2003 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
180 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 162 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 180 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 106 | 58.9% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 55 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 32 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Service Brakes: 55; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 32; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 32; Electrical System: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Steering: 11; Air Bags: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 44 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 44; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 13
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 13; 2007: 21; 2008: 23; 2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 20; 2012: 14; 2013: 11; 2014: 21; 2015: 13; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 106 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10163616 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING UNWARRANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THE VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN MICHIGAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 12/15/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED AT COST. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL #05V379000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168581 · 2006-09-18 (September 18, 2006)
VEHICLE BRAKE ANTI-LOCK ENGAGES AT LOW SPEED. 1 OCCURRENCE OF LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE SLOWING ON STEEP HILL. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM EVERY TIME I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR PARKING. MY MODEL YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN EARLIER MODEL YEARS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163081 · 2006-07-21 (July 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, AND A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER REMOVED THE SHAFT SECTOR, REGREASED IT, AND REINSTALLED IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167482 · 2006-09-06 (September 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON ANY ROAD CONDITIONS, WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220598 · 2008-03-07 (March 7, 2008)
2003 GMC SIERRA WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR BROKE, SPEEDOMETER FAILED DUE TO STEPPER MOTOR FAILURE, TRUCK IS ON THE THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, AND UPPER SUPPORT COLUMN BEARINGS, AND MORE PROBLEMS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE UPPER SUPPORT BEARING, BUT REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT INSTEAD. THE REAR PLANATERY FORWARD CLUTCH WAS BURNT, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255730 · 2009-01-20 (January 20, 2009)
LOSS OF 3RD GEAR. TRIES TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND JUST RED LINE'S. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176051 · 2006-12-13 (December 13, 2006)
THE SPEEDOMETER, THE HEAT GAUGE, AND MY BATTERY GAUGE ARE ALL PEGGED AND DO NOT WORK AT ALL ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 WITH 50K MILES...I'VE READ NUMEROUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE...THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GMC'S... *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10176051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221292 · 2008-03-15 (March 15, 2008)
RECEIVED LETTER FROM GMC ABOUT CLUSTER PANEL GAUGES STICKING OR FLUTTERING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME AND MILEAGE WAS OVER THE 70,000 STATED IN LETTER. LATER THE OIL GAUGE STARTED FLUTTERING AND BATTERY GAUGE REGISTERS BATTERY AS DEAD. CONTACTED GMC ON 1/17/08, WAS TOLD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD BE DIAGNOSED BY CERTIFIED GMC SERVICE PERSONAL. I WAS GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER TO USE WHEN CONTACTING GMC. I HAD HPR AUTOMOTIVE IN SULLLIVAN,IL. DIAGNOSE THE PANEL.-COST $85. DIAGNOSIS WAS CLUSTER PANEL DEFECTIVE. GMC CONTACTED HPR TO VER…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,377 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293515 · 2009-11-25 (November 25, 2009)
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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10430779 · 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INVESTIGATED, AND CAUSE FOUND TO BE LOSS OF FUEL TANK PRESSURE DUE TO ROTTED OUT FUEL FILLER NECK. ORIGINAL PART MADE OF NON-CORROSION RESISTANT STEEL. OTHER CORROSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE INVOLVED BRAKE LINES. THE FIRST LINE WAS REPLACED IN 2007, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. A MORE EXTENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED LINES WAS DONE IN 2008 OR 2009. THESE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY AND EMISSIONS RELATED PROBLEMS, AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A RESULT OF THEM. OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS IN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358147 · 2010-09-28 (September 28, 2010)
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. FAILURE, NO POWER ASSIST TO LEFTHAND TURNS. POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. 9-30-09 DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLE PT# 88965789 S/GR REM 6.508. 9-13-10 NO EVENT LEADING TO FAILURE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST FOR LEFTHAND TURNS POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRUCK. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLE PT# 88965789 S/GR REM 6.508 THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW ON THIS TRUCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 125,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358147 at NHTSA ↗