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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

What owners actually said

180 reports
89,725 miles · Nov 27, 2012
Service Brakes

I WENT TO PUT IT IN DR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THE METAL LINE BLUE . THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER TOO. IT COST ME $475.89 TO GET IT FIX. NOT HAPPY. I HAD CHEVY WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER REPLACE ANY BRAKE PARTS. I UNDER STAND THIS A BAD PARTS ON THE 1999 TO 2003 MODELS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURS…

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I WENT TO PUT IT IN DR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THE METAL LINE BLUE . THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER TOO. IT COST ME $475.89 TO GET IT FIX. NOT HAPPY. I HAD CHEVY WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER REPLACE ANY BRAKE PARTS. I UNDER STAND THIS A BAD PARTS ON THE 1999 TO 2003 MODELS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486208

95,000 miles · Nov 14, 2012
Service Brakes

WHILE BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY SLOPED DOWNHILL, APPLIED BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW BEFORE STOPPING. BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I HAD MIND ENOUGH TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP BEFORE RUNNING THROUGH MY GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID RUNNING OFF THE FRAME RAIL ONTO DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED BRAKE LINES IN…

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WHILE BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY SLOPED DOWNHILL, APPLIED BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW BEFORE STOPPING. BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I HAD MIND ENOUGH TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP BEFORE RUNNING THROUGH MY GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED FLUID RUNNING OFF THE FRAME RAIL ONTO DRIVEWAY. I NOTICED BRAKE LINES IN FRAME RAIL WERE CORRODED BAD. CALLED DEALER, THEY SAY THEY REPLACE BRAKE LINES ALL THE TIME IN THESE VEHICLES. THEY WANTED $1100. A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACED ALL THE LINES FOR $800. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF VEHICLE. IS THIS A CLASS PROBLEM? SHOULD THIS BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL? HAPPY TO SUPPLY VIN IF NEEDED, JUST DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484637

155,000 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AFTER REPEATEDLY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE EMERGEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AFTER REPEATEDLY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10010 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: HYDRAULIC: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10479333

99,000 miles · Oct 7, 2012
Service Brakes

DEAR SIRS; WE OWN A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTRA CAB TRUCK. IT WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2003. IT HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT AND GARAGED. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012, OUR SON WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. (THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY DRI…

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DEAR SIRS; WE OWN A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTRA CAB TRUCK. IT WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2003. IT HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT AND GARAGED. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012, OUR SON WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. (THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND TO WORK AND BACK DAILY. NO INDICATOR LIGHT EVER CAME ON.) THERE WERE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE STREET. AFTER AVOIDING A BALL THAT HAD ROLLED DOWN A DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE STREET, HE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE THEN PRESSED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. ON HIS THIRD ATTEMPT WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE CURB AND THROW THE TRUCK INTO PARK TO STOP. THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO KIDS IN HIS PATH. HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP AND HIS LIFE WOULD BE ALTERED FOREVER. NOT TO MENTION OUR LIVES AND THAT OF AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER/ CHILD. LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS REPORTED, WE FOUND THE NHTSA HAS AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS GMC TRUCKS AND SUV?S. THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK WERE DONE BETWEEN 70,000 AND 80,000. ALL PADS WERE REPLACED, 2 NEW ROTORS AND 2 ROTORS WERE CUT. NO MENTION OF BRAKE LINE DETERIORATION, CORROSION, OR VISIBLE PROBLEMS WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AT THAT TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS USED MAINLY BY MY HUSBAND WHO DRIVES IT 6 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK DAILY. NO PROBLEMS, SQUEAKING, OR PEDAL CHANGES HAD BEEN NOTED. WE WERE ALL REALLY QUITE SHAKEN BY THIS INCIDENT. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. IT WENT THERE DURING THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY THUS DELAYING THE REPAIR. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD ROTTED OUT. ANY INFORMATION OR DIRECTION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478908

72,151 miles · Sep 28, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

SPEEDOMETER STICKING AND GOING CRAZY ,CLUSTER LIGHTING IN/OUT THEN GAUGES STOPPED WORKING THEN WHOLE CLUSTER SHORTED AND HAD DASH FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477442

78,000 miles · Sep 4, 2012
Service Brakes

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS NOTHING... NO BRAKES AT ALL, PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC, NARROWLY AVOIDING A SERIOUS OR POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS COMPLETELY R…

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I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS NOTHING... NO BRAKES AT ALL, PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. I MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC, NARROWLY AVOIDING A SERIOUS OR POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT.THIS VEHICLE HAS 78000 MI. AND IS GARAGE KEPT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE MANY OTHER GM OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE HERE IS COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I THOUGH MODERN BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE A COMPLETE FAILURE? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. SHOULDN'T THE SYSTEM WORK IN A WAY THAT PARTIAL BRAKE FUNCTION REMAINS POSSIBLE WITH THE LOSS OF A BRAKE LINE. I THOUGHT THE SYSTEM IS PARTITIONED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. IF THE CURRENT SAFETY STANDARD IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, CLEARLY THE STANDARD HAS NOT BEEN MEET! GM NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. AT THE VERY LEAST WHY ISN'T GM REQUIRED TO USE A HIGHER QUALITY BRAKE LINE TO AVOID THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473812

89,000 miles · Jul 5, 2012
Service Brakes

I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE SHOP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY THREW IT IN PARK AN TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. I THEN PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND IT AGAIN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HEARD BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING OUT. I PUT THE TRUCK ON THE LIFT AND RAISED IT UP TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING SO I …

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I PUT MY TRUCK IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE SHOP AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I QUICKLY THREW IT IN PARK AN TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. I THEN PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND IT AGAIN WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HEARD BRAKE FLUID SQUIRTING OUT. I PUT THE TRUCK ON THE LIFT AND RAISED IT UP TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING SO I FOUND VERY RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND COMPONENTS. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS. SEEMS MAYBE GM SHOULD BE FIXING THE ISSUE. I WOULDN'T THINK A TRUCK LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD SHOULD HAVE SUCH RUSTED BRAKE PARTS. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE EXHAUST IS MADE FROM STAINLESS, WHY NOT BRAKE LINES? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464322

65,000 miles · Jun 13, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE BRAKE LINES DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000. THE BRAKE LINES BURST DUE TO RUST AND POOR DESIGN. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER AND SALT WERE TRAPPED INSIDE. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND POSITIONED ANOTHER WAY, SO THEY WOULD NOT HOLD SALT AND WATER FROM THE ROADS. UPDATED 06/27/12

NHTSA ODI #10461622

40,300 miles · Jun 3, 2012
Service Brakes

MY WIFE WAS PARKING AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460427

32,278 miles · May 20, 2012
Service Brakes

ON MAY 20, 2012 WHEN MOVING MY GMC 1500 PICK UP TRUCK FROM MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE ONLY TO HAVE THE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 21, 2011 I ALSO LOST MY BRAKES WHEN PARKING THE TRUCK AT A LOCAL STRIP MALL. THE REQUIRE…

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ON MAY 20, 2012 WHEN MOVING MY GMC 1500 PICK UP TRUCK FROM MY DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE ONLY TO HAVE THE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 21, 2011 I ALSO LOST MY BRAKES WHEN PARKING THE TRUCK AT A LOCAL STRIP MALL. THE REQUIRED REPAIR WAS FOR A CORRODED BRAKE LINE. THANK GOD THAT BOTH TIMES I WAS TRAVELING SLOWLY. AT HIGHWAY SPEED I COULD EASILY HAVE BE KILLED. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459052

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.