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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.

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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

Steering complaints

10 reports
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157,000 miles · Feb 12, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering

HAD INJECTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 50000 MILES AFTER NOTICING EXCESS EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP AND ALSO POWER STEERING HOSES WERE LEAKING, AGAIN AT 105000 MILES THEY TOTALLY FAILED AS I WAS BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM HOSPITAL ON I-15 IN CA. UP CAJON PASS AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, BUT GM DEALER WOULD NOT COVER INJECTORS…

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HAD INJECTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 50000 MILES AFTER NOTICING EXCESS EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP AND ALSO POWER STEERING HOSES WERE LEAKING, AGAIN AT 105000 MILES THEY TOTALLY FAILED AS I WAS BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM HOSPITAL ON I-15 IN CA. UP CAJON PASS AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, BUT GM DEALER WOULD NOT COVER INJECTORS UNDER WARRANTY AS TRUCK WAS11 YEARS OLD AND THEIR COVERAGE WAS FOR 7 YEARS ONLY, NOW AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT 147000 MILES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE ON STARTUP. THIS TIME I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AS THEY WERE $1000 CHEAPER AND STATED THESE UPGRADED INJECTORS SHOULD LAST 150000 MILES NOT 50000. HAD TO HAVE POWER STEERING HOSES REPLACED AGAIN ALSO ALONG WITH POWER BRAKE SERVO BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING AGAIN AT 157000 MILES. I HAVE ALL OF THIS DOCUMENTED IN WRITING BY SERVICE DEPTS.

NHTSA ODI #11308791

170,000 miles · Feb 1, 2019
Service BrakesSteering

BRAKES ARE SPONGY NOT RIGHT POWER STEERING WHINES AS DO BRAKES

NHTSA ODI #11173437

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

99,000 miles · Dec 26, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure

MANY COMPONENTS UNDER THE TRUCK ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. TWO BRAKE LINES FAILED IN AUGUST 2011 DUE TO RUST. THE REST ARE READY TO FAIL SOON. THE POWER STEERING LINE RUSTED OUT THIS MONTH (DECEMBER). RUST AT SENSORS OF ABS SYSTEM CAUSES ERRATIC ABS OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441253

53,000 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Steering

2003-? GMC TRUCK, STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HAD SHAFT REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES DUE TO RATTLE AND THUMPING IN STEERING COLUMN. REPLACED AGAIN AT 53,000 MILES. POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO MANUFACTURE, ENGINEERING OR DESIGN. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED BY GM ONLY REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE OF SHAFT. UPON ONLINE SEARCH, I DISC…

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2003-? GMC TRUCK, STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HAD SHAFT REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES DUE TO RATTLE AND THUMPING IN STEERING COLUMN. REPLACED AGAIN AT 53,000 MILES. POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO MANUFACTURE, ENGINEERING OR DESIGN. PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED BY GM ONLY REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE OF SHAFT. UPON ONLINE SEARCH, I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER CONSUMERS THAT HAVE/HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GMC TRUCKS, VANS, SUVS, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362840

15,000 miles · Sep 5, 2006
Steering

STEERING COLUMN RATTLE. HAVE HAD SERVICE ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS, ALL PROVING UNSUCCESSFUL. FIXES HAVE BEEN EITHER LUBE INJECTION, OR REPLACEMENT OF INTERMEDIARY SHAFT. NO FIX HAS LASTED LONGER THAN 5,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167373

45,000 miles · Nov 1, 2005
Steering

LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SHAFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141386

15 miles · Jan 11, 2004
SteeringCrashInjury

2003 GMC 2500HD DURMAX TRUCK. WHEN YOU APPLY BRAKES HARD THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T TURN. GM SAYS THIS IS STANDARD OPERATING FOR THIS TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS ABS. ABS GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO STEER WHILE BREAKING. THIS IS HARD TO DO WHEN STEERING LOCKS UP. GM HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THERE ARE 3 OTHER TRUCKS ALL GM…

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2003 GMC 2500HD DURMAX TRUCK. WHEN YOU APPLY BRAKES HARD THE STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T TURN. GM SAYS THIS IS STANDARD OPERATING FOR THIS TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS ABS. ABS GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO STEER WHILE BREAKING. THIS IS HARD TO DO WHEN STEERING LOCKS UP. GM HAS SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THERE ARE 3 OTHER TRUCKS ALL GMC OR CHEVY IN MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL OF US HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONCE FROM GM. CALL BBB DONT CALL US.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052861

26,722 miles · Nov 9, 2003
Steering

2003 GMC 3/4 TON PICKUP. PROBLEM WITH INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. HAVE A 1999 GMC 3/4 TON THAT THE SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. SON HAS A 2001 TAHOE THAT HAS HAD THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED TWO TIMES. WHEN WILL SOMEONE MAKE THEM GET THIS FIXED IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045815

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2003
Steering

THE 4X4 WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR

NHTSA ODI #10006405

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.