2003 GMC Sierra problems
NHTSA has received 248 complaints about the 2003 GMC Sierra, and 35% of them involve brakes. Next are electrical system (12%) and steering (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 248 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 51,000 miles 190 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 50 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 30 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 25 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 21 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 10 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 190 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 51,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (78 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the GMC Sierra with enough data (146 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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 and head fractures that required medical attention. The injuries ultimately LED to the contact's death. A police report was filed.
I am an attorney in akron, ohio and I represent the family of a man that died and a man who suffered serious brain injuries while riding on the tailgate of a 2003 GMC sierra when the tailgate straps broke.
Truck was entering major highway,traffic begins too slow due to rush hour ,seeing this occur I stepped on brakes expecting to slow down ,until I realized pedal had gone all the way to floor,then I let up an pushed to floor again-no brakes no room to go left or right impact was unavoidable,impacted car twice which pushed that car into another this truck was serviced by GM dealer for transmission cooling line and engine cooling lines monday tuesday and wednesday, no mention of brake lines issue, accident occurred on…
Backing out of a parking space I applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I hit a steel pole causing damage to my rear bumper. I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong. I inspected the truck and found brake fluid dripping from under the vehicle in the area of the drivers door. Further inspection showed the brake lines were very rusted which I attribute to the brake line failure.
I was driving down my street and tried to stop at the stop sign. The brake pedal started to stop the vehicle and then suddenly went straight to the floor. I drove the one block back to my house and parked the vehicle. I observed a large puddle of brake fluid under the drivers door. Upon inspection, I saw a bundle of rusty brake tubes running down the frame rail of the truck. I had the truck towed to my mechanic.