Model year record

2003 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls & problems

The 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 has 3 safety recalls and 160 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (44 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints160filed by owners

Crashes · fires7 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, airJun 6, 2006

Service brakes, air

Recall 06E0500006,800 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELD INTERFERING WITH THE ABS SENSOR CORD. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED DESPITE THIS INTERFERENCE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE ABS SENSOR AND THE TONE WHEEL MAY BE ALTERED. THIS MAY WEAKEN THE OUTPUT OF THE ABS SENSOR. DIMINISHED OUTPUT COULD RESULT IN AN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING DISTANCE COULD BE AFFECTED.
Risk: IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND WILL EITHER CREDIT THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT OR REPLACE THE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-563-8507 EXT 3530.

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).

SteeringFeb 1, 2006

Steering

Recall 06E0100001,360 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Risk: LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH WITH POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 909-597-7800.

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	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	44	3	1	1	57,833 mi
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Wiring › Interior/under dash	36	0	2	0	92,000 mi
Service brakes	28	1	0	1	109,250 mi
Power trainTransfer case (4-wheel drive); Driveline › Driveshaft	16	0	0	0	34,800 mi
SteeringGear box › Shaft sector	10	1	0	1	53,000 mi
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Rear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly › Leaf	7	0	0	0	52,500 mi
Fuel system, diesel	6	0	0	0	139,500 mi
Engine	6	0	0	0	124,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Engine	5	1	0	0	37,500 mi
StructureBody › Bumpers; Frame and members › Underbody shields	5	0	0	0	99,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	5	0	1	0	142,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Fuel/propulsion system
HAD INJECTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 50000 MILES AFTER NOTICING EXCESS EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP AND ALSO POWER STEERING HOSES WERE LEAKING, AGAIN AT 105000 MILES THEY TOTALLY FAILED AS I WAS BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM HOSPITAL ON I-15 IN CA. UP CAJON PASS AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, BUT GM DEALER WOULD NOT COVER INJECTORS UNDER WARRANTY AS TRUCK WAS11 YEARS OLD AND THEIR COVERAGE WAS FOR 7 YEARS ONLY, NOW AGAIN HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT 147000 MILES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE ON STARTUP. THIS TIME I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AS THEY WERE $1000 CHEAPER AND STATED THESE UPGRADED INJECTORS SHOULD LAST 150000 MILES NOT 50000. HAD TO HAVE POWER STEERING HOSES REPLACED AGAIN ALSO…
Jan 9, 2020 · 157,000 miles
Electrical system
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?
Mar 28, 2019 · 180,000 miles
Unknown or other
THE HORN QUITS WORKING AND THIS CREATES A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX IT.
Jan 1, 2019 · 2,000 miles
Service brakes
BRAKES ARE SPONGY NOT RIGHT POWER STEERING WHINES AS DO BRAKES
Aug 1, 2011 · 170,000 miles
Structure › Body
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED WAS RUSTED, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (FREEDOM CHEVROLET, 7052 W 48TH ST, FREMONT, MI 49412, 321-403-0016) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CHEAP METAL WAS USED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Jan 1, 2006 · 120,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
COMPLAINT INVOLVES REDUCED POWER MODE WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DROP IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. IT IS UNSAFE TRYING TO EXIT TRAFFIC LANES WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THROTTLE PEDAL AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DRIVE BY WIRE VEHICLES PRODUCED BY GENERAL MOTORS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, TIMES OF DAY, TEMPERATURES ETC. IT WILL ENTER REDUCED POWER ONCE TO TWICE A DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Jan 1, 2018 · 217,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
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
Oct 1, 2010
Service brakes
BRAKE FAILURE UPON SLOWING DOWN AT OFF RAMP. AVOIDED ACCIDENT BUT HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT, CHECKED FLUID LEVELS, WERE OK, TRIED BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY WERE WORKING. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE.HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF SIMILAR NATURE. SOME THINK IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE VALVING.HOPE YOU CAN FIND A CURE.
Jul 16, 2017 · 233,000 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.