2003 Gmc SIERRA 1500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10161459 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND I SMELLED A WEIRD SMELL. I THOUGHT MY AIR CONDITIONING MAY BE MESSING UP SO I TURNED OFF MY AIR AND OPENED MY WINDOW. I STILL SMELLED THE WEIRD SMELL WITH THE WINDOW DOWN SO I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ODOR FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OR JUST GENERALLY OUTSIDE. I NOTICED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FLAGGING ME DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND SHE TOLD ME MY TRUCK WAS SMOKING AND SHE THOUGHT SHE SAW A FLAME OUT THE BACK. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD BETTER AND GOT OUT TO LOOK. I LOOKED IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE CAB AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161459 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 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 10165278 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
SPEEDOMETER ACTS ALL ERRATIC, SOMETIMES WILL SHOW I AM GOING 30 MPH MORE THEN I REALLY AM, MAY SOMETIMES SHOW THE NEEDLE BEING BURIED AND NOT GOING OVER 20 MPH ACTUALLY, SOMETIMES DOESN'T REGISTER AT ALL, NEEDLE IS JUMPY, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING ONCE MY VEHICLE HIT 51K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT MAY BE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND COULD COST UPWARDS OF $1300 TO REPLACE.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,267 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165278 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 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 10170342 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT LEFT DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE RAN THE STOP SIGN. BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT, BUT FRACTURED A BONE IN THE NECK AND INCURRED BRUISING TO THE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172003 · 2006-10-27 (October 27, 2006)
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, SOMETIMES SHOWS OVER 100 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172003 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2004-11-26 (November 26, 2004)
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗