NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 GMC C4500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 GMC C4500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized GMC dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 GMC C4500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 GMC C4500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC C4500, describing incidents dated May 3, 2004 to April 11, 2010.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10325038 · Filed April 12, 2010
PURCHASES TIRES IN JUNE 2009 -- UPON INSPECTION THIS WEEKEND 4/11/2010 WE NOTICED LARGE CRACKS IN THE TIRES ALMOST LIKE IT WAS SEPARATING. WE BROUGHT THEM TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHARGED US $100 TO REPLACE THEM AFTER ADMITTING THAT THE TIRES HAD FAILED AND WERE DEFECTIVE. *TR
ODI #10170034 · Filed October 5, 2006
THROW BEARING WEARS OUT EVERY 40,000 KM. BELL HOUSING GONE AT 180,000 KM'S, REAR END WORE OUT AT 182,000 KMS AND FORTH GEAR GONE IN TRANSMISSION AT 183,000, DASH CLUSTER GONE AT 188,000. MANUFACTURE OR DEALER WOULD NOT COVER ANYTHING. *NM
ODI #10114889 · Filed March 10, 2005
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES FOR CHECKUP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

Read all 6 complaints

GM/REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE

NHTSA #02V202000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported July 26, 2002 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 952 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 02028 · Owners notified August 16, 2002 · Vehicles built August 1, 2001 – May 31, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 11,000 LB. REAR AXLE HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE MAY FRACTURE. AS THE ANCHOR PLATE FRACTURES, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE "BANG." IF THIS INDICATION OF A CONDITION REQUIRING THE DRIVER'S ATTENTION WENT UNNOTICED OR WAS IGNORED, AND UNDER CERTAIN REBOUND, BRAKING, OR CORNERING MANEUVERS, THE REAR AXLE WOULD BE FREE TO MOVE FORE AND AFT AND PROVIDE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUTS TO THE VEHICLE.

Safety consequence

IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE ANCHOR PLATE AND SPACER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Notes

ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 GMC C4500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 GMC C4500.

Tires

ODI #10325038

Incident: April 11, 2010 · Filed: April 12, 2010

PURCHASES TIRES IN JUNE 2009 -- UPON INSPECTION THIS WEEKEND 4/11/2010 WE NOTICED LARGE CRACKS IN THE TIRES ALMOST LIKE IT WAS SEPARATING. WE BROUGHT THEM TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHARGED US $100 TO REPLACE THEM AFTER ADMITTING THAT THE TIRES HAD FAILED AND WERE DEFECTIVE. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10170034

Incident: May 10, 2006 · Filed: October 5, 2006

THROW BEARING WEARS OUT EVERY 40,000 KM. BELL HOUSING GONE AT 180,000 KM'S, REAR END WORE OUT AT 182,000 KMS AND FORTH GEAR GONE IN TRANSMISSION AT 183,000, DASH CLUSTER GONE AT 188,000. MANUFACTURE OR DEALER WOULD NOT COVER ANYTHING. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10114889

Incident: May 3, 2004 · Filed: March 10, 2005

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER 10 TIMES FOR CHECKUP, BUT THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Power Train

ODI #10111189

Incident: January 5, 2005 · Filed: March 8, 2005

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH GREASE FROM THE REAR END LEAKING ONTO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING IN THAT WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED THE GREASE SEAL WITH AN UPGRADED SEAL SIX TIMES, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK REAL GREASE SEAL WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER BOLT FELL OUT CAUSING THE CALIPER TO RUB THE INSIDE OF THE INNER DUAL WHEEL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CALIPER AND WHEEL. *TC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10095888

Incident: October 1, 2004 · Filed: October 17, 2004

MY ENGINE STALLED DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL. WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE ON POSITION, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP. I PRESSED THE SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BACKUP BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE. I REPEATED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TWO MORE TIMES. I UNDERSTOOD. I WAS CLOSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, RED. THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH FAILED TO INITIATE THE RELAYS AND PUMP. CONSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAD PRACTICALLY NO BRAKES OTHER THAN THE DRUM BRAKE BY HAND BRAKE HANDLE. I APPLIED THE HAND BRAKE. GOOD THING I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR, WITHOUT CARGO, AND HAD MORE THAN 400 FEET TO STOP. I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AT THE RED LIGHT. THE HAND BRAKE WORKED. AT HIGHER SPEED, THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ENGINE BRAKE EFFECT BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. GOING DOWNHILL AFTER FUELING AND THEN PULLING MY TRAILER AS WELL IF IT HAD BEEN LOADED, WOULD THE RESULTS HAD BEEN THE SAME AT THE RED LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL OR RAIL ROAD TRACK BRIDGE? SOMEONE WOULD HAVE DIED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BYPASS SWITCH INSTALLED NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL TO MANUALLY TURN THE PUMP ON. AND THE SWITCH ON THE PEDAL NEEDS TO BE A MECHANICAL ONE LIKE THE ONES THAT HAVE OPERATED TAILLIGHTS FOR THE LAST FIFTY YEARS. STICK WITH WHAT WORKS. *JB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10012110

Filed: March 19, 2003

WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED A SPEED OF 50 MPH, THE HEAD LIGHTS DIMMED. *JB WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY, THEY DO NOT ALLOW THE PROPER LIGHT ON THE ROAD AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50 MPH. DEALER DID NOT SEE THE PROBLEM. SCC

Other GMC C4500 model years

Check your 2003 GMC C4500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your GMC C4500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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