How many recalls does the 2003 GMC Sierra have?

The 2003 GMC Sierra has 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2003 GMC Sierra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2003 GMC Sierra?

Of 248 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is service brakes.

2003 GMC Sierra Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 GMC Sierra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,181,998 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 248 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

PARKING BRAKE 05V161000 2005-04-22 90,242 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

Consequence

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR…

SEAT BELTS 05V163000 2005-04-22 1,359,824 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT,…

Consequence

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT…

SEAT BELTS 04V225000 2004-05-11 736 affected

Defect

CERTAIN EXTENDED AND REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND CARGO VANS CONVERTED TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' THESE VEHICLES HAVE ONE SEATING POSITION, THE CENTER REAR SEAT, EQUIPPED WITH CHILD…

Consequence

THE STANDARD REQUIRES CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN TWO SEATING POSITIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH THREE REAR SEATING POSITIONS. THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES, WHICH ONLY HAVE FRONT SEATING POSITIONS, HAVE AN AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DO NOT HAVE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER…

Remedy

TO BRING THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES INTO COMPLIANCE, DEALERS WILL INJECT EPOXY INTO THE AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO PREVENT AIR BAG ACTIVATION, RELOCATE THE SWITCH BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN INSTALL A COVER OVER THE RESULTING OPENING. THE SUN VISOR LABEL AND OWNER'S MANUAL WILL ALSO BE CHANGED. THE…

STRUCTURE 04V129000 2004-03-17 3,662,211 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF THE REAR BUMPER.

Consequence

ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER. ADDITIONALLY, IF THERE IS CARGO ON THE TAILGATE THE CARGO MAY FALL OFF IF THE SUPPORT CABLES…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 20004. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463,…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 04V045000 2004-02-04 68,875 affected

Defect

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Consequence

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.

VISIBILITY 03V018000 2003-01-23 110 affected

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES LACK A CONTINUOUS URETHANE BONDING BEAD BETWEEN THE BODY SURFACE AND THE WINDSHIELD.

Consequence

IN VEHICLES WITH THIS CONDITION, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY STANDARD DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE, RESEAL, AND REINSTALL THE WINDSHIELD. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2003. 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…

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

STEERING

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING:COLUMN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Total complaints248

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Exiting off freeway ramp in indianapolis brake pedal went to the floor without notice and no brake fluid loss, nearly crashed crossing 5 lanes of cross traffic just lucky I wasn't broadsided by cross traffic. I received no notice of hazard from gm, no recall and only learned of this problem once…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-09-12

“I was approaching a stop light driving on a 4 lane 55 mph speed zone. As I was approaching the stop light I starting pressing on the brake pedal. The pedal had no resistance it kept going to the floor. I started pumping the pedal trying to slow my truck down, no use. I pushed pedal all the way to…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-08-03

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. While driving approximately 45 mph, the rpms increased to 3,500 without warning. The dealer diagnosed that the fuel lines were rusted, fractured, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2015-06-27

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. While driving approximately 60 mph, the brakes were depressed and traveled abruptly to the floor. The vehicle failed to come to a stop until the emergency brake was engaged as the brake pedal was applied. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-03-06

“While traveling in my 2003 gmc sierra truck at approximately 45 mph I stepped on the brake pedal to stop at a stop sign and the pedal went 3/4 of the way down to the floor, then the brake light came on and the truck did not stop as quickly as it usually does ( glad I was not going any faster) .…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2015-01-10

“I was traveling in rule area of mich. After dark,a deer jump out in front of me! I hit the brakes,a brief brake surge, then the pedal went to the floor! No brakes! The brake lines under the drivers seat area were rusted through! I stop at a gas station. I found brake fluid all over and a man asked…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-11-24

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra. While driving approximately 25 mph, the brake lines fractured when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-11-19

“On 11/11/2014, truck suddenly veered to left, crossed middle of road and went halfway into ditch, road did have a small amount of snow[1/2 inch], this happened just as I topped a small hill. On 11/16/2014 again as I topped a hill on a curve the truck suddenly veered to the left, crossed the middle…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-11-11

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05009 Opened 2005-12-20 · closed 2006-05-31

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Investigation DP05009 Opened 2005-12-20 · closed 2006-05-31