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2003 GMC Sierra 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra 2500 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
160Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 GMC Sierra 2500

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 160 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 43 reports
  • Electrical System: 36 reports
  • Service Brakes: 28 reports
  • Power Train: 13 reports
  • Steering: 10 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    48
    2000    134
    2001    134
    2002    160
    2003    143
    2004    115
    2005    66
    2006
    Compare all Sierra 2500 years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    43    Electrical System
    36    Service Brakes
    28    Power Train
    13    Steering
    10
    All reported categories
    Engine
    6    Fuel System, Diesel
    6    Engine And Engine Cooling
    5    Fuel/propulsion System
    5    Structure
    5    Suspension
    5    Vehicle Speed Control
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    3    Tires
    3    Visibility
    3    Equipment
    2    Parking Brake
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Air Bags
    1    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Other
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Service Brakes, Electric
    1

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

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    142 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, Hydraulic. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Service Brakes. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    7 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

    Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

    5 reports
    Clear category filter
    69,671 miles · Feb 20, 2012
    Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

    POWER STEERING COOLER AND LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING, ENGINE OIL COOLER LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING, TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WORK DONEA T GMC DEALER. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10448528

    Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2011
    Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlCrash

    WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 DISPLAYED A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. MY VEHICLE LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL, DECELERATING FROM 65 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT MY TRUCK OFF. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE WAS …

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 DISPLAYED A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. MY VEHICLE LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL, DECELERATING FROM 65 MPH TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT MY TRUCK OFF. ONCE I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND MY TRUCK WAS FINE. IT WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT NOT BEING ABLE KEEP THE RIGHT SPEED FOR THE CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10439779

    90,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    4 BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS ON MY 2003 SERRA 2500HD (PICKUP) V8 ENGINE. PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE. WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0YG6WLBNZGI. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10382616

    5,330 miles · Jan 26, 2004
    Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

    INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER COMPONENTS FAILED THUS ALL GAUGES ON DASH BOARD WENT "FLAT"/BACK TO -0-; VEHICLE DID OPERATE HOWEVER COULD NOT EVEN READ HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN TANK. ALSO AS OF MILEAGE OF 13312 NOTICE VEHICLE BEGAN TO USE OIL, AS OF 26300 AFTER WATCHING THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW; APPARENTLY THE VEHIC…

    Read full complaint

    INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER COMPONENTS FAILED THUS ALL GAUGES ON DASH BOARD WENT "FLAT"/BACK TO -0-; VEHICLE DID OPERATE HOWEVER COULD NOT EVEN READ HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN TANK. ALSO AS OF MILEAGE OF 13312 NOTICE VEHICLE BEGAN TO USE OIL, AS OF 26300 AFTER WATCHING THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW; APPARENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL ON THE INTAKE - LOOSING ALMOST 2 QUARTS OF OIL - ON A NEWER VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT BE USING THIS MUCH OIL. *LA

    NHTSA ODI #10054945

    300 miles · Apr 23, 2003
    Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Diesel

    THE VEHICLE LEAKED DIESEL FUEL FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RAN HOT, WHICH COMBINED WITH THE FUEL LEAK, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *NLM

    NHTSA ODI #10017400

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.