2003 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 57.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Service Brakes: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 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 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10150304 · 2006-02-15 (February 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK, IT FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS BUCKLED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND HOLD THE CONTACT IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AT SUCH FORCE THE WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS LYING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE ASPHALT. AFTER THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182300 · 2007-02-12 (February 12, 2007)
2003 GMC SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408894 · 2011-06-25 (June 25, 2011)
POWER STEERING AND/OR BRAKING MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE OR DRASTICALLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE WHEN USED AT SAME TIME BECAUSE POWER STEERING PUMP IS ALSO POWER BRAKE PUMP AND SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE OR FLOW CAPACITY TO SUPPLY BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING TOGETHER. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10408894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421632 · 2011-08-26 (August 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC 3500 DURAMAX . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445199 · 2012-01-25 (January 25, 2012)
I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 3500 SERIES TRUCK. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP BEFORE STRIKING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS ARE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT FOR A $4200. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED LAST FEBRUARY AND PUT LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WHICH WERE REPLACED THEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,503 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10491894 · 2013-01-08 (January 8, 2013)
I ONLY HAD 27050 MILES WHEN BRAKE LINES, BURST LUCKILY TRAVELING ONLY 5 MPH. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THEN AT 28,640 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GM DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUALITY OF GM? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654338 · 2014-11-12 (November 12, 2014)
BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED, TRUCK IS BEYOND WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS RECALLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654338 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.