Comments: 1-15, 16-17
First the rear view mirror had the compass and temp. gage go out.
Next the A/C controller had to be replaced because it stuck on the hot setting.
Then the Front differential leaked out of the passenger side output seal (truck had never been offroad or dogged out).
Again the front differential leaked from another spot, where the case splits in the middle (again never abused).
The radio ($800 Bose system) stopped working three times, so I had enough and made them look up a recall on it, so they had to reprogram it. This is a common problem as I know of three other people with 2003 GM or Chevy trucks that have had the same problem.
The seat is making a "popping" noise like a spring is loose.
The horn does not work all the time.
All of these problems and only 13,800 miles.
I will never buy another GMC or American vehicle again. This truck has ruined it for me. What a big piece of garbage, in fact I now think GMC stands for garbage manufacturing corporation.
I wish no one would ever buy another GMC again this truck is so bad. It has got to be a lemon.
I ragged my Nissan for seven years and made three trips to the dealer for service, and it costs one third of the GMC. The GMC has been babied from day one and it is already falling apart. So much for made in America cars and trucks, no one in my family will EVER own another one.
This review seems to be uninformed and for the most part just little things that are covered by the warranty anyways. Remember just because it happened to 3 people that you know does not make something "a common problem". I own a 2003 Sierra and I have had absolutley no problems with it what so ever, with the exception of a new speaker because I listened to the radio to loud. Further to that point not only have I not experienced any of the problems you mentioned (and my truck does go off road) but by your theory, no one I know has either so that makes the truck fine.
It all boils down to the fact that you bought your truck because you wanted it and it had things you want. To write a completely informed review you have to dive into that area as well not just complain and say you'll never buy one again.
My take on the 2003 GMC Sierra is that it is an awesome machine. The interior is spacious even in the back seat and all the controls are easy to get to and use while driving along with a driver information center that displays any important information (so far I have only gotten "fuel level low"). The gas mileage is a lie, the sticker says 14 or 15 miles highway I get closer to 18 at least.
How can you rave on about your truck and calling it garbage?
I own a 2003 GMC Sierra and have no problems with it at all. The truck is used for towing and sees off-road quite a bit. All I can say is what a great truck, I don't know how anyone could say otherwise.
And about how you should have bought another foreign vehicle, what makes you think anything made in Japan or China is going to be better?
I have had my troubles with the truck, but all in all I must say the truck is great. I just hope that it will stay that way. I have 8000 and the radio went bonkers and it took 4 new ones to fix it. Turned out they did not know how to set it up. Had the whole left side of the truck go bad nothing worked. Had to fix this then the alarm we bad. had to fix that too. All in all I guess that you can say this is minor and because the truck was covered for the trouble it is not too bad. My question is what will it be like at 80000. Don't say by a new one because the price was higher that my house you don't do that every day!
I just recently bought one and so far in 6000 miles I have no major complaints. I love this truck, I have taken it off-road and pulled some loads that way overdid the class III rating of the hitch. However I have noticed the problem with the seat popping. My gas mileage is slightly less than sticker advertised, but I attribute that to my driving habits. It is an expensive truck, but in my opinion, well worth it. I will drive this thing until it dies and then buy another.
I hear ya on your lemon, also the dealers don't help that well once you give up your $$$ but F.Y.I. I have a 2003 I use for construction and I drive fast & hard & I load it up enough you are looking at the sky while driving it has 6000 beat miles no problems with the Bose yet (whew!!)
I passed my old one (1993) to my son 170000 beat beat miles on it, but now that he has it and he only drives it (like a baby) it had some trouble I fixed it and then beat it for a few days now its fine, I told him "I know it sounds funny son, but drive this truck hard so it will stay running good for you!!! " may you just got to work them like a truck but then again if you only need a cruiser you may want to trade it for a foreign one!
The important thing to remember is that these are TRUCKS...
Built to be worked like beasts in the field, that they are carlike civilized is absolutely amazing to me... yes they use gas, yes they have complex systems that when broken are expensive to fix, but hey, I'm an old dude, I remember when a one ton truck meant getting your fillings knocked loose, even the half tonners rode pretty rough, not horrible, but these new trucks are cadillac smooth EMPTY, load em down and they really ride nice - tune ups every HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES, Hello!!!
If you want a car, buy a car.
Nuff said.
I couldn't agree more. My 2003 Sierra Z71 just got totaled and I should have bought the guy that hit me a cold one. Before it happened, it had been back for transmission valve replacement 4 times, steering knuckle 2 times, windshield noise, rear passenger window noise, and rust! What a mediocre excuse for a truck. I'm buying the 05 F-F150. GM has lost me for life and they'd have to do a heck of a lot better than the "employee's discount." You others keep on trying to convince yourself that your truck is the greatest thing in the world. Time will tell.
OK, I just purchased a 2003 GMC Sierra SLE, 2WD, with about 26,000 miles on it. As for anyone saying these trucks are not dependable and are not some of the nicest driving trucks on the road today, I must say I disagree. A wise man told me once, "They all break". And that is the truth. I am happy to have a GMC again (after going to the NISSAN side) and I am really enjoying the comfort of it.
I have a 2003 GMC Sierra 4x4 Z71 fairly loaded. I drove it on two long trips this year once to Nova Scotia from Ontario, Canada. It is the quietest nicest riding vehicle I have driven. I do get a bit of a loose feeling in the steering column and thanks to the fellow who posted the steering knuckle problem being repaired twice on his. I will go to the dealer and have it looked at.
I drove a Ford for eight years. It was an F 150loaded up 4X4. To the guy that's going to jump over to Ford go in with your eyes open because there isn't enough room here to list the problems, expense and dealer nonsense I put up with on that truck. Lots of little and big problems. So from the fryin' pan into the fire?? That's why I went back to GMC. They do all break...
I own a 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 and it has given me the knuckle problem 3 times ever since I bought it and the delership has not solved the problem yet! I also had problems with the airbag system.
To the dude trying to stop the other guy from switching to ford:
What model year was your F150? It could have been a rat from 1986 or something, and you would have put someone off a good truck.
Anyways, it doesn't matter. Everyone one of us will have a good expierence and love our brand while others have a bad one and whine like little babies saying no ford never ever or no more american cars. Bah, it won't matter if we try to chastise them, its opinion and it won't stop no matter how stupid it is or sounds.
My opinion: Almost never buy new, cause too much money and when you get a lemon... (with today's revolutionary electronics) it all goes to crap fast.
And when people say they won't buy american again, well, japan is faultering, Toyota is resting on thier laurals too much IMO and their cars aren't as good. As for Japansese trucks, good, but I'd prefer some american might. No matter how unadvanced or stupid it may seem. Would I ever choose a korean car? Never. Don't trust them to build my primary source of transportation.
There you have it! My opinion!
Reactions to my opinion go below...
The person who wrote this review should be ashamed for pledging to never buy another American brand of vehicle. He/she needs to send this comment to all the people who have worked for an American auto manufacturer or another manufacturer that supplied parts to one of the Big Three, but it now unemployed or has taken another job for less pay. Tell them how happy you are to buy a foreign brand vehicle, even though it put your fellow citizens out of a job, and that foreign companies deserve the business & profit. Foreign brand vehicles, even if manufactured in the US, do not keep as many people in work as the domestic brands. Most all of the components in US assembled foreign vehicles come from other countries. However, in recent years US auto makers are purchasing more and more imported parts to remain competitive. The US is the largest market for consumer goods, if everyone here bought products made in the US, or Canada, the demand for those products would increase tremendously. Consequently, more, better paying jobs will be avialable. If you don't buy "Made in the USA", don't complain about unemployment!
I purchased a 2002 GMC sierra reg cab brand new, drove it to 90K miles and absolutely loved that truck. The only problem I noticed is that the A/C would occasionally blow warm, maybe this Texas heat would overwhelm it. Also the transmission started to "clank" a little when taking off from a hard stop, I attribute that to the abuse I put it through. Maybe it would have been an easy fix like tightening something or replacing a trans. mount. Both I would consider minor problems, I regret selling it to buy a car. Looking at the 2007 new body style GMC now.
I have a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Crew Cab that I bought brand new from the dealership that I used to be sales manager at 5 years before. After 2 years and 16,600 miles I had no problems until the Transmission went out. Evidently, there is some kind of defect where engine coolant can leak into the transmission. Well the Dealership was great and it went in on Monday and I got it back by Friday. They put in a completely new transmission and it drives great. I have had no other problems with the truck after 27 months and 16,800 miles.
I have a 2003 GMC Sierra with 125,000 miles on it and I have just spotted my first concern with it. I have a small coolant leak that I will have to trace down to fix other than that no problems what so ever. This truck still has the original brake pads and rotors on it and all I have ever done is routine maintenance and ran nothing, but synthetic oil in it. I have the BOSE sound system and it still rocks to this day, I did turn the gain on the factory amp up a little. This truck even has been rear ended by a Ford Expedition and a Ford F250 at the same time and all Schumacher GMC had to do was replace the bed, the bumper, and the rear lights and it ran like new.
Love this truck!