← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

160 reports
49,000 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE LINES, FRONT AND REAR ROTORS, AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49000.

NHTSA ODI #10344944

47,583 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER A BOAT INTO THE WATER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPLETE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STAT…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER A BOAT INTO THE WATER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPLETE BRAKE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,583 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,566. UPDATED 09/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/13/10/*LJ THE DEALER FOUND THREE BRAKE LINES RUSTED SEVERELY. UPDATED 10/19/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10342662

99,750 miles · Jul 12, 2010
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WITH WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT, THEY SUDDENLY RAN FULL-TIME AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF WIPERS IS PULL THE FUSE. WITH FUSE OUT, WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL, AND DRIVER'S DOOR MUST BE OPENED TO ACCESS FUSE AREA. THIS IS A HAZARD, AS WIPERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT OPENING DOOR. …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WITH WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT, THEY SUDDENLY RAN FULL-TIME AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF WIPERS IS PULL THE FUSE. WITH FUSE OUT, WIPERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL, AND DRIVER'S DOOR MUST BE OPENED TO ACCESS FUSE AREA. THIS IS A HAZARD, AS WIPERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT OPENING DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342616

76,948 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND RUPTURED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 25 MPH. HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE CONTACT THEN SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND RUPTURED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 25 MPH. HE WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP. THE CONTACT THEN SAW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT MANUFACTURER WOULD DECIDE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST IN THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,948.

NHTSA ODI #10335028

64,000 miles · May 21, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS DRIVING MY '03 GMC SIERRA 2500HD ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN, TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, NO HARDER THAN I NORMALLY WOULD, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO STOPPING ACTION FROM THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE T…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY '03 GMC SIERRA 2500HD ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN, TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, NO HARDER THAN I NORMALLY WOULD, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO STOPPING ACTION FROM THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BY DOWNSHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP, WHILE PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER. MY TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE ALONG THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRAME RAIL HAD RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSEMBLY ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST ON IT, AS WELL AS DEFECTIVE BRAKE SHOES. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE CAME TO APPROXIMATELY $450.00, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE REPLACEMENT CAME TO AROUND $900.00. THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO VERY CORRODED, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,450 TO REPLACE THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES ON THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331626

36,000 miles · May 6, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA RUPTURED FROM CORROSION BETWEEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE RUPTURE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND HEARD A RELEASE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AIR FROM AIR BRAKES, THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS LESS THAN A MINUTE APART. I NEW TH…

Read full complaint

THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA RUPTURED FROM CORROSION BETWEEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE RUPTURE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND HEARD A RELEASE OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AIR FROM AIR BRAKES, THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS LESS THAN A MINUTE APART. I NEW THE NOISE WAS FROM MY TRUCK BUT I WASN'T SURE FROM WHERE. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WALKED AROUND THE TRUCK AND DETERMINED I DIDN'T HAVE A LOW TIRE. WITH THE TRUCK STILL IN PARK I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, WHICH LED TO THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURING. I SAW STEAM FROM THE BRAKE FLUID THAT SPRAYED ONTO THE MANIFOLD. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN SAFELY TO MY HOME, WHICH WAS LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM WHERE I STOPPED THE TRUCK. I VISUALLY INSPECTED MY BRAKE LINES AND SAW CORROSION IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329217

56,292 miles · Apr 27, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON NOV. 14 2008 MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD 4X4 BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE GMC DEALER SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT 1 OF MY FORWARD LINES HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT 3 MORE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THAT THEY WOULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. WITH ONLY 56,292 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND NOT LIVING ON THE GULF COAST…

Read full complaint

ON NOV. 14 2008 MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD 4X4 BRAKE LINES FAILED. THE GMC DEALER SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED THAT 1 OF MY FORWARD LINES HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THAT 3 MORE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THAT THEY WOULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. WITH ONLY 56,292 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND NOT LIVING ON THE GULF COAST I WAS SURPRISED TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAD TO PAY $ 1209.69 TO GET THE LINES REPLACED AT THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327767

36,252 miles · Apr 12, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI WITH BRAKE LINE FAILURE PROBLEMS. *TGW THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A VERY SOFT PEDAL AND SOMETIMES THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. THE DEALER CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, ON AN INCLINE, SHE TRAVELED BACKWARDS OUT OF…

Read full complaint

2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI WITH BRAKE LINE FAILURE PROBLEMS. *TGW THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A VERY SOFT PEDAL AND SOMETIMES THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. THE DEALER CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, ON AN INCLINE, SHE TRAVELED BACKWARDS OUT OF CONTROL AND STRUCK THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGN. SHE EXPERIENCED NECK AND BACK PAIN. THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE TO FIND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING DOWN THE FRAME FROM ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED WITH A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10320899

134,955 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 SIERRA 2500HD BECAME ERRATIC AND THEN STUCK AT ABOUT 140 MPH AND STAYED THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303328

38,000 miles · Dec 10, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1) ABS SPEED SENSOR CORROSION CAUSING AN UNSAFE BRAKING SITUATION AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. 2) FAILURE OCCURS EVERY BRAKING SITUATION WHEN BELOW 10 MPH 3) 2003 MODEL YEAR NOT INCLUDED IN CURRENT RECALL BY GMC . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295276

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.