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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

    Fuel System, Diesel complaints

    6 reports
    Clear category filter
    162,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
    EngineFuel System, Diesel

    I OWN A 2003 GMC DURAMAX 167000 MILES, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TRUCK UNTIL RECENTLY, AFTER ENGINE GETS HOT IT WILL NOT START BACK UP UNTIL IT HAS COOLED OFF! HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM YET, BUT FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, [INJECTORS], VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR!!! THIS PROBLEM IS VER…

    Read full complaint

    I OWN A 2003 GMC DURAMAX 167000 MILES, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TRUCK UNTIL RECENTLY, AFTER ENGINE GETS HOT IT WILL NOT START BACK UP UNTIL IT HAS COOLED OFF! HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM YET, BUT FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, [INJECTORS], VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR!!! THIS PROBLEM IS VERY FRUSTRATING, WOULD BE GREAT IF GENERAL MOTORS WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM!!!! *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10597728

    110,000 miles · Oct 14, 2013
    EngineFuel System, Diesel

    WHILE DRIVING, LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT. TOOK IT TO GM DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THE SAME ACTION. GMC APPARENTLY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ISSUE, BUT ONLY COVERED IT FOR 7 YEARS FROM TIME OF PURCHASE AND UP TO 200,000 MILES. TALKED TO LO…

    Read full complaint

    WHILE DRIVING, LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE CAME OUT. TOOK IT TO GM DEALER WHO SAID THAT IT THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING. LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THE SAME ACTION. GMC APPARENTLY DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ISSUE, BUT ONLY COVERED IT FOR 7 YEARS FROM TIME OF PURCHASE AND UP TO 200,000 MILES. TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DENIED THE SERVICE AND GM WONT REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10547854

    165,654 miles · Oct 3, 2013
    Fuel System, Diesel

    2003 GMC SIERRA 2500HD THE INJECTORS WANT BAD WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL HOUSING. SO CHANGED THAT NOW HAVING TO CHANGE INJECTORS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10546665

    200,000 miles · Jul 28, 2009
    Fuel System, Diesel

    STARTED VEHICLE AND FUEL INJECTOR IS NOT WORKING. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10278604

    117,000 miles · Jul 8, 2009
    Fuel System, Diesel

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO MONTHS AGO FOR THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY STALL. SINCE JULY 3, 2009, THE FAILURE HAS BEEN RECURRING WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. GM STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE …

    Read full complaint

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO MONTHS AGO FOR THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY STALL. SINCE JULY 3, 2009, THE FAILURE HAS BEEN RECURRING WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. GM STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO SO MANY CONSUMERS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. GM IS RESEARCHING AN ALTERNATIVE TO REPAIRING THE FUEL HOUSING FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/14/09.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10276138

    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.