RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 11, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 449 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesTransmission
Filed May 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WORSE OUT PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AND THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000. UPDATED 7/16/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED TURNING THE ROTORS AND REPLACING THE PADS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WORN OUT PADS AND ROTORS ARE SYMPTOMS OF ANOTHER PROBLEM. THE CALIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE METAL BRAKE LINES AND OTHER SIMILAR METAL LINES SUCH AS THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES ALL SHOWED EXTREME RUST ON THE OUTSIDE. UPDATED 07/22/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10329906
Incident
May 9, 2010
Mileage
27,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 1, 2009

2003 CHEVY 2500HD DURAMAX/ ALLISON TRANSMISSION HAS 94,300 MILES ON IT. FOUND DEFECT WHILE BACKING IT OUT OF DRIVEWAY; THE BACK COVER OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED AND FLUID COMING OUT.THE COVER IS PART NO.29544804 THROUGH GM.AT A COST OF $666.60 PLUS OTHER PARTS NEED FOR REPAIRS AND LABOR ALSO NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO CHARGES. THE NEW PART IS JUST THAT, NEW FROM OLD DEFECTIVE PART. I JUST DID THE REPAIR MY SELF BECAUSE JUST LOST MY JOB THE DAY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND COULDN'T PAY TO HAVE IT DONE. GM TELLS ME IT IS AN OLD TRUCK WHY IT FAILED AND THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY; YET THE NEW COVER IS MUCH HEAVIER IN DESIGN FROM ORIGINAL ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275474
Incident
Jun 18, 2009
Mileage
94,300 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2009

NOTICED TRANSMISSION LEAKING, IDENTIFIED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE HAD CRACKED IN THE SLOTS THAT HOLD THE PUMP. IDENTIFIED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ON DURAMAX TRANS MISSIONS, AND IDENTIFIED AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT WAS MADE TO PREVENT FURTHER CRACKS FROM OCCURRING. IT SEEMS THAT THE HOUSING IS MADE OF MAGNESIUM AND IS NON SIMILAR METALS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254792
Incident
Nov 9, 2008
Mileage
130,000 mi
SteeringSuspensionTransmission
Filed Jun 15, 2008

MY 2003 CHEVROLET 2500HD TRUCK HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP GO OUT THREE TIMES. WHEN IT GOES OUT THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL AND MAKE IT VERY HAZARDOUS TO CONTINUE REQUIRING ME TO STOP AND HAVE SOME ONE PICK UP MY TRUCK AND HAUL IT HOME. I'VE ALSO HAD MY AIR CONDITIONING GO OUT TWICE AND IS NEARING FAILURE AGAIN. THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY HAS ALSO GONE OUT TWICE ON THIS TRUCK. ONCE THE REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231046
Incident
Apr 10, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesSuspensionTransmission
Filed Jun 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD PULSATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL OF THE BRAKES, ABS SENSORS, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, AND FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,700.

NHTSA ID
10230552
Incident
Apr 15, 2008
Mileage
35,700 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 30, 2007

THE EVENT LEADING UP TO IS WET WEATHER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL STICK IN ONE GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT. WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO CINDY CHEVORLET I WAS TOLD THAT PER G.M. POLICY THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE COMPUTER SHOWED A CODE FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THREE DEALERSHIPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210384
Incident
Aug 15, 2007
Mileage
48,663 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 3, 2006

I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND FILTER CHANGED AND THE MECHANIC TELLS ME THERE WAS A LOT OF METAL PARTICLES IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FELT THERE WAS AN IMPENDING FAILURE. THE CHEVY DEALER TOLD ME TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT OCCURS SINCE HE HAD NOT HEARD OF AN ALLISON TRANSMISSION FAILING AT 50,000 MILES WHICH IS WHERE THE MILEAGE WAS AT WHEN I HAD THE ABOVE SERVICE DONE. IT SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED. I HAVE A DURAMAX ENGINE WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION BOUGHT IN 2003 OF A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO DIESEL 2500HD. LITTLE TOWING DONE WITH THE VEHICLE SO THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169881
Incident
Jul 15, 2006
Mileage
51,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+8 more
Filed Jun 12, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON 2003 SILVERADO. *TS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT, THE REVERSE GEAR WAS INOPERABLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS LOOSE. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE FRONT SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS WORN AND LEAKING, AS WELL AS THE LOWER HOSE. THE WATER PUMP GASKET AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE A/C WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT AIR FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. THE A/C HEATER MODE DOOR ACTUATOR WAS WORN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. THE PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS WARPED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK, DUE TO A PIN HOLE LOCATED IN THE SIDEWALL. THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT AND REAR SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE TAIL GATE SUPPORT CABLES WERE REPLACED. THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE SECOND ROW SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160513
Incident
Jan 15, 2005
Mileage
54,385 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 25, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT 2003 CHEVROLET C 2500 WAS HAVING A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THEN, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED POWER. THE SPEED WILL DRAMATICALLY SLOW TO AROUND 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES CURRENTLY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES AS A RESULT OF THE POWER REDUCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE POWER FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THREE TIMES THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE, THROTTLE ACTUATOR, CONTROL MODULE, ALSO, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL LOSING POWER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY UNWILLING TO HELP OR PROVIDE THE ADDRESS TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY RUDE AND REFUSED TO TRANSFER THE CALL TO HIS SUPERVISOR UPON REQUEST OF THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10134222
Incident
May 7, 2005
Mileage
72,862 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10089853
Incident
Aug 26, 2004
Transmission
Filed Apr 9, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10014189
Incident
Apr 8, 2003

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .