IllustrationTHERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TRANSFER CASE THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE ENGAGING INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAILED PART. ALSO, FRONT DRIVESHAFT WAS LOOSE, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEEL TO VIBRATE/SHAKE.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 2500 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
140–25K
2825–50K
2950–75K
2075–100K
34100–150K
17150K+
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 reports2003 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
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
WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A STOP, HE NOTICED THE TRAILER BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS IN WHICH GMC HAD SWITCHED TWO OF THE WIRES ON THE TRUCK AT THE FACTORY. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW BRAKE CONTROLLER BECAUSE IT BURNED UP . *AK *JB
I HAVE A 2003 GMC 2500 HD DURAMAX DIESEL. MY COMPLAINT IS THE AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T SEEM TO COOL VERY WELL. I HAD A 2002 MODEL AND IT COOLED ALOT BETTER. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS CHANGE OTHER THAN THIS IS A DUAL ZONE SYSTEM BUT IS NOT FOR THE BETTER. I WOULD LIKE IF GMC WOULD CHANGE IT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN 2002, ESPECIALL…
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I HAVE A 2003 GMC 2500 HD DURAMAX DIESEL. MY COMPLAINT IS THE AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T SEEM TO COOL VERY WELL. I HAD A 2002 MODEL AND IT COOLED ALOT BETTER. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS CHANGE OTHER THAN THIS IS A DUAL ZONE SYSTEM BUT IS NOT FOR THE BETTER. I WOULD LIKE IF GMC WOULD CHANGE IT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN 2002, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. I AM A PROFESSIONAL AND WHEN I CLIMB INTO MY TRUCK ON A HOT DAY I SOAK A PERFECTLY GOOD SHIRT WAITING ON IT TO COOL DOWN IN THE CAB. THIS IS PATHETIC TO THINK THAT GMC'S SLOGAN IS "PROFESSIONAL GRADE" NOT AS FAR AS THE AC! *NLM
FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING, WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP / LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. *NLM
THE VEHICLE LEAKED DIESEL FUEL FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RAN HOT, WHICH COMBINED WITH THE FUEL LEAK, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *NLM
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TOO SLOWLY WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO HIGHWAY AND NOT PROPERLY DOWNSHIFTING. *NLM
THE 4-WHEEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD WHICH INDICATED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS ON, WHEN IT WAS NOT, THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP ON 6 OCCASIONS, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE 4X4 WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.