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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

Service Brakes complaints

55 reports
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110,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY PRE-WARNING OF A BRAKE ISSUE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ROUTED OVER THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH SPILLING OUT BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE RESERVOIR TO EMPTY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH NHTSA IS …

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WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY PRE-WARNING OF A BRAKE ISSUE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ROUTED OVER THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH SPILLING OUT BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE RESERVOIR TO EMPTY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH NHTSA IS WELL AWARE OF THE RUSTED BRAKE LINES ON GM MODELS, SO I AM NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING NEW. I EXPECT ALTERNATORS, STARTER MOTORS, AND OTHER MECHANICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL AND NEED REPLACED BUT BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED USING STAINLESS STEEL. HOW CAN THIS BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A CAR IGNITION TURNING OFF CAUSING POTENTIAL CRASHES AND LOSS OF LIFE. NHTSA SHOULD HAVE GM RECALL VEHICLES AND/OR REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THIS HIGHLY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678418

56,455 miles · Dec 21, 2014
Service Brakes

TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC AND AS APPROACHING STOP LIGHT AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED PETAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS STOPPED TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION BRAKE LINE ON DRIVERS FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK AND LAYING ON TOP OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ALMOST COMPLETELY IN HALF! QUICK THINKING AVOIDED ACCIDENT .THIS TR…

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TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC AND AS APPROACHING STOP LIGHT AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED PETAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS STOPPED TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION BRAKE LINE ON DRIVERS FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK AND LAYING ON TOP OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ALMOST COMPLETELY IN HALF! QUICK THINKING AVOIDED ACCIDENT .THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND NEVER OFF ROAD FOUR WHEELING AND FEEL THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS STAINLESS STEELS LINES SHOULD NOT RUST IN HALF IF IN FACT THEY ARE STAINLESS STEEL TO BEGIN WITH.TRUCK IS AT GMC NOW TO BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667500

70,000 miles · Sep 26, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

ENTERED 1ST LANE OF TRAFFIC , ACCELERATED AND ENTERED SECOND LANE. AT THAT TIME TRAFFIC SLOWED ABRUPTLY. APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR--PUMPED BRAKE, TOTAL FAILURE CAUSING ME TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE, HOWEVER TRACTOR TRAILER WAS BEHIND HONKING HORN , CAME W…

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ENTERED 1ST LANE OF TRAFFIC , ACCELERATED AND ENTERED SECOND LANE. AT THAT TIME TRAFFIC SLOWED ABRUPTLY. APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR--PUMPED BRAKE, TOTAL FAILURE CAUSING ME TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE, HOWEVER TRACTOR TRAILER WAS BEHIND HONKING HORN , CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING ME. WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED, FORCED TRUCK TO BREAKDOWN LANE. LUCKILY NO INJURIES--JUST CAR DAMAGE INCLUDING A NEW FRONT BUMPER THAT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CHRONIC GM RUSTING. TOW TRUCK ARRIVED--DRIVER NOTICES SEVERE BRAKE FLUID DRAINAGE ON GROUND AND ON TRUCK BED WHEN RAISED UP. TRUCK BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE MECHANIC REPORTED ALL BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. MECHANIC STATED--NO WONDER YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES BECAUSE ALL LINES FAILED--NOT SURPRISED DUE TO GMC HAVING BRAKE LINE ISSUES. NEEDLESS TO SAY--TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE UNDER DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THINK ABOUT CHILD RUNNING ACROSS ROAD--TRACTOR TRAILER NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IN TIME....HIGHER SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY-- THINK ABOUT IT--I CERTAINLY AM!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639456

120,000 miles · Sep 2, 2014
Service Brakes

ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. SWERVED TO NOT REAR-END CAR IN FRONT. RAN RED LIGHT BECAUSE UNABLE TO STOP. PULLED INTO RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET AND SLAMMED INTO PARK. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK. NOT TOWING ANY LOAD. NO LOAD IN TRUCK BED. UPON INVESTIGATION AFTER STOPPING, BRAKE FLUID SPRAYI…

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ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. SWERVED TO NOT REAR-END CAR IN FRONT. RAN RED LIGHT BECAUSE UNABLE TO STOP. PULLED INTO RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET AND SLAMMED INTO PARK. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK. NOT TOWING ANY LOAD. NO LOAD IN TRUCK BED. UPON INVESTIGATION AFTER STOPPING, BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING OUT LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE NEAR AXLE WHEN PEDAL DEPRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630081

199,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Service Brakes

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70-75 MPH), PEDAL WENT IMMEDIATELY TO FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. PEDAL HAD HELD FIRM MOMENTS BEFORE. NO REDUCTION IN SPEED FROM PUMPING PEDAL. NO WARNING OF MALFUNCTION UNTIL DANGER WAS IMMINENT. A CERTAIN CRASH WAS AVOIDED IF EVASIVE DRIVING WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED WITH A COMBINA…

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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70-75 MPH), PEDAL WENT IMMEDIATELY TO FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. PEDAL HAD HELD FIRM MOMENTS BEFORE. NO REDUCTION IN SPEED FROM PUMPING PEDAL. NO WARNING OF MALFUNCTION UNTIL DANGER WAS IMMINENT. A CERTAIN CRASH WAS AVOIDED IF EVASIVE DRIVING WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED WITH A COMBINATION OF SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL, KICKING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND SHIFTING TO THE BERM. STOPPING DISTANCE ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST A HALF MILE TO 3/4. VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE FROM USING THE BERM TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A HARD STEEL REAR BRAKE LINE ABOVE FRAME HAD FULLY RUSTED THROUGH. IT HAD COME APART WITH A LARGE WINDOW, RATHER THAN A SMALL PERFORATION WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED SOME BRAKE MODULATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622442

75,000 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT. VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10620857

135,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE CORROSION CAUSED REAR DRIVERS SIDE STEEL LINE TO BURST AND LOSE MOST OF THE TRUCK'S BRAKING ABILITY. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AT THE TIME. IN ADDITION TO THE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH, ALL LINES WILL NEED REPLACING AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615143

66,500 miles · Jun 6, 2014
Service Brakes

DRIVING DOWN MIDDLEBELT ROAD COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO STOP, LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING OUT OF RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596776

150,000 miles · Jun 6, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10596631

51,850 miles · May 12, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS BACKING UP A TRAILER WITH MY 2003 GMC SIERRA AND TRIED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP. CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED BAD AND ONE HAD FAILED. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. READING ABOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE…

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I WAS BACKING UP A TRAILER WITH MY 2003 GMC SIERRA AND TRIED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP. CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED BAD AND ONE HAD FAILED. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK FOR THAT TIME PERIOD. READING ABOUT OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM . THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND VERY DANGEROUS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WARRANTS A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE BRAKE LINES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! THERE ARE NO WARNINGS, AND MOST OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, LIKE MYSELF ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT MAKES ME SICK TO KNOW THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS THEY USED TO MAKE THESE BRAKE LINES AND BY DOING SO PUTTING OUR LOVE ONES IN DANGER AND PUT MONEY FIRST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587859

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.