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2003 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all Sierra 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

162 reports with mileage · 18 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 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

6 reports
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44,300 miles · Dec 11, 2014
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECK OVER FOR THE WINTER, THE MECHANIC INFORM ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES ARE VERY RUSTY AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES AND THE COOLING LINES GOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DISTURBING SINCE I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE. THE TUBING USED FOR THE BRAKE AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES SHOULD BE ABLE TO …

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WHILE HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECK OVER FOR THE WINTER, THE MECHANIC INFORM ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES ARE VERY RUSTY AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES AND THE COOLING LINES GOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DISTURBING SINCE I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE. THE TUBING USED FOR THE BRAKE AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND RUSTING FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE MATERIAL USED BY GM WAS NOT UP TO SPECIFICATION AS FAR AS CORROSION PROTECTION EITHER COMPENSATION TO REPAIR IT IS IN ORDER A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10734179

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2012
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE HAS CORRODED BRAKE, TRANSMISSION AND FUEL LINES. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY ALL NEED REPLACED OR BREAKAGE AND LEAKAGE WILL OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING BREAK, TRANSMISSION OR FUEL DELIVERY OR FIRE DAMAGES. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM ASAP. 00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447946

4,500 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

STARTING AT <5K MILES THE VEHICLE POWER TRAIN CLUNKED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. NOW AT 70K MILES IT CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN ALL GEARS EXCEPT FINAL DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OUTPUT SHAFT ON THE TRANNY, THEN THE U-JOINTS, AND MODIFIED THE ELECTRICAL SHIFT PATERN. IT STILL CLUNKS. POWER STEERING INTERMITT…

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STARTING AT <5K MILES THE VEHICLE POWER TRAIN CLUNKED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. NOW AT 70K MILES IT CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN ALL GEARS EXCEPT FINAL DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OUTPUT SHAFT ON THE TRANNY, THEN THE U-JOINTS, AND MODIFIED THE ELECTRICAL SHIFT PATERN. IT STILL CLUNKS. POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP AT SLOW SPEED TURNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT ALMOST EVERY THREE MONTHS. HAD TO PAY ($486.00) FOR REPLACING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHEN VEHICLE HAD LITTLE OVER 40K MILES. BRAKES FADE AND THE PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR, AGAIN INTERMITTENT. I HAVE ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STEERING AND BRAKE ISSUES. GMC ISSUED A LETTER STATING "THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURANCE AND WILL NOT CAUSE DAMAGE." WELL, IT'S GETTING WORSE IN SOUND AND CLUNKING HARDER DURING SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325225

20,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingParking Brake

2003 GMC SIERRA TRUCK, STEERING, HAS A CLUNKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT 5,000 MILES, TOLD BY MECHANIC TO TAKE TO A DEALER, WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT SOMETHING HE WANTED TO UNDERTAKE DUE TO LIABILITY, ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH TO MUCH PLAY OR (SLAP) IN THE DRIVE SHAFT, TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED …

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2003 GMC SIERRA TRUCK, STEERING, HAS A CLUNKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT 5,000 MILES, TOLD BY MECHANIC TO TAKE TO A DEALER, WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT SOMETHING HE WANTED TO UNDERTAKE DUE TO LIABILITY, ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH TO MUCH PLAY OR (SLAP) IN THE DRIVE SHAFT, TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED DRIVE SHAFT, DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM , SO APPARENTLY THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEM AND BASICALLY WERE GRABBING AT STRAWS, I STILL HAVE PROBLEM, FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT (ELECTRICAL PROBLEM). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315609

124,000 miles · Jan 20, 2009
Power Train

LOSS OF 3RD GEAR. TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND JUST RED LINE'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255730

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2008
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 GMC SIERRA WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKE, SPEEDOMETER FAILED DUE TO STEPPER MOTOR FAILURE, TRUCK IS ON THE THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, AND UPPER SUPPORT COLUMN BEARINGS, AND MORE PROBLEMS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE T…

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2003 GMC SIERRA WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKE, SPEEDOMETER FAILED DUE TO STEPPER MOTOR FAILURE, TRUCK IS ON THE THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, AND UPPER SUPPORT COLUMN BEARINGS, AND MORE PROBLEMS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE UPPER SUPPORT BEARING, BUT REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT INSTEAD. THE REAR PLANATERY FORWARD CLUTCH WAS BURNT, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10220598

Official recalls

1

04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Nov 26, 2004

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.