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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

Visibility complaints

4 reports
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134,000 miles · Jan 11, 2013
VisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED AND THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER MODULE CONNECTION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED AND THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER MODULE CONNECTION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S HEATER SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #10492292

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

68,000 miles · Jan 4, 2008
Visibility

WINDSHEILD WIPERS WON'T TURN OFF...POSSIBLE WIPER PULSE MODULE. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10213668

33,000 miles · May 16, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. HE ALSO FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE ABS UNIT. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. HE ALSO FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE ABS UNIT. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPER PULSE MODULE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPLACEMENT AND NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,025 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10190932

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.