE GM TO PERFORM A RECALL AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11206924

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. VEHICLE WAS ON A STATE HWY. VEHICLE WAS GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11170365

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

99,680 mi

REAR BRAKES RUSTED OUT FLUID BURST OUT NO BRAKES TWO YRS AGO. FAST FOREWORD SATURDAY 12/22/2018 BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR ,LINE FROM BRAKE BOOSTER TO PROPORTIONING VALVE BLEW OUT RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

11163352

Incident

Dec 22, 2018

Mileage

162,751 mi

BODY AND UNDER BODY RUST AND ROT TO INCLUDE FRAME, BRAKE LINES AND SHOCK MOUNTS. BRAKE LINES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THANKFULLY AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

11143678

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

98,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT SIGNAL IT TURNED YELLOW. KNOWING THAT I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE IT TURNED RED I HIT THE BRAKES TO STOP. WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKES EVERYTHING FELT NORMAL WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE PEDAL UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS RESISTANCE OR PRESSURE AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD LITTLE TO NO BRAKES. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I THEN PULLED OVER AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. CORROSION THAT WAS CAUSED BY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT CANT SUSTAIN THE ELEMENTS IT'S USED IN. I NOW SEE THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GM HASN'T INFORMED ITS OWNERS OR RECALLED. SHAME ON THEM. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN ON AN ISSUE SUCH AS BRAKE FAILURE. THEY GOT LUCKY IN MY CASE.

NHTSA ID

11080789

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINE KEEP RUSTING OUT ON THESE VEHICLE AND THAT IS VERY DANGOURES TO ME AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE RODE

NHTSA ID

11072091

Incident

Feb 9, 2018

Mileage

133,250 mi

ROCKER PANELS AND CAB CORNER RUSTED OUT, WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE PAINT. HAD THEM REPLACED IN SPRING OF 2014. REPLACED A REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE TIME DUE TO EASE OF ACCESS WITH BOX REMOVED. SPRING OF 2016, I HAD A FRONT BRAKE LINE FAIL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. HAD ENOUGH BRAKING LEFT TO STOP INT TIME. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINES DUE TO RUST. REAR SECTION OF FRAME IS RUSTING ALONG WITH LINES ON DIESEL FUEL COOLER AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS NOT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. WE USE IT FOR TRIPS AND TO PULL OUR CAMPER. I HAVE TRIED TO DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ON SALTY AND SLOPPY ROADS. THE PAINT ON OUTSIDE AND THE INTERIOR LOOKS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED ON HOW MUCH LONGER IT WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND TOW.

NHTSA ID

10948510

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ARE LEAKING AND DEVELOPING SMALL CRACKS IN THEM.

NHTSA ID

10946943

Incident

Jan 13, 2017

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINE TO THE FRONT BRAKES BURST AND RESULTED IN NO BRAKES. IN 2013 THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BURST AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN EITHER CASE. I REPAIRED THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND I EXPECTED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE MY RESEARCH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT A VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION THAT IS TEN YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE ITS BRAKES FAIL COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. WHY ARE THESE VEHICLES ALLOWED TO BE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE LINES MADE OF MATERIALS THAT WILL CERTAINLY FAIL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DRIVER, ESPECIALLY AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER HAS THEIR BRAKES FAIL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. YOU SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES INVOLVED.

NHTSA ID

10914124

Incident

Oct 4, 2016

Mileage

97,581 mi

INVOLVING MY 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO C2500HD, VIN: [XXX]; WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THIS VEHICLE,ON A FLAT SURFACE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL. NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE...MINUTES EARLIER I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY. THERE IS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10910922

Incident

Sep 29, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES LEAKED AND WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE GAS LINE LEAKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

10906722

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. THIS IS MY THIRD EVENT RELATING TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THIS EVENT, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID ABOVE MY FUEL TANK AND AT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THERE APPEARS TO BE FLUID ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO INSPECT THE LINE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK AT THIS TIME. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE WET FRAME BEHIND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. IT SHOWS A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. THE FIRST TWO EVENTS MY JUVENILE SON WAS DRIVING. FOR ALL EVENTS WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO BE OPERATING IN OUR YARD, SO NO ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TWO EVENTS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES THAT FAILED, SHOWED THAT THESE LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. AS A MATTER OF FACT, INSPECTING THE LINES THAT ARE VISIBLE, THEY ALL SHOW SIGNS OF RUSTING. I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION, SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY DEALER PAPERWORK TO DOCUMENT THE REPAIRS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF GENERAL MOTOR TRUCKS OUT THERE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND LIKE MYSELF DECIDED TO JUST REPAIR IT THEMSELVES, AVOIDING THE COMPLAINT PROCESS. OR, I QUESTION IF, LIKE MYSELF, THEY EVEN HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT. PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR THE LAST EXPRESSION OF FRUSTRATION. FINALLY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO BECOME SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR A RECALL ORDER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS VERY SERIOUS MATTER!!!

NHTSA ID

10905544

Incident

Sep 10, 2016

Mileage

158,349 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,330.

NHTSA ID

10862651

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

154,330 mi

WHILE STATIONARY AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES! A RUSTED BRAKE LINE HAD BURST LETTING THE BRAKE FLUID RUN OUT.

NHTSA ID

10846167

Incident

Jun 14, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLY RUSTED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH CORROSION BEFORE ON A VEHICLES BRAKE LINES. LUCKILY, THE LINE THAT RUNS FRONT TO BACK RUPTURED WHILE MOVING SLOWLY DOWN MY OWN DRIVEWAY! I LOOKED AT THE REST OF THE LINES UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND WAS AMAZED AT THE CONDITION OF THESE LINES. I AM VERY DISTURBED THAT THESE LINES ARE SO BADLY EFFECTED BY "NORMAL" NEW ENGLAND ROAD CONDITIONS. IT IS QUOTED FROM THE DEALER THAT IT WILL COST ME $1300.00 OR MORE TO REPLACE THE LINE SET. DISGRACEFUL.

NHTSA ID

10837884

Incident

Sep 4, 2015

Mileage

115,000 mi

AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES.A LEAKING FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO RUST. GROUNDING CABLE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ENGINE BLOCK TO TAIL PIPE HAS BEEN REPLACED, INCLUDING BOTH MANIFOLDS, DUE TO RUST. THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS ARE RUSTING THROUGH. NONE OF THESE DEFECTS HAVE RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

10818554

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

BRAKE LINES RUPTURED UNDERNEATH DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS MOVING SLOWLY SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR.

NHTSA ID

10806763

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

318,000 mi

IN JUNE OF 2013 WHILE DRIVE MY 2003 SILVERADO THE BRAKES LINE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH NEARLY CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN A VERY BUSY SECTION OF US127S IN FRANKFORT, KY.. BY SURE LUCK I WAS ABLE TO MANOEUVRE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP,WITHOUT HITTING ANOTHER PERSON OR VEHICLE BY GOING UP A SLIGHT GRADE AND PLACING IN PARK BEFORE ROLLING BACKWARDS IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO O'BRIEN & GAITES CHEVROLET IN FRANKFORT, KY. WHERE THE INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASK IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THESE LINES AND WAS TOLD NO. THE LINES WERE REPLACED BOTH THE FRONT FROM BOOSTER TO ABS AND THEN FROM ABS BACK TO REAR WHEELS AT A COST OF $400 PLUS. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT AND THE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015 AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK I COULD DETERMINE THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS RUNNING OUT DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE FRONT DOOR UNDERNEATH FROM THE FRAME RAIL. IT APPEARED OBVIOUS THAT AGAIN THE LINES WERE LEAKING. WHEN O'BRIEN & GAITS CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL TOW IN BILL AND THEN I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE EVEN THOUGH I COULD SEE WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND RUNNING ON THE GROUND BY SIMPLY LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK AS I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL MYSELF. THIS LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY DISCOVERED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

10779001

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

JUST AS WE PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY PULLING A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER AS MY FAMILY WAS RETURNING FROM A CAMPING TRIP OUR BRAKES FAILED. CAUSE WAS A PINHOLE CORRODED IN A STEEL BRAKE LINE. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON MOUNTAINOUS ROADS AND HAD THIS HAPPENED DURING THE TRIP INSTEAD OF MIRACULOUSLY AS WE ARRIVED AT HOME A TRAGIC ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIGH PROBABILITY. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH VERY MINOR CORROSION UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED MUCH OF THE TIME AND HAS HAD VERY LIMITED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE CHEMICALS. THIS WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE AND SHOCK. DUE TTO THE COST OF THIS VEHICLE WE LIMIT USAGE TO EXTEND LIFE AND WITH THE CARE GIVEN THIS VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10762166

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

57,539 mi