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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.

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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

Parking Brake complaints

2 reports
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20,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingParking Brake

2003 GMC SIERRA TRUCK, STEERING, HAS A CLUNKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT 5,000 MILES, TOLD BY MECHANIC TO TAKE TO A DEALER, WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT SOMETHING HE WANTED TO UNDERTAKE DUE TO LIABILITY, ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH TO MUCH PLAY OR (SLAP) IN THE DRIVE SHAFT, TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED …

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2003 GMC SIERRA TRUCK, STEERING, HAS A CLUNKING NOISE STARTED ABOUT 5,000 MILES, TOLD BY MECHANIC TO TAKE TO A DEALER, WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT SOMETHING HE WANTED TO UNDERTAKE DUE TO LIABILITY, ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH TO MUCH PLAY OR (SLAP) IN THE DRIVE SHAFT, TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY REPLACED DRIVE SHAFT, DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM , SO APPARENTLY THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEM AND BASICALLY WERE GRABBING AT STRAWS, I STILL HAVE PROBLEM, FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT (ELECTRICAL PROBLEM). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315609

22,000 miles · Nov 25, 2009
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 PU TRUCK - CORRODED AND FAILING HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES. THIS TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME IN OCTOBER 2003, AND NOW HAS ONLY 23,700 MILES ON IT. A LINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK, WHICH FEEDS THE REAR WHEEL CALIPERS, RUSTED THROUGH IN JANUARY 2009. OTHER LINES IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF CORROSION WHI…

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2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 PU TRUCK - CORRODED AND FAILING HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES. THIS TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW BY ME IN OCTOBER 2003, AND NOW HAS ONLY 23,700 MILES ON IT. A LINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK, WHICH FEEDS THE REAR WHEEL CALIPERS, RUSTED THROUGH IN JANUARY 2009. OTHER LINES IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF CORROSION WHICH WILL LEAD TO FUTURE FAILURES. MECHANICS IN THIS AREA TELL ME THIS IS VERY COMMON, EVEN ON SOME NEWER GMC (AND SIMILAR CHEVROLET) VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE MECHANICS REPLACE THE FAULTY LINES WITH TUBING WHICH IS MORE CORROSION-RESISTANT THAN PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, ONE OF THE REAR, REAR WHEEL EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES ON THIS VEHICLE ALSO FAILED DUE TO CORROSION, AND THE OTHER ONE SHOWED SIGNS OF THE SAME FAILURE IMPENDING. BOTH WERE REPLACED. A SERIOUS, FUNDAMENTAL AND COMPOUND HAZARD EXISTS UNDER THIS SCENARIO. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THEE VEHICLES AND REPLACE ALL CRITICAL BRAKE COMPONENTS SUBJECT TO CORROSIVE FAILURES WITH CORROSION-PROOF (OR AT LEAST HIGHLY CORROSION-RESISTANT) PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293515

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.