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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

    Vehicle Speed Control complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    217,000 miles · Feb 5, 2018
    Vehicle Speed Control

    COMPLAINT INVOLVES REDUCED POWER MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DROP IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. IT IS UNSAFE TRYING TO EXIT TRAFFIC LANES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THROTTLE PEDAL AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DRIVE BY WIRE VEHICLES PRODUCED BY GENERAL MOTORS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEAL…

    Read full complaint

    COMPLAINT INVOLVES REDUCED POWER MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DROP IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. IT IS UNSAFE TRYING TO EXIT TRAFFIC LANES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THROTTLE PEDAL AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DRIVE BY WIRE VEHICLES PRODUCED BY GENERAL MOTORS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, TIMES OF DAY, TEMPERATURES ETC. IT WILL ENTER REDUCED POWER ONCE TO TWICE A DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

    NHTSA ODI #11066962

    Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2014
    Vehicle Speed Control

    ISSUE WITH THROTTLE BODY REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHEN DRIVING THROWS OUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THOUSAND OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE MOST HAVE JUST STOPPED DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE LIKE I HAVE BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HOPING NOT JUST FOR ME BUT EVERYONE OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE TO GET A RECALL BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE. I H…

    Read full complaint

    ISSUE WITH THROTTLE BODY REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHEN DRIVING THROWS OUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THOUSAND OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE MOST HAVE JUST STOPPED DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE LIKE I HAVE BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HOPING NOT JUST FOR ME BUT EVERYONE OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE TO GET A RECALL BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK IN THREE YEARS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10568834

    124,000 miles · Sep 18, 2013
    EngineVehicle Speed Control

    I KEEP GETTING REDUCED ENGINE POWER P1516 CODE . READING THE POST'S ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A REAL COMMON PROBLEM.ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DISPLAY 120 MPH SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT.

    NHTSA ODI #10544175

    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

    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.