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2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes problems

24 complaints (57% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 84,728.

owner complaints
24
of this car's complaints
57%
typical mileage
84,728
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Driveline: hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
    1
  • Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes problems in other years

199720002005201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Brake failure 6ABS 5

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 28, 2016 · Brakes · 108,000 miles · OH

Driving through a rural town going about 45 miles an hour, I applied the brakes and they were very soft, brake pedal went near the floor, eased it home on front brakes (as rear line had ruptured). Upon inspection brake line had rusted in two just behind the fuel tank (long section had rusted away). Replaced line going to rear brakes.

Filed Dec 27, 2014 · Brakes · 140,880 miles · KY

Was driving along at approximately 40 miles an hour when to apply the brakes the brake line ruptured and I had to steer off the road into ditch.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes · 107,124 miles · MI

I was driving to work in the morning on 9/23/14 and went to apply the brakes to slow down, when the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I was able to slow down while down shifting the transmission and narrowly missing hitting the vehicle in front of me. I pulled over and noticed brake fluid leaking from beneath the brake master cylinder. I purchased a large bottle of brake fluid from a gas station and continued to fill the brake reservoir until I made it back to my local auto repair facility. During the shop's investigation, they discovered that a steel brake line had burst due to rust. In further investigation they noticed that all steel brake lines needed to be replaced, because they were nearly rusted through. I authorized the repair at a cost of nearly $1000.00. I have owned many vehicles that were much older than this truck that never had any issues with brake line rust or failure. This is a safety concern due to the sudden nature of the failure. Without any warning this could have resulted in a crash. I consider myself lucky, but if this is not addressed in this line of gm trucks someone could seriously get hurt or worse.

Filed Aug 19, 2014 · Brakes · 188,000 miles · NC

Thank god my husband was with me and knew what to do. I was driving. As we were going down the interstate at 65 MPH we hear a noise not having a clue in the world. He said we need to find a pull off and see what that could be. As I went to exit off I discovered I had no brakes. None whatsoever. As my husband gets it to a stop we discover brake fluid pouring out from behind the fuel tank and between the cab. I was panicking. My husband crawls up under it to discover all the brake lines are rusted out and busted. We purchased this vehicle the first of march 2014 from jerry (todd) hunt auto sale in lexington nc. How could he even be allowed to sell such an unsafe vehicle? That was a matter of life and death. How can chevrolet even put such brake lines on as that? As I called chevrolet they don't want to do anything. I called todd hunts to have the lady yelling at me! Rude! That's beside the point...I seen death before my eyes that day. I found on consumer agency where out of 473 complaints 101 was the same issue as mine the same trucks the years 1999-2003. I also found in new york times where gm isn't wanting to do a recall cause it was going to cost millions of dollars. So now what? We all just get killed before something is done?

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Brakes · 121,938 miles · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact stated that the brakes failed with no warning. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle on a residential road and upon applying the brakes, the pedal extended to the floorboard. The contact was able to drive the vehicle onto the emergency lane, noticed there was a leak underneath the vehicle and that the brake line had burst. The vehicle was scheduled to be inspected and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,938.

Filed Mar 21, 2014 · Brakes, Fuel system · 25,600 miles · VT

First failure was the dual braking system I was hooked up to a trailer and started down the driveway (about 0.4mile long) and stepped on the brake pedal which went to the floor boards. There was no stopping effort from the brakes. I used the manual control of the trailer brakes to stop the vehicle. Both brake lines under the cab area had rusted out and ruptured at the same time. Had I been on the road at speed this would have been a crash. The dealer who picked up the truck commented that this happens "sometimes". He repleced the lines with non-gm ones so they would last longer. This winter I was having trouble starting the truck in cold weather and noted that I needed to operate the manual fuel priming pump to get the truck started. (truck is equipped with the optional diesel engine. The dealer when working on this noted that the lines were very rusty and need to be replaced. My safety concern this time was the small amounts of fuel weeping out of the rusted areas under the hood near the exhaust. And onto the ground. It seems that there is a great amount of rust occurring on the brake and fuel lines. This worries me as the truck only has about 36,000 miles on it and I live in a state (vermont) that uses sand and not salt on the roads and travel only minimally in snow with the truck. When I was having the fuel lines replaced and while there the other two customers in line were also having rusted brake lines replaced. Seems like more than a coincidence. I have requested the rusted fuel lines from the dealer and still have them if you want to see them.

Filed Feb 10, 2014 · Brakes · 175,000 miles · FL

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the brake pedal was applied numerous times before the vehicle would stop. The contact was able to resume with caution. He also noticed that the brake line was ruptured and caused brake fluid to leak. The contact planned to repair the vehicle himself. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000. Kj

Filed Nov 24, 2012 · Brakes · 76,535 miles · OH

When backing out of driveway went to stop and peddle went to floor,blowing brake fluid all over road.I have read many articles on this problem,with chevy products.thank heavens I was not driving on the highway and this happened. Enough said should be a recall,or reimbursement for repairs all ready finished on these corroded lines.

Filed Nov 21, 2012 · Brakes · 84,728 miles · IN

Brake lines had excessive amount of corrosion/rusted causing a leak(s). Lines going from the ABS module to the front brakes were found to be leaking. Lines going from the ABS system to the reservoir were also rusted and required replacement. Lines from the ABS system to the rear brakes began leaking a week later.

Filed Oct 29, 2012 · Brakes · 70,000 miles · MO

Brake lines are all rusted as are fuel lines, brake line developed leak after hard stop, pedal went to floor, repair shop is now replacing brake lines.

Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes

Does the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have brakes problems?

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, 57% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 84,728 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 brakes?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have bad brakes?

The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years with the most brakes complaints are 2000 (37 complaints), 2001 (37 complaints) and 1997 (26 complaints).

Other 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems

Fuel system 7Electrical 6Engine 5Transmission 4Lights 2Steering 2Tires 2Body 1Locks 1Seat belts 1Suspension 1

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