2003 Gmc SIERRA 2500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
160 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 141 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 160 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 75 | 46.9% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.1% |
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, Hydraulic | 33 |
| Service Brakes | 28 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 12 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 33; Service Brakes: 28; Electrical System: 21; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 12; Steering: 8; Engine: 6; Fuel System, Diesel: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 34 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 16
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2003: 8; 2004: 8; 2005: 3; 2006: 11; 2007: 13; 2008: 11; 2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 20; 2012: 14; 2013: 12; 2014: 12; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 10006405 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
THE 4X4 WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009983 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014459 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TOO SLOWLY WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO HIGHWAY AND NOT PROPERLY DOWNSHIFTING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017400 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
THE VEHICLE LEAKED DIESEL FUEL FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RAN HOT, WHICH COMBINED WITH THE FUEL LEAK, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020955 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING, WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP / LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023559 · 2003-06-22 (June 22, 2003)
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 SLOGA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030141 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045815 · 2003-11-09 (November 9, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 26,722 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045815 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.