Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 GMC Sierra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 GMC Sierra has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 207 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V163000 SEAT BELT ROUTING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V161000 PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V225000 GM/FMVSS 225/SEATING POSITIONS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04E022000 DURAKON/BEDLINER DETACHES FROM THE TRUCK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V129000 GM/TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V045000 GM/FMVSS 135/BRAKE VALVE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V018000 GM/FMVSS 212/WINDSHIELD BONDING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 45 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 39 complaints
- Electrical System 31 complaints
- Power Train 29 complaints
- Steering 27 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 12 complaints
Of the 207 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 207 complaints, owners report 5 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 GMC Sierra has notable issues with its brakes and electrical system, reflected in a significant number of owner complaints and several recall campaigns, particularly related to brakes. While other components have fewer complaints, this indicates reliability challenges. However, the data is limited considering the vehicle's age, so caution is advised when interpreting these findings.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | common |
| Electrical system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
| Power train | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections and fluids
- Tire rotations or replacements
- Coolant system checks
- Transmission fluid changes
- Battery tests and replacements
- Air filter replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual brake noise
- Electrical failures
- Transmission slipping
- Steering difficulties
- Unexpected engine stalling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 GMC Sierra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.