🚗 AutoDefect IQ

2003 Gmc Sierra problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (41) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel (17) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (14)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

76 /100
⚠ Buy with caution

Compared against other Gmc Sierra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 46 complaints 46 <25k 25–50k miles: 27 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 21 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 30 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 19 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 5 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 10 complaints 150k+

158 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

206
Complaints
0
Recalls
580
Service bulletins
8
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Deaths

Safety recalls (0)

No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).

Service bulletins (580)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly 2017-07-17 · 06-03-09-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.

Structure:body:tailgate 2017-02-08 · PIT3227M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. technician should not replace any parts for this concern. please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of thei

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2017-01-31 · PIT3665E · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information communication advises the technician that the hydro-boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.

Equipment:electrical 2016-02-23 · PIC5953A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using bluetooth voice recognition with an iphone. technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any emojis loaded to any contact.

Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-01-27 · 03-08-46-004R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this informational bulletin provides information on part restriction and ordering process information for onstar vehicle communication interface modules (vcim) (gmna only)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines 2015-05-29 · 02-07-30-052J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

this informational bulletin provides technicians with information regarding automatic transmission oil cooler flow test essential tool j-45096 transflow®.

Showing the 6 most recent of 580 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

2015-12-17 · Seats · 96,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. when inserting the key into the ignition, the seat moved forward and pinned the contact to the dashboard. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor drive software needed to be updated. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was notified …”

2015-10-28 · Service Brakes · 150,000 mi

“exiting off freeway ramp in indianapolis brake pedal went to the floor without notice and no brake fluid loss, nearly crashed crossing 5 lanes of cross traffic just lucky i wasn't broadsided by cross traffic. i received no notice of hazard from gm, no recall and only learned of this problem once researching on web. i am lucky to be alive.…”

2015-09-23 · Air Bags · 38,000 mi · 💥 crash

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. while accelerating from a stop sign,the contact's vehicle collided with another vehicle head on. as a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. the front end was completely damaged and the air bags failed to deploy. due to the failure of the air bags not deploying, the contact sustained a broken neck …”

2015-08-04 · Service Brakes · 105,985 mi

“i was approaching a stop light driving on a 4 lane 55 mph speed zone. as i was approaching the stop light i starting pressing on the brake pedal. the pedal had no resistance it kept going to the floor. i started pumping the pedal trying to slow my truck down, no use. i pushed pedal all the way to the floor. this slowed a little. but not enough. i…”

2015-07-15 · Service Brakes · 46,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. while driving at 60 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but took a longer distance to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic multiple times who diagnosed that the brake lines needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notifie…”

2015-06-29 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 157,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. while driving approximately 45 mph, the rpms increased to 3,500 without warning. the dealer diagnosed that the fuel lines were rusted, fractured, and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 157,000.…”

2015-03-20 · Service Brakes · 73,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. while driving approximately 60 mph, the brakes were depressed and traveled abruptly to the floor. the vehicle failed to come to a stop until the emergency brake was engaged as the brake pedal was applied. the vehicle was towed to the residence. the contact discovered that the entire brake lines fractured due …”

2015-01-12 · Service Brakes · 106,000 mi

“while traveling in my 2003 gmc sierra truck at approximately 45 mph i stepped on the brake pedal to stop at a stop sign and the pedal went 3/4 of the way down to the floor, then the brake light came on and the truck did not stop as quickly as it usually does ( glad i was not going any faster) . upon checking the truck it was discovered that the f…”

2014-12-17 · Service Brakes · 70,200 mi

“on 11/11/2014, truck suddenly veered to left, crossed middle of road and went halfway into ditch, road did have a small amount of snow[1/2 inch], this happened just as i topped a small hill. on 11/16/2014 again as i topped a hill on a curve the truck suddenly veered to the left, crossed the middle of the road and did go completely in the ditch. on…”

2014-12-09 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 60,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. the contact stated that all the gauges on the instrumental panel failed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the panel cluster failed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000 updated 1/28/15*cn…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Gmc Sierra years