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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
157,000 miles · Mar 24, 2009
Electrical System

MY SPEEDO WAS ACTING ERRATICALLY AND FINALLY HAS STOP WORKING AT ALL. IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE AND I AM HEARING ALOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM FRIENDS AND THE COMPANY I WORK FOR WHO HAS SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES THEY ARE ALL GOING BAD. MY VEHICLE IS 03 GMC SIERRA AND MOST THE OTHERS I KNOW OF ARE SIMILAR TRUCKS AND SUVS. I HAVE BEEN …

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MY SPEEDO WAS ACTING ERRATICALLY AND FINALLY HAS STOP WORKING AT ALL. IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE AND I AM HEARING ALOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM FRIENDS AND THE COMPANY I WORK FOR WHO HAS SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES THEY ARE ALL GOING BAD. MY VEHICLE IS 03 GMC SIERRA AND MOST THE OTHERS I KNOW OF ARE SIMILAR TRUCKS AND SUVS. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING TWICE NOW BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING UNTIL MY SPEEDO QUIT WORKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL I HERE THIS IS A EXPENSIVE PROBLEM TO FIX . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262963

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2009
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP TRUCK FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEPPER MOTORS AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT IT. CERTAINLY, ONE HAS TO KNOW THE SPEED THEY ARE TRAVELING,ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL AND CONSTRUCTION ZONES. MARK THESE WORDS "SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED" THERE ARE SEV…

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THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP TRUCK FAILS UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEPPER MOTORS AND THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT IT. CERTAINLY, ONE HAS TO KNOW THE SPEED THEY ARE TRAVELING,ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL AND CONSTRUCTION ZONES. MARK THESE WORDS "SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED" THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND YOU AND YET NOTING IS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IS IT GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A FATALITY BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED. NO WONDER THE CAR COMPANIES ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257583

124,000 miles · Jan 20, 2009
Power Train

LOSS OF 3RD GEAR. TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND JUST RED LINE'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255730

93,050 miles · Dec 27, 2008
Electrical System

2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 SPEEDOMETER FAILED -- DRIFTED FULLY UPSCALE. NO PRECURSOR - WAS DRIVING STEADY AT 45 MPH. 93000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FIRST TIME FAILURE - BUT IT IS A HARD FAILURE - READING >120 MPH WITH CAR SHUTOFF IN DRIVEWAY. I ADJUSTED MY SPEED DOWN TO BE BELOW WHAT I HOPED WOULD MEET THE SPEED LIMIT. IT APPEARS …

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2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 SPEEDOMETER FAILED -- DRIFTED FULLY UPSCALE. NO PRECURSOR - WAS DRIVING STEADY AT 45 MPH. 93000 MILES ON VEHICLE. FIRST TIME FAILURE - BUT IT IS A HARD FAILURE - READING >120 MPH WITH CAR SHUTOFF IN DRIVEWAY. I ADJUSTED MY SPEED DOWN TO BE BELOW WHAT I HOPED WOULD MEET THE SPEED LIMIT. IT APPEARS GMC HAS ISSUED SERVICE NOTICES ON THIS ... I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ON THE INTERNET: SUBJECT:BULLETIN GMP07-174 - SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT #07187 --- SOME CUSTOMERS OF 2003-2004 MODEL YEAR CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, AND TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA, ENVOY, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES HAVE REPORTED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP) CLUSTER GAUGES STICK, FLUTTER, OR BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS MAY CAUSE INACCURATE READINGS, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252891

90,000 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2003 GMC 1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCK...WON'T STOP SLOW SPEED ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248354

16,491 miles · Sep 19, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT FEELS BUMPING OR BANGING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16491 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT FEELS BUMPING OR BANGING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16491 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT TWICE. UPDATED 10/23/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10242890

100,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN ALL GUAGES AND WARNING LIGHTS FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242863

75,000 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. CHECKED ON RECALLS TO SEE IF THIS WAS ANOTHER DEFECT BUT SAW THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT GOING ON WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238610

31,000 miles · Jul 2, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, THE ABS WOULD SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND STATED THAT IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURES MENTIONED IN THE 2005 SIERRA …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, THE ABS WOULD SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF AND STATED THAT IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURES MENTIONED IN THE 2005 SIERRA K1500 RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,580.

NHTSA ODI #10233022

60,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Steering

CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN AT LOW SPEEDS ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. FEELS LIKE SERIOUS FRONT-END MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. CURRENT MILEAGE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IS 60,000. I LEARNED FROM GM THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I…

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CLUNKING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN AT LOW SPEEDS ON BUMPY ROADS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. FEELS LIKE SERIOUS FRONT-END MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. CURRENT MILEAGE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA IS 60,000. I LEARNED FROM GM THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 24,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT NEEDED REPLACING AGAIN. $207 FOR NEW SHAFT AND $92 LABOR. NEW, IMPROVED PART # IS 19153614. IF GM KNEW THE ORIGINAL SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE, WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE TO RECALL IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230399

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.