2003 GMC Sierra Steering Problems

FIRST INCIDENT WAS A BRAKE LINE BURSTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL GARAGE. AT THAT TIME HE TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES WERE IN BAD SHAPE. SECOND INCIDENT, WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP THE ROAD AT APPROX 55 MPH WITH MY 19' BOAT IN TOW I REALIZED I HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A ROTTED LINE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. LASTLY, I AM NOT ABLE TO GET A SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER BECAUSE MY BRAKE LINES IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $800-$1500 DOLLARS. I WILL ADD THAT THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE NEW, SPENDS MOST OF IT'S TIME IN THE GARAGE AND IS USED PRIMARILY TO GO TO THE LOCAL DUMP, PLOW MY DRIVEWAY ONLY AND OCCASIONALLY TOW MY BOAT TO THE LAKE! MILEAGE REFLECTS THIS.DATES MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE BUT THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472349

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

BOUGHT THE TRUCK RECENTLY FROM VINCE WHIBBS GMC PENSACOLA FL. HAD SOME FRONT END WORK DONE BUT ALSO THERE IS A LOOSE STEERING SHAFT THAT IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL TRUCK. WHILE CORNERING THE TRUCK AT LOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER BUMPS THERE IS A LOOSE FEELING FELT IN THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444032

Incident

Jan 17, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE 2 GM PRODUCTS, A 1996 CHEVY IMPALLA & A 2003 GMC TRUCK. BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AT VARIOUS TIMES AND WITHOUT NOTICE THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WON'T TURN FOR A BRIEF TIME. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. ALSO IF YOU ARE STANDING STILL AND TRY TO TURN TO THE LEFT THE WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN OR WON'T TURN AT ALL. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY, BUT I COULD SEE A SITUATION WHERE UNDER THE WRIGHT CONDITIONS THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.

NHTSA ID

10323424

Incident

Mar 31, 2010

THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A POPPING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN IT. THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. I WAS THEN CHARGED $60 TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN GREASED. THIS WORKED TEMPORARILY AS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215514

Incident

Jan 21, 2008

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON 08/10/04 RATTLE OR CLUNK CAN BE FELT IN STEERING. GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT VERIFIED CONCERN AND LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT. ON 09/09/04 CLUNK IN STEERING COLUMN CAME BACK. GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, REFERENCE TO BULLETIN 00-02-35-003F. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN SO MANY VEHICLES ARE INVOLVED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178871

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

10,100 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE. THE PROBLEM WAS MORE OBVIOUS WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE FRONT END TO MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ONCE AND LUBED THE COMPONENT THREE TIMES. THE PROBLEM RETURNS AFTER 10,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10157718

Incident

May 17, 2006

Mileage

49,108 mi

2003 SIERRA STEERING MECHANISM MAKES A NOISE. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD WHEN THE PART IN THE STEERING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, SOMEONE PLACED IT ON TOO TIGHT AND NOW THE PART WAS OUT OF SHAPE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE LUBRICATED OFTEN BECAUSE THERE WERE NO GREASE FITTINGS ON IT. *JB UPDATED. 07/21/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157368

Incident

May 1, 2006

I OWN (2) 2003 GMC TRUCKS AND THEY BOTH STARTED THIS "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN BOTH OF THEM BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME THEY JUST RE-LUBED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN THE STEERING. THIS WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT THE NOISE SOON RETURNED. I TOOK THEM BACK AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT. AGAIN, THE CLUNKING NOISE HAS RETURNED AND IT IS GETTING LOUDER. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE TRUCKS BACK IN TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THEM AGAIN. HOWEVER, MY WARRANTIES ARE ABOUT TO EXPIRE. IF THIS OCCURS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN I FEEL THAT MY STEERING IS IN JEOPARDY. THE LONGER IT GOES THE LOUDER IT GETS. SOMETHING IS CAUSING THIS SHAFT TO WEAR OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152373

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

12,000 mi

MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 HAS A "CLUNKING" SOUND, COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. ALSO, MY FRONT BRAKES HAVE A "RUBBING SOUND" AND THE PEDDLE GETS "SPONGY" WHEN I ACTIVATE THE BRAKES AT A LOW SPEED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149399

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

19,010 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TIRES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS KNOCKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144492

Incident

Apr 29, 2005

TRANSMISSION: BEEN FIXED 3 TIMES AND FINALLY REPLACED A/C: REPAIRED ONCE FRONT END-STEERING: REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143762

Incident

Nov 28, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE 2003 SIERRA NEW IN 2003. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME A CLUNKING OCCURRED WHEN GOING AROUND GRADUAL CURVES AND OVER SMALL BUMPS. WHEN IT GOT WORSE I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOW ON LUBRICANT. THEY FILLED IT UP NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE STEERING FELT LIKE NEW AGAIN. NOT TOO LONG AFTERWARDS, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, GRADUALLY AT FIRST THEN WORSENING. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE PART THIS TIME INSTEAD OF REFILLING IT. THAT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE STEERING FELT GOOD AGAIN. NOW ITS OCTOBER 25, 2005 AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME PART PROBLEM. THIS TIME I AM OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AT THIS RATE I WILL HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140755

Incident

Oct 25, 2005

Mileage

42,671 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD/DIESEL. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM.. THE STEERING VIBRATED WHEN MAKING LOWER SPEED TURNS. THIS HAPPENED WHEN MOVING OR SITTING STILL. IT HAS BEEN FIXED APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES, AND IT RECURRED AFTER ABOUT 3,000 MILES. AT 10,000 MILES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING LOCKED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CONTACT LOST THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT GOT SOFT AND SPONGY. THEY DID NOT PULSATE. ALSO, THIS AFFECTED THE STEERING, THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, AND THE BRAKES, WHICH WERE SEPARATE ISSUES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, BUT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10134186

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

Mileage

9,000 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT IT WILL LOCK IN THIS POSITION AND CONTINUE IN A CIRCLE.

NHTSA ID

10125024

Incident

Jun 8, 2005

STEERING ASSEMBLY KNOCKS, CLUNKS, RATTLES, CAN FEEL IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN HEAR AUDIBLY, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS UNDER 30MPH. FEELS DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116368

Incident

Mar 2, 2004

Mileage

25,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS. ONE WAS TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS GEAR SLIPPED. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS LOW OIL. THE OTHER WAS FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE KNOCKED AND SQUEAKED INTERMITTENTLY. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED ONCE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10117120

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

2003 SIERRA PICKUP TRUCK, LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. *BF THE POWER STEERING AND HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115665

Incident

Mar 3, 2005

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION A RATTLING NOISE WAS PRODUCED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *TC

NHTSA ID

10107484

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

Mileage

18,063 mi

CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. CLUNKING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL PULSE PRESENTS A DRIVING HAZARD. GM NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS THE CURRENT TSB ONLY PROVIDES A TEMPORARY REMEDY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109965

Incident

Jan 20, 2005

Mileage

31,500 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION WHEN I STEER MY 2003 GMC SIERRA PICK UP TRUCK. THE VIBRATION IS DISTRACTING AND I WAS WORRIED THAT THERE MAY BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM SO I TOOK IT INTO THE GMC DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF IT WAS TO FAIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE RESULTS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THE VIBRATION ALSO CREATES UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION, WHICH IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE 200,000 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS ON BACK ORDER - SO THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE 3 MONTHS BEFORE I COULD GET THIS REPLACED. MY TRUCK IS ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 52,000 MILES. THERE CURRENTLY IS NO RECALL. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC (SERVICE REQUEST # 1-304994219), BUT I DO NOT THINK THERE RESPONSE WAS ADEQUATE. THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SHAFTS WERE READY AND THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOT PERFORMING THIS WORK UNDER A RECALL. THERE LACK OF CONCERN WAS TROUBLING AND I DO NOT WANT TO TRUST MY FAMILIES SAFETY TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT, WHICH HAS BEEN DIRECTED ON WHAT TO SAY. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT RESULTING FROM THIS PROBLEM YET, BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107866

Incident

Jan 25, 2005

2003 GMC SIERRA CREWCAB 4X4 LONG BED 8.0LT. (1) I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT WHEN I AM AT IDLE, STOPPED OR SITTING WITH MY FOOT OFF THE BREAKS I CAN HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL. ONLY WHEN I MOVE THE VEHICLE SOME CAN I THEN TURN THE WHEEL AND STILL IT CAN BE DIFFICULT. (2) THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE HYDROBOOST SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND BOTH TIMES WHEN I PICKED IT UP IT STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THE DEALERSHIP. (3) THIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE IS IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT FLOW TO HANDLE THE FRICTION THE TIRES CREATE AT STOPPED OR SLOW MOVEMENT. MAYBE A HIGHER FLOW UPGRADE PUMP IS IN ORDER HERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NOT TO BRING IT BACK ANYMORE FOR THIS AS THERE IS A REMEDY COMING OUT SOON. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A YEAR NOW WITH THE PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AND NO RECALL BEING ISSUED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106394

Incident

Sep 18, 2003

Mileage

1,500 mi

AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES I STARTED HEARING A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING TO THE RIGHT, AND WHILE HITTING MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. NOW AT ABOUT 22,500 MILES IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. BEING A FORMER MECHANIC I CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT, BY THE FIREWALL, TO BE THE CAUSE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TALKED TO THE PARTS DEPARMENT. THE PARTS GUY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE SHAFT AND U-JOINTS. "THERE ARE ABOUT 400,000 ON BACK ORDER." IT WILL TAKE MONTHS TO GET IT IN. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. WHY NOT NHTS, WITH THIS MANY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10106063

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

22,000 mi

THE STEERING COLUMN EXPERIENCED A CRACKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 1-25 MPH, AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPACKED THE STEERING COLUMN WITH GREASE. AFTER 22,000 MILES THE PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS TOO SHORT, AND THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A NEW SHAFT. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE PART.*AK......CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT IF THIS SHORT SHAFT IS WORKING UP AND DOWN, CONNECTED TO STEERING BOX, THEN TO TIE RODS, MEANS EVERYTHING IS MOVING. CONSUMER WA SCONCERNED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105148

Incident

Apr 15, 2004

Mileage

11,000 mi

STEERING PROBLEMS ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500HD. IT MAKES A "CLUNK" SOUND WHEN TURNING. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES. THE LAST TIME THEY INSTALLED AN RE-ENGINEERED STEERING COLUMN, BUT PROBLEMS STILL PERSISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096018

Incident

Oct 19, 2003

WHEN THE ABS BRAKES WERE PRESSED HARD THE STEERING LOCKED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BASED ON INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE MINOR DAMAGE AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE EDGES OF THE SEAT WERE WORN. *SC

NHTSA ID

10053816

Mileage

21,000 mi