RoadVitals

2003 GMC Sierra 2500 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
73
Latest Feb 1, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
46%
of 160 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 73, in the owner's own words

BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 1, 2019

BRAKES ARE SPONGY NOT RIGHT POWER STEERING WHINES AS DO BRAKES

NHTSA ID
11173437
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
170,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 2017

BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING DOWN AT OFF RAMP. AVOIDED ACCIDENT BUT HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, CHECKED FLUID LEVELS, WERE OK, TRIED BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY WERE WORKING. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE.HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF SIMILAR NATURE. SOME THINK IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE VALVING.HOPE YOU CAN FIND A CURE.

NHTSA ID
11013113
Incident
Jul 16, 2017
Mileage
233,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 28, 2016
1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING ON I 75 DOING 70 MPH I HAD TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP I APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS NO BRAKES., I ENDED UP PUTTING TRUCK IN THE DITCH TO AVOID SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT ENDED BOTH BRAKE LINES FROM MASTER CYLINDER BOTH BLEW UP FROM CORROSION THESE LINES WENT TO THE ABS MODULE. I WAS SOME WHAT INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10928370
Incident
Oct 8, 2016
Mileage
350,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 2016
Crash reported

ABS COMES ON AT LOW SPEED.. IT INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE.. I HAVE ONCE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE.. ALSO MY ABS LIGHT COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS MAYBE TWO OR THREE TIMES A MONTH..

NHTSA ID
10913828
Incident
Sep 14, 2016
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 12, 2016

BRAKE LINE FAILED, NO BRAKES WHILE HEADING FOR A RED LIGHT. DRIVE OFF ROAD TILL VEHICLE STOPPED. BRAKE LINE FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS CONTROL , ROTTED OUT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, ALL BRAKE LINES ARE ROTTED OUT. MY MECHANIC STATES THEY ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
10864659
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Mileage
142,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Feb 14, 2016

BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY. LUCKLY IT HAPPENED PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY! FUEL LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING FUEL PUDDLING ONTO THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID
10826044
Incident
Jul 18, 2015
Mileage
100,010 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 15, 2015

SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THAT SPLIT. MAIN LINE FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS MODULE AND REAR LINE JUST INBOARD OF LH REAR TIRE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON CITY STREET WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
10810278
Incident
Dec 13, 2015
Mileage
119,222 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 30, 2015

I WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK STOPPED SO I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND SAW BREAK FLUID POURING OUT OF A BREAK LINE THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE FORMER OWNER HAD ALREADY HAD ANOTHER BREAK LINE REPLACED BECAUSE HIS BREAKS HAD RUPTURED DUE TO THE LINES RUSTING THROUGH WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID WRECKING AND CAME TO A STOP. THIS TRUCK HAS LOW MILES AND ABOUT 90% OF ITS USE HAS BEEN DURING THE SUMMER SO IT HAS HAD LIMITED CONTACT WITH SALTED ROADS YET THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING AT AN INCREDIBLE RATE. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS SIMPLY MOVING THE TRUCK RATHER THAN HAULING MY CAMPER ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS IT'S TYPICAL USE; I AND/OR OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. THE RUSTING THROUGH OF THE BREAK LINES IS A SAFETY ISSUE!

NHTSA ID
10731294
Incident
Jun 27, 2015
Mileage
89,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 2015

CAME TO INTERSECTION FOR TURN, BROKE AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10681397
Incident
Feb 3, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
BrakesFuel systemTransmission
Filed Oct 26, 2014

BRAKE LINE LEAKS, BRAKE STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES. ALSO FUEL AND TRANSMISSION LINES ARE RUSTED BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650027
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
170,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 25, 2014

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PULLING A 10000 POUND TRAILER IN CAMP GROUND. THE BRAKE LINES UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE APPEARED TO BE CORROSION. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO REPAIR LOCATION. ALL BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED, COST $ 950 DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639142
Incident
Sep 18, 2014
Mileage
1,115,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 13, 2014

II PUT NEW BRAKE CALIPERS ON MY TRUCK TODAY AND HAD MY WIFE PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDDLE AS I BLED THE BRAKES AND GOT TO THE LAST CALIPER REARS THEN THE 2 FRONTS WHEN SHE TOLD ME THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS NOT HOLDING LIKE IT WAS , AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK AND I LOOKED UNDERNEATH & SEEN BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE BELOW DRIVERS DOOR THE FLUID UNDER PRESSURE BLEW OVER AGAINST THE HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AS U HAVE TO RUN ENGINE WHEN BLEEDING THE LINES LUCKY I GUESS IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE, BUT AFTER I GOT ON THE INTERNET TRYING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT I FOUND THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM , I DID SEE THE OTHER LINES LOOKED BAD ALSO THE FUEL LINES LOOKED THE SAME GOOD THING IT HAPPENED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME . MAYBE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF IF IT BURNT DOWN , G.M SHOULD FIX ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRUCKS ON THEIR DIME AS MUCH AS THESE TRUCKS COST. !! *TR

NHTSA ID
10610210
Incident
Jul 13, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 08/12/2014*LJ

NHTSA ID
10595883
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 5, 2014

DRIVING TO WORK ONE DAY, A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED TO TURN LEFT. I HIT MY BRAKES AND FELT A "POP" AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH SO AT THAT POINT, I AM A 55 MPH SPEAR ON WHEELS. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE ACROSS SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND THROUGH THEIR YARD. THIS WEEKEND WAS THE CITY WIDE GARAGE SALES, AND THANKFULLY, THESE FOLKS WERE NOT HAVING A SALE IN THEIR DRIVEWAY OR YARD, OR ELSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY RUST ISSUE WITH THIS TRUCK IS THE BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES. IF YOUR LINES RUST BEFORE YOUR BODY RUST, THEN I FEEL THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. IF IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE RUSTING THEN IT WOULDN'T BE AS BIG OF A DEAL. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING BRAKE LINES, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS FLAW CAUSES ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE, LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES THAT WERE 15, 20 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. SOMEONE'S LIFE IS WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN A CHEAPLY MADE BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586512
Incident
May 3, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 4, 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY 03 SIERRA, APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW AT FIRST BUT THEN THE PEDDLE IMMEDIATELY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I BEGAN TO PUMP IT BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I WAS HEADING TOWARD THE INTERSECTION, THE LIGHT WAS RED, WITH BUSY CROSS TRAFFIC. THE STREET I WAS ON IS NARROW AND STEEP AND I BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED. I SHIFTED THE TRANS INTO THE LOWEST GEAR AND STEPPED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE TRUCK FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, AS ONCOMING CARS LUCKILY AVOIDED HITTING ME. WHEN I WENT TO MY MECHANIC TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED, HE KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE TOLD ME, SIGHT UNSEEN, THAT THE BRAKE LINE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD RUPTURED. LATER, UPON INSPECTION, HE WAS CORRECT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR. HE REPLACED THE LINE AND I THOUGHT THAT HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM; UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO. AGAIN, I AM DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS TOWING A VERY LARGE TRAILER THIS TIME AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD LITTLE AFFECT. LUCKILY, THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO RIDE IT OUT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY THE 03 YEAR BUT 4 OR 5 YEARS PRIOR ALSO. ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF LINES SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE GM USED A UNCOATED STEEL WHICH BEGINS TO BE COMPROMISED WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS WHERE SALT IS HEAVILY USED IN THIS AREA. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT GM USED UNCOATED STEEL INSTEAD OF COATED OR STAINLESS TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS. HAD MY 17 YEAR OLD SON BEEN DRIVING, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TRUCK. ANOTHER IS ERRONEOUS SPEEDOMETER READINGS. I WILL ADDRESS THESE IN ANOTHER POST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586414
Incident
May 2, 2012
Mileage
93,070 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 2014

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR, I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP MY VEHICLE. LUCKILY I SWERVED TO AVOID TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME AND WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. UPON HAVING MY TRUCK TOWED, MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT MY BRAKE LINE FROM MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563218
Incident
Jan 25, 2014
Mileage
223,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2013

I CROSS THE ROUTE 18 ON MASSACHUSETTS WHEN THE BRAKE IS COMPLETELY GONE ALMOST INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557523
Incident
Dec 10, 2013
Mileage
127,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2013

I HAD STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND WHEN I LEFT I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I PUT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED . WAS ABLE TO GET TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH. ALL LINES HAD TO BE CHANGED, *TR

NHTSA ID
10546592
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
71,832 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 16, 2013

GOING DOWN A HILL APPROACHING A "T" INTERSECTION I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND WENT TO FLOOR, TRIED PUMPING NOTHING SO I PUT THE TRUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND THEN 2ND AND SHUT OFF MY LIGHTS TO SEE IF ANY CARS WHERE COMING INTO "T" . I NEED TO TURN LEFT, LUCKILY NO CARS MADE IT THRU. BUT I HAD TO CROSS A HWY BEFORE GETTING HOME. I DID THE SAME THING WENT FROM D TO 3RD TO 2ND, AGAIN NO CARS. WAS VERY LUCKY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543795
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
116,059 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2013

WHILE DRIVING UP TO AN INTERSECTION I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKES. THE CROSS TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING AT 50 MPH, AND MY ROAD STOPPED SO I HAD TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT. LUCKILY, BY SOME MIRACLE THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC JUST MISSED SLAMMING INTO ME. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM GM ASKING FOR ME TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINES CHECKED, EVEN THOUGH I SEE ONLINE THAT I AM FAR FROM ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SEE YOU STARTED INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE IN 2010 - WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? I WAS ALMOST KILLED AND NO ONE IS WARNING OWNERS OF GM TRUCKS I GUESS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OWNS PART OF GM THEY DON"T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RECALLS....... THE CONSUMER STATED THE REASON THE BRAKES FAILED, WERE DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES.

NHTSA ID
10534020
Incident
Aug 6, 2013
Mileage
78,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2013

AS I BEGAN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY MY BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD A RAPID DECREASE IN BRAKING POWER. UPON INVESTIGATION I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES RIGHT ABOVE THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE LED TO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ESPECIALLY WHEN SUCH A LARGE AND HEAVY TRUCK SUDDENLY LOSES BRAKING POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532731
Incident
Jul 27, 2013
Mileage
125,346 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 2, 2013

SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING A STOP LITE ,APPLIED BRAKES WAS A SHUDDER OF ANTI LOCK AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10514701
Incident
May 31, 2012
Mileage
54,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 19, 2013

WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT SPEED LIMIT, HIT BRAKES, REAR BRAKE LINE BURST (WAS SEVERELY RUSTED). I WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD ON BOARD IN HIS CAR SEAT. HOW WE BOTH MADE IT OUT OF THAT INCIDENT UNSCATHED IS AMAZING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND HIT THE PARKING BRAKE. IT TOOK MY SON A GOOD 2 MONTHS BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RID HIMSELF OF FEAR AND ANXIETY DUE TO WHAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10499202
Incident
Nov 1, 2012
Mileage
99,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE THAT CAUSED A LEAK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,075. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10495046
Incident
Jan 26, 2013
Mileage
99,075 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,505. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10483431
Incident
Nov 3, 2012
Mileage
108,500 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .