2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500, and owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Equipment adaptive/mobility
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at…
180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA; 13 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 81,032 miles. Complaints peaked in 2008 with 23 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“An accident has not occurred yet, but it something I'm concerned deeply about. Awhile back there was a recall on the instrument cluster of the gmc Sierra 1500 (possibly othets on the list, im sure). I”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 11, 2023 · Electrical system
“Hydraulic brake lines corroded causing leaks and brake failure”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 20, 2019 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 GMC Sierra (Sierra 1500 2WD, Sierra 1500 4WD, Sierra Denali 1500 AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–14 / 15–19 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4.3/4.8/5.3/6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare GMC Sierra 1500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra 1500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 13 |
| 1995 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 83 |
| 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 59 |
| 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 158 |
| 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 181 |
| 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 140 |
| 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 166 |
| 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 180 |
| 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 212 |
| 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 177 |
| 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 | 0 | 145 |
| 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 262 |
| 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 381 |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 | 4 | 234 |
| 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 | 4 | 168 |
| 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 | 5 | 284 |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 107 |
| 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 115 |
| 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 | 9 | 739 |
| 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 | 9 | 719 |
| 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 | 8 | 342 |
| 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 | 6 | 354 |
| 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 | 7 | 304 |
| 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 | 10 | 650 |
| 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 | 12 | 472 |
| 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 | 7 | 580 |
| 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 | 6 | 590 |
| 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 | 3 | 485 |
| 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 366 |
| 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 | 1 | 118 |
| 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2 | 138 |
Checking a specific 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
How do I know if my 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V562000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
- Sierra 25001,821 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.