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2003 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems

15 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 40,000.

owner complaints
15
of this car's complaints
8%
typical mileage
40,000
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Gear box: shaft sector
    3
  • Column
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems in other years

1997200020052010201520202026

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 2, 2016 · Steering · 177,000 miles · WI

I have a 2003 gmc sierra 1500. When turning at low speed at times the power steering goes out for a few seconds then comes back. Yesterday I almost hit a car head on due to this problem. I was turning into a gas station and the steering went out. A car was pulling out of the station as I was pulling in and the power steering went out. I was going straight at and I struggled through it to make the truck turn. If my wife would have been driving the truck, there would have been an accident. This needs to be recalled and fixed before someone gets killed. This has been going on for the last 6 months but yesterday was a close call.

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Body, Steering · MI

I previously had to have the power steering cooler replaced because of leaking corroded lines. Just recently had to have trans cooler replaced because of leaking corroded lines. Mechanic said all lines underneath (brake, steering, etc) are terribly corroded and we will definitely pay attention to all corroded lines, etc in future oil change visits. The undercarriage of my truck is a corroded disaster. The rocker panels are gone. Corroded railer hitch was replaced. Luckily nothing has totally failed yet to cause an accident.

Filed Sep 28, 2010 · Steering · 125,987 miles · WA

No events leading up to failure. Failure, no power assist to lefthand turns. Possible loss of control of truck. 9-30-09 dealer replaced power steering assemble pt# 88965789 s/gr rem 6.508. 9-13-10 no event leading to failure loss of power assist for lefthand turns possible loss of control of truck. Dealer replaced power steering assemble pt# 88965789 s/gr rem 6.508 this has happened twice now on this truck.

Filed Apr 12, 2010 · Brakes, Steering · 4,500 miles · MD

Starting at <5k miles the vehicle power train clunked when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. Now at 70k miles it clunks when shifting between all gears except final drive. The dealership replaced the output shaft on the tranny, then the u-joints, and modified the electrical shift patern. It still clunks. Power steering intermittently locks up at slow speed turns, especially when braking. Light bulbs burn out almost every three months. Had to pay ($486.00) for replacing the intake manifold gasket when vehicle had little over 40k miles. Brakes fade and the pedal almost goes to the floor, again intermittent. I have almost caused several accidents due to the steering and brake issues. Gmc issued a letter stating "this is a normal occurance and will not cause damage." well, it's getting worse in sound and clunking harder during shifting.

Filed Apr 9, 2010 · Brakes, Steering · 15,000 miles · WA

2003 gmc half ton sierra truck. 3 time since 2003 that I've had to take it in for clunking noise felt thru steering wheel. Lubed a couple times then replaced the intermediate steering shaft. Still no guarantees that it won't happen again. Also very hard to steer when braking and brakes don't respond well when applied quickly. The first time the intermediate steering shaft needed attention the truck only had 15,000 miles on it. The second time was 30,000 miles and the last time was 45,000 miles and occurred in march 2010.

Filed Feb 18, 2010 · Steering · 9,669 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 1500. He had to replace the steering intermediate shaft when the vehicle had 9,669 miles on it since it was defective. He was concerned that he had to replace the part with since the mileage was so low. The current and failure mileages were 9,669.

Filed Jun 12, 2009 · Steering · 26,000 miles · AZ

2003 gmc sierra - intermediate steering shaft. Second failure of the steering shaft, truck has only 56,000 miles. Original equipment shaft failed at 26,000 miles and was replaced under warranty. Hundreds of similar complaints in various gm truck internet forums. A new, improved replacement part is now available, gm part #19153614. There needs to be a recall to force gm to replace the first generation part.

Filed Sep 19, 2008 · Steering · 16,491 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 1500. Whenever the vehicle is driven at any speed, the contact feels bumping or banging in the steering wheel. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer; however, the failure persists. The failure mileage was 16491 and current mileage is 36,000. Updated 10/14/08 *bf the dealer replaced the steering shaft twice. Updated 10/23/08.

Filed Jun 9, 2008 · Steering · 60,000 miles · 00

Clunking noise and vibration in steering column at low speeds on bumpy roads, especially when turning corners. Feels like serious front-end mechanical problems. Current mileage on my 2003 gmc sierra is 60,000. I learned from gm that the intermediate steering shaft had already been replaced at 24,000 miles under warranty, but it needed replacing again. $207 for new shaft and $92 labor. New, improved part # is 19153614. If gm knew the original shaft was defective, why didn't they have to recall it?

Filed Apr 1, 2008 · Steering · 40,000 miles · NM

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc sierra 1500. The contact heard a rubbing sound coming from the steering column. The dealer stated that the steering column needed to be replaced and they replaced the column with the original design. One year later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that there was a new design for the steering column, but the contact would have to pay to have the new part installed. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 50,000.

Questions about the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 steering

Does the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 have steering problems?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the steering of the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500, 8% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 40,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 steering?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the GMC Sierra 1500 have bad steering?

The GMC Sierra 1500 model years with the most steering complaints are 2014 (156 complaints), 2015 (81 complaints) and 2019 (42 complaints).

Other 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

Brakes 105Electrical 43Airbags 7Fuel system 7Engine 6Transmission 6Body 4Visibility 4Lights 2Seat belts 2Suspension 2Acceleration 1Tires 1

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