GMC Sierra Complaints (2003)

570 consumer complaints on file.

#10533908August 6, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
IN A PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATOR LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE OR BRAKING ACTIVITY. FORTUNATELY, I ROLLED TO A STOP PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. AFTER TOWING MY GMC TRUCK TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED (CORRODED.) DEALER IS NOW REPLACING ALL BRAKE LINES (METAL TUBES AND RUBBER HOSES.) INTERNET RESEARCH RESULTS SHOW NHTSA OPENED AN INVESTIGATION FOR THIS IN 2010. I CALLED GM, WHO STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THE LAST TIME I DROVE THE TRUCK, 3 DAYS EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TOWING A BOAT THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS WITH 3 PASSENGERS AND GEAR. IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE ENDED WELL. NO WARNING INDICATOR, NO RECALL FOR INSPECTION, NO BULLETIN FOR DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT DURING MY LAST MAINTENANCE. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MANNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532731July 30, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I BEGAN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY MY BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD A RAPID DECREASE IN BRAKING POWER. UPON INVESTIGATION I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES RIGHT ABOVE THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE LED TO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ESPECIALLY WHEN SUCH A LARGE AND HEAVY TRUCK SUDDENLY LOSES BRAKING POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532480July 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL FELT VERY SOFT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. OPENED THE HOOD AND COULD SEE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE TOTALLY RUSTED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526070July 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER HAD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522137June 27, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, UNABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE WITH PUMPING BRAKES. PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED WITH NO SUCCESS, ULTIMATELY SLOWED DOWN WITH PUTTING TRUCK IN LOW GEAR AND COSTING TO A STOP. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER OF RUSTED AND BLOWN BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521809June 25, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE IS RUSTED THRU AND LEAKING. I HAVE LIVED IN THE RUST BELT OF MICHIGAN ALL OF MY LIFE (49YRS) AND HAVE OWNED MANY OLD / HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLES. IN THE PAST I WAS A LICENSED AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC. IN ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT THIS BAD ON A 10YR OLD VEHICLE WITH 130,000 MILES. I HAVE IN THE PAST OWNED A 20YR OLD TRUCK WITH NEAR 200,000 MILES AND THE LINES ON THAT TRUCK LOOKED NEARLY NEW WHEN I SOLD IT. IN THIS CASE, I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREMATURE RUSTING IS DUE TO POOR MATERIALS OR THE LOCATION OF THE LINES. THE LEAK IS LOCATED WHERE THE LINES ARE MOUNTED TO THE TOP OF THE FRAME, IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IN THIS LOCATION THEY APPEAR TO BE MORE EXPOSED TO SALT SPRAY COMING OFF OF THE FRONT WHEEL THEN THEY WOULD BE IF THEY WERE MOUNTED TO THE INSIDE WALL OF THE FRAME. SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS HAVE REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PLACE THAT THE BRAKE LINES RUST THRU ON THIS MODEL TRUCK. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION THIS IS A PREMATURE CONDITION FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR ITS YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521625June 25, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
FIRST TIME: I HAD JUST PICKED UP ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS AND WAS HEADED HOME, WHEN WE STARTED GOING DOWN HILL I APPLIED BRAKES TO STAY WITHIN SPEED LIMIT. AT FIRST THERE WAS A MOMENT OF THE BRAKES WORKING AND THEN NOTHING BUT A SLOPPY BREAK PEDAL. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL IS A SHARP CURVE AND A TRAFFIC LIGHT. EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK IS AN AUTOMATIC, I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND DOWN SHIFTED WHEN RPM'S WERE LOW ENOUGH TO GO TO LOWER GEAR. I WAS GOING INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN WE ENTERED THE SHARP CURVE, THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES AT A RED LIGHT, SO I STARTED TO HEAD FOR THE GUARD RAILS TO SIDE SWIPE AND CUT THE WHEEL INTO THE RAILS WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND BACK ON TO THE ROAD I WENT. LIMPED ALL THE WAY HOME IN THE BREAK DOWN LANE IN FIRST GEAR. CALLED A TOW TRUCK ($$$) THAT BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP REPLACED ($$$) A SECTION OF ROTTED BREAK LINE THAT FAILED. 2ND TIME: TODAY WITH BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS IN THE TRUCK, SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AS ABOVE ONLY WITH A STOP SIGN AND I WAS GOING FASTER THAN I WANTED TO BE WHEN WE APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN (TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN ROAD DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP) SO BETWEEN DOWN SHIFTING, UP SHIFTING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO TIME IT TO GO INTO TRAFFIC AND ONCE AGAIN LIMP ALL THE WAY HOME, PARKED THE TRUCK AND GO THROUGH MORE CRAP, AGGRAVATION AND $$$. I'VE LIVED IN CONNECTICUT ALL MY (DRIVING) LIFE, OWNED DIFFERENT MAKES OF TRUCKS AND CARS (SOME FROM THE LATE 60'S ALL THE WAY THE PRESENT) AND NEVER, EVER HAD A BRAKE LINE BUST OR ROT THROUGH ON ANY OF THE VEHICLES IN THE 34 YEARS I'VE DRIVEN. IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT GM DOESN'T HAVE REPLACEMENTS, THEY GOT RID OF THEM SO TESTS COULDN'T BE RUN ON THEM. I PAID ENOUGH FOR THE TRUCK TO EXPECT IT TO BE SAFE FOR MY FAMILY. I MEAN, REALLY, BRAKE LINES. MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY MAKE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OUT OF STAINLESS. HERE'S A THOUGHT, STAINLESS BRAKE LINES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520392June 18, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
SLOWING FOR TURN BRAKE LINE RUPTURE DUE TO HEAVY RUST. COMPLETE REPAIR NEEDED FOR LINES FROM MASTER CYL. TO WHEELS.$400.00 REPAIR COST. VERY SCARY SITUATION.FROM WHAT I HAVE READ GM SAYS IT WILL STOP. IT DID,BUT THEY OMITTED HOW [XXX]FAR IT TAKES.THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514852June 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
PULLED UP TO STOP SIGN (PULLING 3,800# BOAT) WENT TO APPLY BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE LINE BURST. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BOARD, QUICKLY APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, VEHICLE CAME TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. LUCKLY THIS WAS A DEAD END ROAD, WITH NO TRAFFIC. (RUSTED BRAKE LINE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514701June 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING A STOP LITE ,APPLIED BRAKES WAS A SHUDDER OF ANTI LOCK AND PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR. HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510363May 2, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510320May 1, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN EXITING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ON A HIGH SPEED RAMP, I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTRA PRESSURE TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY DUE TO A MERGING CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL PROVIDED LESS THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK DID SLOW DOWN SUCH THAT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION BUT IT WAS SCARILY CLOSE (DIDN'T STOP ANY WHERE NEAR THE DISTANCE THAT IT HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS). AS I WAS CONTINUING TO ROLL/GLIDE DOWN THE HIGHWAY I DECIDED TO TEST THE BRAKES TO BE SURE I HAD BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP AND MOVE INTO A SAFE PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN OF A BRAKE PROBLEM AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE NOR AFTER THE LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE METAL BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND REQUIRED REPLACING IN ORDER TO GET THE BRAKING CAPABILITY RESTORED. THE REPAIR TOTAL WAS $1,307 PLUS TAXES. THIS CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WITH NO WARNING OR EVEN PERFORMANCE INDICATION IS A TOTAL FAILURE FOR THE STANDARDS FOR WHICH A MOTOR VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON AMERICAN ROADS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED AND IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I KNEW TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS A BACKUP; MY 24 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER THAT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WOULD BE AN OPTION. THIS TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH THE FIRST ~1 YEAR IN MICHIGAN BEFORE I ACQUIRED IT AND USED IT IN A SO-CALLED SALT BELT STATE (DELAWARE). IT IS 10 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503877March 21, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND STARTED THE ENGINE - BRAKE FAILED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE 2 MILES HOME BUT HAD TROUBLE STOPPING NOT KNOWING THERE WAS AN ISSUE. WHEN THEY REACHED THEIR HOME THEY NOTICED FLUID LEAKING OUT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES (SUPPOSEDLY STAINLESS) HAD SEVERELY RUSTED AND ONE OF THE LINES HAD RUPTURED DUE TO RUSTING THROUGH. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT RUSTING IS AFFECTING THE FUEL LINES AND OIL COOLER AS WELL AS THE FRAME. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE GMC DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE/INSPECTIONS OVER IT'S LIFETIME AND 2 - 3 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR SERVICE WITH NO MENTION OF THE SEVERE RUSTING. THE ONLY DISCUSSION WAS THAT THE OIL COOLER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON AS IF IT WAS A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503720March 20, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
EXTREMELY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE - ALWAYS SERVICED AT GM DEALERSHIP, AND RECENTLY SAFETY STATE INSPECTED. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED UNDER TRUCK CAB LEADING TO REAR WHEELS. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. INSPECTION OF BRAKE LINE AT THE FRAME WHERE RUPTURE OCCURRED REVEALS ALL LINES LEADING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ARE SO CORRODED AND ROTTEN THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THIS DIDN'T OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, OTHERWISE, I WOULD NOT BE MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502718March 13, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CARS COMING AS I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. MY BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE TRUCK BACK THE 1.5 MILES TO MY HOUSE. NOW I AM LEARNING THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GMC'S. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A SHOP AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT ALL THE LINES ARE RUSTED AND BRITTLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500544February 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER IN THE TRUCK REGISTERS FALSE MPH. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN PARKED THE SPEEDOMETER READS 50 MPH, WHEN TRAVELING ON THE ROAD THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REGISTER 80 MPH AND THE ACTUAL SPEED MAY BE ONLY 30 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499202February 19, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT SPEED LIMIT, HIT BRAKES, REAR BRAKE LINE BURST (WAS SEVERELY RUSTED). I WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD ON BOARD IN HIS CAR SEAT. HOW WE BOTH MADE IT OUT OF THAT INCIDENT UNSCATHED IS AMAZING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND HIT THE PARKING BRAKE. IT TOOK MY SON A GOOD 2 MONTHS BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RID HIMSELF OF FEAR AND ANXIETY DUE TO WHAT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495046January 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE THAT CAUSED A LEAK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,075. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492292January 11, 2013
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED AND THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTER MODULE CONNECTION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S HEATER SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492093January 10, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS PULLING UP TO A BUSY INTERSECTION I WENT TO STEP ON THE BRAKES THEY WERE GONE. LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO JUMP THE CURB AND COME TO A STOP, BEFORE HITTING ANY ONE. UPON INSPECTION THE BRAKES LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH!!!!!!! NOTE!!! I HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND 27 POINT INSPECTION THE DAY BEFORE. AT THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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