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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

Steering complaints

15 reports
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177,000 miles · Nov 2, 2016
Steering

I HAVE A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED AT TIMES THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN COMES BACK. YESTERDAY I ALMOST HIT A CAR HEAD ON DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND THE STEERING WENT OUT. A CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF THE STATION AS I WAS PULLING IN AND THE POWER STEERING WEN…

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I HAVE A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED AT TIMES THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN COMES BACK. YESTERDAY I ALMOST HIT A CAR HEAD ON DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND THE STEERING WENT OUT. A CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF THE STATION AS I WAS PULLING IN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS GOING STRAIGHT AT AND I STRUGGLED THROUGH IT TO MAKE THE TRUCK TURN. IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE TRUCK, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS BUT YESTERDAY WAS A CLOSE CALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10923782

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2011
SteeringStructure

I PREVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING COOLER REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING CORRODED LINES. JUST RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE TRANS COOLER REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING CORRODED LINES. MECHANIC SAID ALL LINES UNDERNEATH (BRAKE, STEERING, ETC) ARE TERRIBLY CORRODED AND WE WILL DEFINITELY PAY ATTENTION TO ALL CORRODED LINES, ETC IN FUTUR…

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I PREVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING COOLER REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING CORRODED LINES. JUST RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE TRANS COOLER REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKING CORRODED LINES. MECHANIC SAID ALL LINES UNDERNEATH (BRAKE, STEERING, ETC) ARE TERRIBLY CORRODED AND WE WILL DEFINITELY PAY ATTENTION TO ALL CORRODED LINES, ETC IN FUTURE OIL CHANGE VISITS. THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK IS A CORRODED DISASTER. THE ROCKER PANELS ARE GONE. CORRODED RAILER HITCH WAS REPLACED. LUCKILY NOTHING HAS TOTALLY FAILED YET TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427191

125,987 miles · Sep 28, 2010
Steering

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. FAILURE, NO POWER ASSIST TO LEFTHAND TURNS. POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. 9-30-09 DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLE PT# 88965789 S/GR REM 6.508. 9-13-10 NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST FOR LEFTHAND TURNS POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERIN…

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NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. FAILURE, NO POWER ASSIST TO LEFTHAND TURNS. POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. 9-30-09 DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLE PT# 88965789 S/GR REM 6.508. 9-13-10 NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST FOR LEFTHAND TURNS POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLE PT# 88965789 S/GR REM 6.508 THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW ON THIS TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358147

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

15,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

2003 GMC HALF TON SIERRA TRUCK. 3 TIME SINCE 2003 THAT I'VE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR CLUNKING NOISE FELT THRU STEERING WHEEL. LUBED A COUPLE TIMES THEN REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. STILL NO GUARANTEES THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN BRAKING AND BRAKES DON'T RESPOND WELL WHEN APPLIED QUICKLY…

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2003 GMC HALF TON SIERRA TRUCK. 3 TIME SINCE 2003 THAT I'VE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR CLUNKING NOISE FELT THRU STEERING WHEEL. LUBED A COUPLE TIMES THEN REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. STILL NO GUARANTEES THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. ALSO VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN BRAKING AND BRAKES DON'T RESPOND WELL WHEN APPLIED QUICKLY. THE FIRST TIME THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED ATTENTION THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME WAS 30,000 MILES AND THE LAST TIME WAS 45,000 MILES AND OCCURRED IN MARCH 2010. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324763

9,669 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 9,669 MILES ON IT SINCE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE PART WITH SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS SO LOW. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,669.

NHTSA ODI #10311831

26,000 miles · Jun 12, 2009
Steering

2003 GMC SIERRA - INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. SECOND FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT, TRUCK HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SHAFT FAILED AT 26,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN VARIOUS GM TRUCK INTERNET FORUMS. A NEW, IMPROVED REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW AVAILABLE, GM PART #1915361…

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2003 GMC SIERRA - INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. SECOND FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT, TRUCK HAS ONLY 56,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SHAFT FAILED AT 26,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN VARIOUS GM TRUCK INTERNET FORUMS. A NEW, IMPROVED REPLACEMENT PART IS NOW AVAILABLE, GM PART #19153614. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL TO FORCE GM TO REPLACE THE FIRST GENERATION PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273654

16,491 miles · Sep 19, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT FEELS BUMPING OR BANGING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16491 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT FEELS BUMPING OR BANGING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16491 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT TWICE. UPDATED 10/23/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10242890

60,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Steering

CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN AT LOW SPEEDS ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. FEELS LIKE SERIOUS FRONT-END MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. CURRENT MILEAGE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IS 60,000. I LEARNED FROM GM THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I…

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CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN AT LOW SPEEDS ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. FEELS LIKE SERIOUS FRONT-END MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. CURRENT MILEAGE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IS 60,000. I LEARNED FROM GM THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT NEEDED REPLACING AGAIN. $207 FOR NEW SHAFT AND $92 LABOR. NEW, IMPROVED PART # IS 19153614. IF GM KNEW THE ORIGINAL SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE, WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE TO RECALL IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230399

40,000 miles · Apr 1, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY REPLACED THE COLUMN WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A NEW DESIGN FOR THE STE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY REPLACED THE COLUMN WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A NEW DESIGN FOR THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE NEW PART INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10223025

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.