NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 GMC Sierra 3500 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 GMC Sierra 3500 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 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 Sierra 3500. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 GMC Sierra 3500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Sierra 3500, describing incidents dated February 9, 2006 to November 12, 2014.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 7 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10654338 · Filed November 12, 2014
BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED, TRUCK IS BEYOND WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS RECALLED. *TR
ODI #10491894 · Filed January 8, 2013
I ONLY HAD 27050 MILES WHEN BRAKE LINES, BURST LUCKILY TRAVELING ONLY 5 MPH. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THEN AT 28,640 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GM DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUALITY OF GM? *TR
ODI #10445199 · Filed January 25, 2012
I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 3500 SERIES TRUCK. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP BEFORE STRIKING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS ARE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF…

Read all 7 complaints

AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS/FUEL LEAK

NHTSA #06E043000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2006 · HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Potentially affected: 88,303 vehicles

Owners notified October 18, 2006

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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).

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET FRAM FUEL FILTERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 GMC Sierra 3500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 GMC Sierra 3500.

Service Brakes

ODI #10654338

Incident: November 12, 2014 · Filed: November 12, 2014

BRAKE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED, TRUCK IS BEYOND WARRANTY, DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS RECALLED. *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10491894

Incident: January 5, 2012 · Filed: January 8, 2013

I ONLY HAD 27050 MILES WHEN BRAKE LINES, BURST LUCKILY TRAVELING ONLY 5 MPH. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. THEN AT 28,640 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GM DOING? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUALITY OF GM? *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Power Train

ODI #10445199

Incident: January 10, 2012 · Filed: January 25, 2012

I RECENTLY HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2003 GMC SIERRA 3500 SERIES TRUCK. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP BEFORE STRIKING A PARKED CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS ARE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT FOR A $4200. I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED LAST FEBRUARY AND PUT LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WHICH WERE REPLACED THEN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF CORROSION ISSUES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK 4 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT EACH TIME BECAUSE OF CORROSION ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY GM THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ENOUGH. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR TWO REASONS 1. IT MIGHT NOT STOP WHEN I NEED IT TO AND 2. EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT ENDS UP COSTING ME MORE MONEY. THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE REPLACED LAST SUMMER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS TRUCK HAS COST ME OVER $20,000 IN REPAIRS SINCE 2005 NOT INCLUDING MAINTENANCE ISSUES. WHEN I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. I WAS TOLD I DO NOT DRIVE IT ENOUGH AND THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK IS OLDER IT IS A PART OF LIFE. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NHTSA IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER WITH GM. IF YOU NEED ANY HELP PLEASE CALL ME I WOULD GLADLY HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel

ODI #10421632

Incident: August 18, 2011 · Filed: August 26, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC 3500 DURAMAX . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

Steering

ODI #10408894

Incident: June 23, 2011 · Filed: June 25, 2011

POWER STEERING AND/OR BRAKING MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE OR DRASTICALLY REDUCED PERFORMANCE WHEN USED AT SAME TIME BECAUSE POWER STEERING PUMP IS ALSO POWER BRAKE PUMP AND SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE OR FLOW CAPACITY TO SUPPLY BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING TOGETHER. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10182300

Incident: January 25, 2007 · Filed: February 12, 2007

2003 GMC SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GMC AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *NM

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #10150304

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 9, 2006 · Filed: February 15, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK, IT FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS BUCKLED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND HOLD THE CONTACT IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AT SUCH FORCE THE WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS LYING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE ASPHALT. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE SEAT BELT AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED. UPDATED 03/03/06.

Other GMC Sierra 3500 model years

Check your 2003 GMC Sierra 3500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your GMC Sierra 3500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a GMC VIN