Model year record
2003 GMC C/k Series recalls & problems
The 2003 GMC C/k Series has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 4 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is tires (2 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 GMC C/k Series.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| TiresTread/belt; Bead | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Bumpers | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakes
DRIVING WENT TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. FOUND OUT THE REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THRU. *TR
- Tires › Tread/belt
TODAY, A FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE EITHER BLEW APART OR RAN OVER SOMETHING SO DEVASTATING CAUSING IT TO BLOW OUT ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 4WD EXT CAB TRUCK. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SKID ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC WHILE TURNING AND TWISTING ON WHAT FELT LIKE TWO WHEELS INTO A STEEP DITCH, NEARLY CAUSING A COMPLETE ROLL-OVER. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE 30 TO 40 MPH ON A MODERATELY CURVY COUNTRY ROAD IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER WHILE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ARE: TIRES ARE LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD, LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON THEM. EVEN IF I HAD RUN-OVER A SHARP OBJECT CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DISTENGRATED OR 'BLOWN-APART' IN SECONDS NEARLY…
- Steering
INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. SAME PROBLEM AS WE HAD REPAIRED ON OUR 1999 GMC 3/4 TON. THE 2003 HAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. MY SON'S 2001 TAHOE HAS THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH HIS. FLYER ON ALL OF THESE VEHICLES ON INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. 1999 HAS HAD THE SHAFT REPLACED 6 TIMES. TAHOE HAS HAD SHAFT REPLACED 2 TIMES. 2003 HAS SAME PROBLEM AND THEY GREASED IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT CAME FROM FACTORY WITH NO GREASE!!!! LOOKS AS IF THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM BROTHER-IN-LAW WORKS FOR GM AND SAYS THE 2004 SHOULD BE FIXED, HA,HA.
- Structure › Body › Bumpers
FRONT BUMPER IS SEVERELY RUSTED .METAL DEGRADED.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosedLed to recall 05V161000
IN A LETTER DATED APRIL 20, 2005, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT HAD DECIDED THAT DEFECTS THAT RELATE TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXIST IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2002 C/K 1500 SERIES (PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) AND MY 2001-2005 C/K 2500 AND 3500 SERIES (TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM) PICKUPS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.ACCORDING TO GM, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE FRICTION LININGS TO WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.GM'S ACTION COVERS AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 142,585 VEHICLES.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM AND INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. A TOTAL OF 58 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY ODI AND GM CONCERNING THE APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MY 1999-2002…
- PARKING BRAKE FAILUREClosed
ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING…