- The problem
- Certain medium duty trucks equipped with 11,000 lb. Rear axle have a condition where the rear axle anchor plate may fracture. As the anchor plate fractures, there is an audible "bang." If this indication of a condition requiring the driver's attention went unnoticed or was ignored, and under certain rebound, braking, or cornering maneuvers, the rear axle would be free to move fore and aft and provide unexpected steering inputs to the vehicle.
- The risk
- If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could result.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a new rear axle anchor plate and spacer. Owner notification began august 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Vehicle safety record
2003 GMC C4500 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2003 GMC C4500 with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (2) and the transmission & drivetrain (2). It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in July 2002 for the rear. For comparison, the 2004 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical C4500 year, for its age
#255 most complained-about 2003 vehicle
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2003 GMC C4500 problems
Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2003 GMC C4500 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
6 complaints about the 2003 GMC C4500
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Purchases tires in june 2009 -- upon inspection this weekend 4/11/2010 we noticed large cracks in the tires almost like it was separating. We brought them to the dealer and they charged us $100 to replace them after admitting that the tires had failed and were defective. *Tr
Throw bearing wears out every 40,000 km. Bell housing gone at 180,000 km's, rear end wore out at 182,000 kms and forth gear gone in transmission at 183,000, dash cluster gone at 188,000. Manufacture or dealer would not cover anything. *Nm
Vehicle experienced sudden stalling at various speeds when on the road. Taken to the dealer 10 times for checkup, but the cause was still undetermined.*Ak
Vehicle was experiencing a problem with grease from the rear end leaking onto the left rear wheel braking system. This caused loss of braking in that wheel. Dealer replaced the grease seal with an upgraded seal six times, problem recurred. *Ak real grease seal was replaced. The driver side brake caliper bolt fell out causing the caliper to rub the inside of the inner dual wheel causing damage to the caliper and wheel. *Tc
My engine stalled due to contaminated fuel. With the key still in the on position, I attempted to stop. I pressed the service brake pedal. The backup brake system did not operate. I repeated pressing the brake pedal two more times. I understood. I was closing the distance between my vehicle and the one in front of me approaching the traffic signal, red. The brake pedal switch failed to initiate the relays and pump. Consequently, the vehicle had practically no brakes other than the drum brake by hand brake handle. I...
Read the full complaint
applied the hand brake. Good thing I was only traveling at less than 30 miles per hour, without cargo, and had more than 400 feet to stop. I almost hit the vehicle in front at the red light. The hand brake worked. At higher speed, the truck would have killed people. There would have been no engine brake effect because the engine had stopped. Going downhill after fueling and then pulling my trailer as well if it had been loaded, would the results had been the same at the red light at the bottom of a hill or rail road track bridge? Someone would have died. There needs to be a bypass switch installed near the steering wheel to manually turn the pump on. And the switch on the pedal needs to be a mechanical one like the ones that have operated taillights for the last fifty years. Stick with what works. *Jb
When the vehicle reached a speed of 50 mph, the head lights dimmed. *Jb when the lights are adjusted properly, they do not allow the proper light on the road at speeds greater than 50 mph. Dealer did not see the problem. Scc
GMC C4500: every year compared
All C4500 years2003 GMC C4500 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 GMC C4500 | 6 | 1 | C | |
| 2003 GMC Envoy XL | 642 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2003 GMC Envoy | 642 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2003 GMC Denali | 32 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2003 GMC C/K Series | 4 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2003 GMC C5500 | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2003 GMC Conventional | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2003 GMC C7500 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 GMC C4500
Does the 2003 GMC C4500 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2003 GMC C4500: rear (July 2002). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 GMC C4500?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the brakes (2), transmission & drivetrain (2), wheels & tires (1).
How many complaints has the 2003 GMC C4500 had?
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 19, 2003 and the latest on April 12, 2010. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2003 GMC C4500 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 48 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical GMC C4500 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which GMC C4500 years have the most complaints?
2003 (6), 2006 (4), 2005 (2). See every GMC C4500 year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 GMC C4500 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data