Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2003 GMC Sierra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes — runs 4.8× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
206Complaints
9Recalls
8Crashes
1Fires
5Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes (21.8% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Service Brakes complaints here are 4.8× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 45 · 21.8% | Recalled | Recall 04V045000 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 19 · 9.2% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 · 8.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V045000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 15 · 7.3% | not available | — |
| Steering | 14 · 6.8% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 11 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V045000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 206 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 9 campaigns
Seat Belts:rear/other
NHTSA campaign 05V163000 · 2005 · reported 04/22/2005
A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Visibility:windshield
NHTSA campaign 03V018000 · 2003 · reported 01/23/2003
IN VEHICLES WITH THIS CONDITION, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY STANDARD DURING A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment:electrical
NHTSA campaign 07E066000 · 2007 · reported 08/28/2007
IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Parking Brake
NHTSA campaign 05V161000 · 2005 · reported 04/22/2005
IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NHTSA campaign 04V045000 · 2004 · reported 02/04/2004
CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SE… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment
NHTSA campaign 04E022000 · 2004 · reported 03/23/2004
THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
NHTSA campaign 04V129000 · 2004 · reported 03/17/2004
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
NHTSA campaign 04V225000 · 2004 · reported 05/11/2004
THE STANDARD REQUIRES CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN TWO SEATING POSITIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH THREE REAR SEATING POSITIONS.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TRAVELING 47 MPH OR HIGH, WIPER BLADE LIFTS OFF WINDSHIELD AND DOES NOT COME INTO CONTACT TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD.”NHTSA complaint 10181481 — filed 02/03/2007 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
“SPEEDOMETER ON 2003 GMC SIERRA FAILS CONSTANTLY AND WHEN IT WORKS, IT WORKS ERRATICALLY THE HEAT GAUGE, AND BATTERY GAUGE WORK PART OF THE TIME…”NHTSA complaint 10180590 — filed 01/24/2007 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
“THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IT WOULD GIVE INACCURATE READINGS, THEN IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER.”NHTSA complaint 10179419 — filed 01/22/2007 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC Sierra?
Service brakes issues are the most-reported category, cited in 45 of 206 NHTSA complaints (21.8%), followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (19), service brakes, hydraulic (17), power train:automatic transmission (15). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2003 GMC Sierra have?
206 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 5 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 2003 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2003 GMC Sierra's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
