2003 Hummer H2 recalls and problems

The 2003 Hummer H2 has 4 recalls and 141 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is visibility.

How the 2003 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 8 H2 model years — the most of any year.

4recalls

141complaints

13crashes

4fires

9injuries

65,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Visibility

Sep 9, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V456000 · 13,358 vehicles

Problem: Gm is recalling 13,358 my 2003 Hummer H2 vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which water can enter the windshield wiper motor module. If a sufficient amount of water enters the module, over time, the front windshield wipers May work intermittently or they May become inoperative.

Original NHTSA wording

GM IS RECALLING 13,358 MY 2003 HUMMER H2 VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH WATER CAN ENTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MODULE. IF A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERS THE MODULE, OVER TIME, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR THEY MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Risk: If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the windshield wiper module cover, and replace the windshield wiper module cover free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2008. Owners May contact Hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .

Gm recall no. 08243. Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Service Brakes

Feb 4, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V045000 · 68,875 vehicles

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.

Risk: Consequently, the valve o-ring seal May fracture. Steering efforts May be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal May require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.

Original NHTSA wording

CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on June 18, 2004. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.

Gm recall no. 04004.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Power Train

Mar 6, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V075000 · 511,167 vehicles

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override that can allow the transmission to be shifted out of park with the ignition in the off position.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN ADDITION, THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVERRIDE THAT CAN ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.

Risk: These overrides are not permitted unless the vehicle has a locking steering column.

Original NHTSA wording

THESE OVERRIDES ARE NOT PERMITTED UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAS A LOCKING STEERING COLUMN.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on May 29, 2003. 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, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.

Gm recall no. 03012. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Visibility

Oct 29, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V283000 · 1,448 vehicles

Problem: Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles exhibit a condition in which the windshield wiper motor could fail during use because of improper manufacture.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COULD FAIL DURING USE BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MANUFACTURE.

Risk: If this were to occur in severe weather, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN SEVERE WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor assembly. Owner notification began November 6, 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 Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3 or Hummer at 1-866-486-6376.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MODULE FAILURE

PE08042 · opened Jul 16, 2008 · closed Oct 15, 2008 · led to recall 08V456000

Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT WATER INTRUSION INTO THE WIPER MOTOR MODULE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY LEAD TO INTERMITTENT OPERATION OR SUBSEQUENT TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE.ANALYSIS OF DATA DISCLOSED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN FEBRUARY 2003 AND MAY 2003 EXHIBITED HIGH WARRANTY CLAIM RATES.THE MANUFACTURED NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2008, THAT A SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR THE 13,358 VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NO. 08V-456 TO THIS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF REPLACING THE WIPER MODULE COVER, WHERE EVIDENCE OF WATER INTRUSION EXISTS.TO CORRESPOND WITH PARTS AVAILABILITY, THE DEALER BULLETIN AND OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER ARE SCHEDULED FOR ISSUANCE IN NOVEMBER 2008.

HUMMER H2 STEERING KNUCKLE FAILURES

EA05017 · opened Oct 28, 2005 · closed Apr 30, 2007

Summary

ODI UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION AT THE CONCLUSION OF PE04-080.THE ALLEGED DEFECT INVOLVES THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE AT THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOSS, RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT FROM THE KNUCKLE.A LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING AND/OR A DISABLED VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRACTURES OF H2 STEERING KNUCKLES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO WHEEL/TIRE COLLISION FORCES BEING TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE.THE ORIGINAL KNUCKLE DESIGN APPEARS TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE H2 APPLICATION.EVIDENCE FROM INSPECTED VEHICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, POLICE REPORTS AND EDR DATA INDICATES COLLISION IMPACT EVENTS PLACED STRESS ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAUSING IT TO FRACTURE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THIS ISSUE IF WARRANTED.

STEERING KNUCKLE FRACTURE

PE04080 · opened Dec 2, 2004 · closed Oct 28, 2005

Summary

DURING THE PE, ODI INVESTIGATED THE HUMMER H2 FOR FRACTURES WHICH WERE OCCURRING AT THE FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE LOWER BOSS.WHEN THE KNUCKLE LOWER BOSS FRACTURES, THE LOWER BALL JOINT STUD IS RELEASED AND THE ENTIRE KNUCKLE AND WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO GAIN A FULL TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THESE FAILURES.

2003 vs. other Hummer H2 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Hummer H2 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Hummer H2, the latest from Sep 9, 2008 (visibility). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Hummer H2?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention visibility (52), electrical system (24), service brakes (18). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.