GMC Sierra 1500 / 2003
2003 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Owners have filed 210 complaints about the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 with NHTSA. Service brakes account for 26.2% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 23.8%.
Complaints210
Crashes15
Fires4
Injuries11
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes 26.2% · 55
Service brakes, hydraulic 23.8% · 50
Electrical system 20.5% · 43
Steering 7.1% · 15
Air bags 3.3% · 7
Power train 3.3% · 7
Fuel system, gasoline 2.4% · 5
Visibility 1.9% · 4
Severity
Of those complaints, 15 describe a crash, 4 describe a fire and 11 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 29 model years of the GMC Sierra 1500 in this data, 2003 sits 20th by complaint volume. 2014 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 12 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 72,075 miles.
In owners' own words
The brake lines ruptured and all breaking power stopped. I nearly slid into the intersecting street with traffic coming. The roads were icy/snowy, but no storm was occurring on this night. The temp. Outside was around 0 degrees in nh. I had it repaired and the technician noticed the entire rear brake lines were extremely rusted out and the spot just under the driver side door was the first part to rupture. Service brakes · reported at 97,800 miles
Started my vehicle applied the brake to shift to drive and the brake pedal went to the floor. I got out of the vehicle and there was a puddle of brake fluid on the ground on the driver side under where the drivers seat is. There was brake fluid dripping from a rusted brake line. I'm lucky this happened when the vehicle was stopped and not while I needed stop because it was a complete loss of brakes. Service brakes · reported at 80,000 miles
I went to put it in dr and the brake pedal went to the floor the metal line blue . They had to replace the caliper too. It cost me $475.89 To get it fix. Not happy. I had chevy with 200,000 miles on it and never replace any brake parts. I under stand this a bad parts on the 1999 to 2003 models [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (FOIA), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). Service brakes · reported at 89,725 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…