Model year record

2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Hd recalls & problems

The 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Hd has 1 safety recall and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints16filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 06E04300088,303 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

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	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	4	1	125,000 mi
Service brakes	4	0	103,750 mi
VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior	3	0	40,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	2	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	0	—
Engine	2	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	1	0	—
Power train	1	0	—
Steering	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
I AM AN ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN, I OWN AN AUTO/TRUCK REPAIR FACILITY. WE ARE A STATE OF OREGON AUTHORIZED DEQ REPAIR FACILITY, STATE OF OREGON DAS FLEET REPAIR FACILITY, US ARMY BASE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND MORE. DRIVING MY TRUCK TO TACOMA WASHINGTON. I WAS TOWING A VEHICLE ON IN THE RIGHT SLOW LANE, AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE VIBRATED AND RUNS ON 1/2 CYLINDERS. CANNOT BRAKE OR STEER, TOTAL LACK OF POWER. SEMI-TRUCK NEARLY REAR ENDS ME AS I CANNOT GO OVER 10 MPH. NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, PERIOD. I WAS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND EVERYONE WAS SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID PILE-UP AS I HAD NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER TO. A MILE OR SO LATER I PULLED OVER, AND SHUT OFF…
Aug 1, 2014 · 165,000 miles
Electrical system
I EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK THAT FLASHES AN ERROR CODE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". THIS IS TIED TO ERROR CODE P1516. USUALLY THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN COLDER PARTS OF THE YEAR, AND ON A COLD SOAKED ENGINE, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES AS WELL. AS SOON AS THE ERROR OCCURS THE THROTTLE SHUTS AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY INERTIA TO ATTEMPT TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE INTERSTATE, AND THOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, I DO CONSIDER IT DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITHOUT A SOLUTION. *TR
Oct 16, 2011 · 115,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
A FIRE IN THE DASH BOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR BACK YARD DRIVE WAY. DASH BOARD AREA MELTED WHERE THE HEAD UNIT AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS LOCATED. BURNED THE HEAD LINER WHERE A COMPARTMENT WAS. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE INSIDE/OUTWARD. BURNED SPOTS ON THE SEATS FROM THE DASH BOARD BURNING. EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THE CAB IS BLACK. ALL WINDOWS WERE UP AND TRUCK WAS LOCKED. FIRE HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN WE WERE ALL ASLEEP. WE DROVE THE TRUCK ON 2/20/14, WITH NO PROBLEMS. PARKED IT IN THE DRIVE WAY ABOUT 5:30 PM ON 2/20/13. NEXT MORNING SAW THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, BUT FACING OUTWARD. OPENED THE DOOR AND WAS IN SHOCK. THIS…
Feb 21, 2014 · 150,000 miles
Service brakes
BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE LINE. AFTER REPLACING THE LINE MYSELF, I PERFORMED A TEST RUN AND YET ANOTHER LINE FAILED DUE TO THE CORROSION PROBLEM. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS IN CANADA, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE US. I FEEL THAT TEN YEARS AND ONLY 84,000 MILES IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE TIMEFRAME/MILEAGE TO BE EXPERIENCING BRAKE LINE CORROSION FAILURE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. IN FACT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE IS CORRODED FAR WORSE THAN MY 2000 HONDA CIVIC WHICH HAS 175,000 MILES ON IT. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THE CORROSION ISSUES WITH THE SIERRA PICKUP LINE IN THE US. *TR
Nov 21, 2013 · 84,000 miles
Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Nov 10, 2013 · 120,000 miles
Service brakes
RUSTY BRAKE LINES FAILED UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHILE TOWING A BOAT IMMEDIATELY CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY. I HAD TO HAVE THE LINES REPLACED IN A SMALL SHOP DUE TO LOCATION AND LACK OF DEALERSHIPS. VEHICLE IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS 82000 MILES. *TR
Jul 10, 2012 · 82,000 miles
Service brakes
EXTREMELY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE - ALWAYS SERVICED AT GM DEALERSHIP, AND RECENTLY SAFETY STATE INSPECTED. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED UNDER TRUCK CAB LEADING TO REAR WHEELS. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. INSPECTION OF BRAKE LINE AT THE FRAME WHERE RUPTURE OCCURRED REVEALS ALL LINES LEADING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ARE SO CORRODED AND ROTTEN THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THIS DIDN'T OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, OTHERWISE, I WOULD NOT BE MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR
Mar 16, 2013 · 123,500 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS A FEW YEARS AGO ABOUT A SPEEDOMETER DEFECT. THE LETTER EXTENDED THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS 80,000 MILES ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER DUE TO DEFECTS. THE LETTER SAID IN BOLD UNDERLINED WORDS NOT TO BRING THE TRUCK IN IF IT IS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS NOW PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING. IT IS STUCK AT 80MPH AND WILL NOT MOVE. I TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP AND GM WILL NOT FIX THE UNIT SINCE IT IS TO OLD. I BELIEVE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM AND GM HAS NOT HAD TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE UNIT? GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR ALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND TRUCKS…
Oct 25, 2012 · 102,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.