The Lemon Index2003 GMC Sierra.
The 2003 GMC Sierra is about average by owner complaints: 145 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 89, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 13 recalls, and it gets 13 to 16 mpg combined. The best GMC Sierra year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 569 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every GMC Sierra year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 41K to 104K miles on the car (483 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 36K–78K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 50K–104K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 15K–67K miles
Recalls 13
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- wheels 2007
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, …
- equipment 2007
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS.
Show all 13 recalls
- service brakes, air 2006
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS.
- fuel system, gasoline 2006
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, 2…
- seat belts 2005
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, ESPECIALL…
- parking brake 2005
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 C…
- equipment adaptive/mobility 2004
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
- seat belts 2004
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 SYS…
- equipment 2004
AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS.
- body structure 2004
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.
- brakes 2004
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…
- visibility 2003
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 803 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some customers may comment that the transmission slips, a shudder, chuggle, or vibration is felt
- Clunking noise under hood and can be felt in the steering wheel
- Whine noise from front axle
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedBrake line corrosion failure2010–2011
- ClosedParking brake failure2005–2006
- ClosedTailgate cable breakage2004
- ClosedParking brake failure2004–2005
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4000–4950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
2003 GMC Sierra, 7000 miles automatic transmission is jerky. Very poor performance. Service department refuses to acknowledge the problem. I know for a fact this is fairly widespread. What can the dealer do about it?
2003 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint 10036767
More owner reports
Continued problems with intermediate shaft. Clunking noise and steering wheel pulse presents a driving hazard. Gm needs to fix the problem as the current tsb only provides a temporary remedy.
NHTSA complaint 10109965
Vehicle transmission not shifting correctly causing vehicle to accelerate too slowly when pulling out onto highway and not properly downshifting.
NHTSA complaint 10014459
Quick answers
Is the 2003 GMC Sierra reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 89; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Sierra year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2003 GMC Sierra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (23%), steering (21%) and brakes (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 GMC Sierra have?
13 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 GMC Sierra get?
13 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 GMC Sierra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 41,800 and 104,000 miles. The middle report was at 71,000 miles, from 483 complaints.
Does the 2003 GMC Sierra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 GMC Sierra cost in fuel a year?
About $4000 to $4950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 GMC Sierra have?
4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What GMC Sierra year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works