NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2003–2008

GMC C4500 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 16 owner complaints for the GMC C4500, covering model years 2003 to 2008. The 2003 model year drew the most complaints (6), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your GMC C4500 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

1 recall campaign on file
16 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
6 model years with data (2003–2008)

most complaints: 2003 (6 for that model year)
top component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (5 complaints)
latest recall 02V202000 (reported Jul 26, 2002)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
1 complaint reporting a fire (6.3%)
1 complaint reporting an injury (6.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

GMC C4500 complaints by model year

6 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2003 model year has the most complaints: 6 of 16, or 37.5%. Next come 2006 (4) and 2005 (2). The fewest are for 2008, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

GMC C4500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

GMC C4500 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
2003	6	0	0
2004	1	0	0
2005	2	0	1
2006	4	0	0
2007	2	0	0
2008	1	1	0
All model years	16	1	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported GMC C4500 components

top 13 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often, in 5 complaints (31.3% of all 16), followed by Engine and Engine Cooling (4) and Power Train (4).

Components named most often in GMC C4500 complaints (top 13)

Components named most often in GMC C4500 complaints (top 13)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	5	31.3%
Engine and Engine Cooling	4	25.0%
Power Train	4	25.0%
Electrical System	2	12.5%
Exterior Lighting	2	12.5%
Tires	2	12.5%
Engine	1	6.3%
Fuel System, Other	1	6.3%
Fuel/Propulsion System	1	6.3%
Seats	1	6.3%
Steering	1	6.3%
Suspension	1	6.3%
Visibility	1	6.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

GMC C4500 recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name C4500, newest first. The only campaign, 02V202000, covers model year 2003.

1 recall campaign

GMC C4500 recall campaigns covering each model year
2003: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 02V202000
Reported Jul 26, 2002
Suspension › Rear
Model year 2003
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.
Consequence:
If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could result.
Remedy:
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.
Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

GMC C4500 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the GMC C4500 have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the GMC C4500, covering model years 2003 to 2008. The campaign, 02V202000, was reported on July 26, 2002 and is filed under “Suspension”.

Which GMC C4500 model year has the most complaints?

The 2003 model year, with 6 of the 16 complaints in NHTSA’s file (37.5%). The next are 2006 (4) and 2005 (2). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common GMC C4500 complaint?

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the component named most often: 5 complaints, or 31.3% of all 16. Engine and Engine Cooling (4) and Power Train (4) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my GMC C4500?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a GMC dealer.

How many GMC C4500 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 16 complaints, 0 report a crash, 1 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The GMC models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the GMC VIN decoder with every GMC model page, WMI code and VIN note.

GMC Sierra 1500 1995–2026 · 60 recalls · 8,852 complaints
GMC Acadia 2007–2026 · 38 recalls · 5,557 complaints
GMC Yukon 1995–2026 · 74 recalls · 4,874 complaints
GMC Sierra 1995–2017 · 52 recalls · 3,585 complaints
GMC Terrain 2010–2026 · 22 recalls · 3,110 complaints
GMC Envoy 1995–2009 · 27 recalls · 2,459 complaints
GMC Yukon XL 1999–2026 · 54 recalls · 2,403 complaints
GMC Jimmy 1995–2004 · 18 recalls · 1,869 complaints

All GMC models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.