RoadVitals

2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Hd

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jan 28, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Hd, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 111 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes631.6%
  • Electrical421.1%
  • Engine315.8%
  • Visibility315.8%
  • Powertrain (other)15.3%
  • Steering15.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning15.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 16
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jan 28, 2015

I AM AN ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, I OWN AN AUTO/TRUCK REPAIR FACILITY. WE ARE A STATE OF OREGON AUTHORIZED DEQ REPAIR FACILITY, STATE OF OREGON DAS FLEET REPAIR FACILITY, US ARMY BASE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND MORE. DRIVING MY TRUCK TO TACOMA WASHINGTON. I WAS TOWING A VEHICLE ON IN THE RIGHT SLOW LANE, AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE VIBRATED AND RUNS ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. CANNOT BRAKE OR STEER, TOTAL LACK OF POWER. SEMI-TRUCK NEARLY REAR ENDS ME AS I CANNOT GO OVER 10 MPH. NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, PERIOD. I WAS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND EVERYONE WAS SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID PILE-UP AS I HAD NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER TO. A MILE OR SO LATER I PULLED OVER, AND SHUT OFF TRUCK. RESTARTED FEW MINUTES LATER AND CEL WAS ON, BUT REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS OUT. I CONTINUED MY DRIVE, BUT NOW CAUTIOUSLY. IT HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES GETTING TO TACOMA, AND 5 TIMES RETURNING BACK TO PDX. NOW AFRAID OF TRUCK. I FINALLY ARRIVED TO MY SHOP THE NEXT DAY AND SCANNED. CODES READ MAF FAIL, TPS FAIL. REPLACED THROTTLE PEDAL ASSY, THROTTLE BODY WITH POSITION SENSOR, WIRING TO THE THROTTLE BODY, CHECKED GROUNDS, REPLACED BATTERY AND MORE AS STATED BY GM TECH'S. STILL HAPPENS EVERY DAY. SEEMS LIKE UNDER LOW ACCELERATION, ENGINE BUCKS THEN CEL APPEARS AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER RETURNS. GM HAS NO OFFERS OR EXPLANATIONS FOR REPAIRS. I AM A CERTIFIED ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN AND HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF THIS UNTIL I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS HAPPENS TO OTHERS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MOST GM OWNERS IN THE "FLY BY WIRE" TYPE OF VEHICLES. NO FIXES, NO HELP FROM GM. THIS HAS AND IS STILL OCCURRING EVEN TODAY 1/27/2015 WITH NO FIXES. VEHICLE IS BEING PARKED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AS THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ID
10679355
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
165,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 2, 2014

I EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK THAT FLASHES AN ERROR CODE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". THIS IS TIED TO ERROR CODE P1516. USUALLY THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN COLDER PARTS OF THE YEAR, AND ON A COLD SOAKED ENGINE, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES AS WELL. AS SOON AS THE ERROR OCCURS THE THROTTLE SHUTS AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY INERTIA TO ATTEMPT TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE INTERSTATE, AND THOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, I DO CONSIDER IT DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITHOUT A SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576587
Incident
Oct 16, 2011
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 22, 2014
Fire reported

A FIRE IN THE DASH BOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR BACK YARD DRIVE WAY. DASH BOARD AREA MELTED WHERE THE HEAD UNIT AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS LOCATED. BURNED THE HEAD LINER WHERE A COMPARTMENT WAS. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE INSIDE/OUTWARD. BURNED SPOTS ON THE SEATS FROM THE DASH BOARD BURNING. EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAB IS BLACK. ALL WINDOWS WERE UP AND TRUCK WAS LOCKED. FIRE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN WE WERE ALL ASLEEP. WE DROVE THE TRUCK ON 2/20/14, WITH NO PROBLEMS. PARKED IT IN THE DRIVE WAY ABOUT 5:30 PM ON 2/20/13. NEXT MORNING SAW THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, BUT FACING OUTWARD. OPENED THE DOOR AND WAS IN SHOCK. THIS TRUCK IS VARY SPECIAL TO US. IT BELONGED TO OUR SON THAT PAST AWAY 1/10/2013. CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS FOR 2003 SIERRA 1500 HD CREW CAB. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565451
Incident
Feb 21, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2013

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE LINE. AFTER REPLACING THE LINE MYSELF, I PERFORMED A TEST RUN AND YET ANOTHER LINE FAILED DUE TO THE CORROSION PROBLEM. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS IN CANADA, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE US. I FEEL THAT TEN YEARS AND ONLY 84,000 MILES IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE TIMEFRAME/MILEAGE TO BE EXPERIENCING BRAKE LINE CORROSION FAILURE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. IN FACT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS CORRODED FAR WORSE THAN MY 2000 HONDA CIVIC WHICH HAS 175,000 MILES ON IT. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THE CORROSION ISSUES WITH THE SIERRA PICKUP LINE IN THE US. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557583
Incident
Nov 21, 2013
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 12, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10551927
Incident
Nov 10, 2013
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 14, 2013

RUSTY BRAKE LINES FAILED UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHILE TOWING A BOAT IMMEDIATELY CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY. I HAD TO HAVE THE LINES REPLACED IN A SMALL SHOP DUE TO LOCATION AND LACK OF DEALERSHIPS. VEHICLE IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS 82000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535274
Incident
Jul 10, 2012
Mileage
82,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 20, 2013

EXTREMELY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE - ALWAYS SERVICED AT GM DEALERSHIP, AND RECENTLY SAFETY STATE INSPECTED. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED UNDER TRUCK CAB LEADING TO REAR WHEELS. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. INSPECTION OF BRAKE LINE AT THE FRAME WHERE RUPTURE OCCURRED REVEALS ALL LINES LEADING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ARE SO CORRODED AND ROTTEN THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THIS DIDN'T OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, OTHERWISE, I WOULD NOT BE MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503720
Incident
Mar 16, 2013
Mileage
123,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 16, 2012

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER DEFECT. THE LETTER EXTENDED THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS 80,000 MILES ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER DUE TO DEFECTS. THE LETTER SAID IN BOLD UNDERLINED WORDS NOT TO BRING THE TRUCK IN IF IT IS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS NOW PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING. IT IS STUCK AT 80MPH AND WILL NOT MOVE. I TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP AND GM WILL NOT FIX THE UNIT SINCE IT IS TO OLD. I BELIEVE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM AND GM HAS NOT HAD TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE UNIT? GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR ALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND TRUCKS WITH THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10484983
Incident
Oct 25, 2012
Mileage
102,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

23-NA-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sierra 1500 Hd by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005111038.4
2004310—
2003Viewing161035.8
2002910—
2001910—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.