Most common 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Share of the 160 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 2500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 2500 years: 2012, 2014, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2025, 2020, 2021, 2022. Compare all years →
What 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 owners say
Brakes all 73 →
ABS comes on at low speed.. It increases stopping distance.. I have once rear ended a vehicle because of this. There was no damage to either vehicle.. Also my ABS light come on for a few seconds maybe two or three times a month..
2003 GMC Sierra denali with brake line failure problems. The consumer complained of a very soft pedal and sometimes the pedal would go to the floor before stopping. The dealer claimed nothing was wrong. The consumers wife was driving the vehicle and when she applied the brakes, on an incline, she traveled backwards out of control and struck the neighborhood sign. She experienced neck and back pain. The consumer arrived at the scene to find massive amounts of brake fluid dripping down the frame from one of the brake lines located on the drivers side. The consumer was informed the brake lines had excessive corrosion and failed. The consumer stated when he attempted to stop, the brakes completely failed. The brake lines were rusted with a hole completely through. The consumer stated the right rear brake line was replaced under warranty. …
Electrical system all 36 →
(electrical) as an ongoing issue, the dashboard gauges/indicators (I.e. Tach, speedometer, etc..) will sometimes not register until several minutes after the vehicle has been running (this could be for up to miles) it has not affected vehicle performance to date. (fuel/propulsion system) I have begun having issues where it goes into "reduced engine power". Further diagnostic attempts have LED me to believe that it is due to a faulty throttle position sensor (part of the throttle body), tac module, or app assembly (accelerator pedal). Most likely cause May be due to the throttle position sensor, as this issue has happened when the vehicle is on "cruise control". …
Tl contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 hd. While driving 35 MPH, the warning lights on the instrument panel continued to flash on and off. In addition, the windshield wipers activated and smoke was noticed underneath the hood. The contact had been driving for several minutes before noticing the smoke. The hood could not be opened and the fire department was called. A police report was filed. Ten minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 65,000. Updated 09/25/08 the consumer stated it was a possible fuel line failure. Updated 09/26/08.
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the oil level was elevated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred after approximately 30,000 miles and the vehicle was emitting smoke. The vehicle was repaired with new fuel injectors but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 209,000.
(electrical) as an ongoing issue, the dashboard gauges/indicators (I.e. Tach, speedometer, etc..) will sometimes not register until several minutes after the vehicle has been running (this could be for up to miles) it has not affected vehicle performance to date. (fuel/propulsion system) I have begun having issues where it goes into "reduced engine power". Further diagnostic attempts have LED me to believe that it is due to a faulty throttle position sensor (part of the throttle body), tac module, or app assembly (accelerator pedal). Most likely cause May be due to the throttle position sensor, as this issue has happened when the vehicle is on "cruise control". …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 a good car?
Based on 160 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Sierra 2500 rates avoid: 3.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 2500 at the same age. It is one of the Sierra 2500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500?
The brakes — 73 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Next are the electrical system (36) and fuel & propulsion system (15).
How many recalls does the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 GMC Sierra 2500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 2500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2014 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2025, 2020, 2021 and 2022. See the full GMC Sierra 2500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 73,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.