Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 34 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.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR DOES NOT OPERATE. UPON INSPECTION, HARNESS AND FINAL STAGE ARE DAMAGED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. I NEED TO REPLACE BOTH COMPONENTS BECAUSE I FEAR IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. MANY POSTS ON THE SAME THING. WHY IS THERE NOTHING DONE ABOUT THIS? MY BMW HAD SAME ISSUE BUT IT WAS A RECALL ON THEIR CARS. WHY IS IT NOT A RECALL ON GM? IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY?
GMC 2500 DIESEL HD SLE SIERRA REARWHEEL DRIVE INSTRUMENT PANAY IS INOPERATIVE. HAVE TO USE IPHONE FOR SPEED AND GUESS AT GAS EFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL INTERIOR LIGHTS FAN SPEED AND CD PLAYER
(ELECTRICAL) AS AN ONGOING ISSUE, THE DASHBOARD GAUGES/INDICATORS (I.E. TACH, SPEEDOMETER, ETC..) WILL SOMETIMES NOT REGISTER UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING (THIS COULD BE FOR UP TO MILES) IT HAS NOT AFFECTED VEHICLE PERFORMANCE TO DATE. (FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM) I HAVE BEGUN HAVING ISSUES WHERE IT GOES INTO "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC ATTEMPTS HAVE LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (PART OF THE THROTTLE BODY), TAC MODULE, OR APP ASSEMBLY (ACCELERATOR PEDAL). MOST LIKELY CAUSE MAY BE DUE TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, AS THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON "CRUISE CONTROL". HOWEVER, DUE TO THE INFERIOR DESIGN OF THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT ITSELF, THE MANUFACTURE HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT OR IF DESIGNED TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE JUST THE TPS, BY RIVETING THE TPS TO THE THROTTLE BODY, AND MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY. I AM HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR, AND WILL ELABORATE FURTHER UPON SUCCESSFUL REPAIR IF DESIRED. *TR
WHEN PLACED IN PARK THEN TURNED OFF THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE WHILE RUNNING THE KEY WOULD COME OUT FREELY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABNORMALLY AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAD FAILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO REGISTER INACCURATELY THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. *TR
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS BEEN FAILING ONE GAUGE AT THE TIME SINCE 4 YEARS AGO, FINALLY IT QUIT ALL TOGETHER, I CALLED GM AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO CHARGE ME FOR CHECK UP AND POSSIBLY GET ME A NEW CLUSTER FOR 400.00 WHAT A JOKE. I KNOW GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NOTHING GETS DONE. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET GM TO GET THIS PROBLEMS SERVICED WITH NO COST, AFTER ALL IT'S THEIR REPUTATION.... I WON'T BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE. *TR
2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD EXT. CAB, 8-FT. BOX. IN COOLER WEATHER, FALL, WINTER, SPRING, THE GAUGES MALFUNCTION. THAT IS, THE SPEEDO AND TACH READ WILDLY HIGH OR DON'T ACTIVATE AT ALL, AND THE OTHER GAUGES ALL ARE NON FUNCTIONAL. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND IS APPARENT WHEN STARTING ON COLD MORNINGS. SO FAR, SYMPTOMS HAVE DISAPPEARED IN WARMER TEMPS. IT HAS OCCURRED EVERY YEAR. THERE IS AN ADVISORY, BUT GMC WON'T ACT ON MY WORD, MUST SEE IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO INACCURATELY READ A SPEED OF 90 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL READING INACCURATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE GAUGE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.
MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 SIERRA 2500HD BECAME ERRATIC AND THEN STUCK AT ABOUT 140 MPH AND STAYED THERE. *TR
GAUGE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DEFECTIVE ON 2003 GMC SIERRA. SPEEDOMETER READING INCORRECT SPEED. CONSIDERED A SAFETY DEFECT. UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE VEHICLE SPEED. GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIPS UNWILLING TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
THE ELECTRICAL GAUGES ALL OF SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. THE BATTERY GAUGE CAME ON FIRST , PULLED OVER AND BATTERY WAS FINE. THEN ALL GAUGES JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER LIGHT FAILED FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED LATER AND THE ENTIRE PANEL WENT BLACK. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.UPDATED 06/17/09. *LJ THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES FAILED COMPLETELY. UPDATED 06/17/09.*JB
FAULTY SPEEDOMETER, READS120MPH MOST OF THE TIME. *TR
SPEEDOMETER , FUEL GAUGE ETC. WENT AT 93,000 MILES. GMC KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL ONLY FIX IT ON A LIMITED BASIS. NOT EVERY ONE WAS INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WILL ONLY FIX IT IF YOU ARE UNDER 70K MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 120 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT TO SEE IF THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RESET ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT PERFORM REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 104,571.
GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. NO LIGHTS, NO ODOMETER, NO INFORMATION AT ALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE NOTICING THE SMOKE. THE HOOD COULD NOT BE OPENED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 09/25/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A POSSIBLE FUEL LINE FAILURE. UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND PREVENTED HIM FROM KNOWING HOW FAST HE IS TRAVELING, OR ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
AT AROUND 102K MILES, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE QUIT RETURNING TO ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS MOVING. NEEDLE MAY COME TO REST AT ANY POINT ON THE DIAL WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED, AND THE REST POINT MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE SPEED (E.G., NEEDLE MAY INITIALLY INDICATE 30 MPH AT REST, BUT ACTUAL SPEED UNDERWAY ISN'T NECESSARILY 30 MPH LESS THAN INDICATED BECAUSE THE REST POINT MAY HAVE CHANGED). AND WHEN THE DIAL ZEROS AT 120 MPH, THE TRUCK EFFECTIVELY HAS NO SPEEDOMETER AT ALL RATHER THAN JUST AN INACCURATE ONE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM WARNING OF POTENTIAL INSTRUMENT FAILURES AND OFFERING FREE REPAIR ON VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES; AN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH GM CONFIRMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR MINE FOR FREE OR AT REDUCED COST. INTERNET DISCUSSIONS AND ADS FOR INSTRUMENT REPAIRS REVEAL THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON A RANGE OF '03-'06 GM VEHICLES. THE GM DEALER I CALLED WILL FIX THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR $500 -- ROUGHLY 3 TIMES WHAT REPAIR SERVICES ADVERTISING ON THE INTERNET CHARGE TO REPLACE ALL THE DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS IN THE CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY SAFETY-RELATED (THINK OF MISJUDGING SPEED IN A ROLLOVER-PRONE VEHICLE GOING INTO A SHARP CURVE), AND TO THE DEGREE THAT IS VIRTUALLY INEVITABLE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL RATHER THAN A LIMITED "SECRET WARRANTY". *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WORKS SOMETIMES BUT OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SPEED IS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
SPEEDOMETER READS HIGH & LOW NO RELATION TO ACTUAL SPEED. CONSTANT PROBLEM. EXCESSIVE COST TO REPAIR USING HAND HELD GPS FOR NOW. 2003 GMC 2500 SIERRA HD 4X4.
SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T READ CORRECT SPEED. SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS AND THEN WHEN YOU START AGAIN IT WILL START READING FROM WHERE IT WAS STOPPED SO IF IT STICKS AT 30 MPH AND YOU RESUME SPEED TO 60 MPH IT WILL READ 90 MPH. *JB
ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER; WILL NOT RESET TO 0; WILL NOT CORRECTLY MEASURE SPEED . *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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