GMC Sierra 1500 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 3,415 owner complaints and 30 safety recalls for the GMC Sierra 1500. That averages 90.3 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 2.14 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #2 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the GMC Sierra 1500 has recorded 3,415 owner complaints and 30 safety recalls, averaging 90.3 complaints per year which is far more than typical with an index of 2.14 against all tracked vehicles. The trend is worsening as the 2024 model year shows the highest rate at 129.0 complaints per year while the 2023 and 2024 models run 98% above the 2018 and 2019 models with 149 early complaints versus 85. The most common problem area is Engine accounting for 49.3% of complaints, followed by Transmission / powertrain at 15.1% and Electrical at 10.5%, where engine issues are 2.2 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Owners report recurring terms such as "engine", "denali", "lifters", "towed" and "seized", with 81 complaints describing a crash or fire, 42 injuries, and 0 deaths across all model years.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 98% above the 2018 and 2019 models (149 early complaints per model year versus 85).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (129.0 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (34.4). The 2018 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (49.3% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (15.1%) and Electrical (10.5%). Engine complaints are 2.2 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “engine”, “denali”, “lifters”, “towed” and “seized”. 81 complaints (2.4%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 42 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 1,257 complaints versus 1,264 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (209). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 40 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 30 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (8), 2 fixable over the air. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy” (opened 2026-08-20, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota Tundra; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 298 | 34.4 | 0.82 | 46 | 0.52 | 31 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 633 | 82.5 | 1.96 | 125 | 1.55 | 209 | 10 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 455 | 68.2 | 1.62 | 75 | 1.32 | 162 | 12 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 550 | 97.0 | 2.31 | 68 | 1.11 | 208 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 570 | 122.0 | 2.9 | 56 | 0.76 | 204 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 455 | 123.8 | 2.94 | 72 | 0.87 | 200 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 345 | 129.0 | 3.07 | 227 | 3.23 | 160 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 | 109 | 65.2 | 1.55 | — | — | 83 | 1 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 1,257 · Previous 12 months: 1,264 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
514 · 15.1% · 1.29 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission309
- valve100
- shifting91
- gear95
Interior & equipment ›
165 · 4.8% · 0.54 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- tailgate29
- onstar module10
- trucks15
- grill10
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
51 · 1.5% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire25
- ball joint13
- separated11
- control arm10
Fuel system
37 · 1.1% · 0.25 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- pump23
- fuel24
- module18
- check12
Airbags & seat belts
33 · 1.0% · 0.25 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deploy13
- airbags11
- restraint8
- police10
Lighting
26 · 0.8% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- dark10
- reverse lights6
- camera12
- backup8
Other
11 · 0.3% · 0.18 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- accelerator5
- accelerated4
- pedal5
- diagnosed6
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- engine1657
- denali125
- lifters174
- towed512
- seized183
- valve236
- oil417
- trailer181
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 40 months
What owners report
Piston 5 dropped compression to 120 the rest were 190-200. The engine failed therefore none of my parking assist sensors were working and I backed into a car because the truck was misfiring.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. While shifted in reverse, the back over prevention camera intermittently displayed a black screen accompanied by two failing camera symbols.
I was coming to a stop at a stop a 3 way stop intersection. I parked completely and when I stopped the vehicle just shut down I did not have any warning signs come on prior as I looked at the dash it said place vehicle into park and start.
The piece in front of the hood detached and flew off while riding down the highway.
while driving my 2023 GMC Sierra AT4 at highway speed, the front grille piece (GM part 84957848, roughly 3 feet or longer) detached from the vehicle without warning and flew off into the roadway.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Full-size pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Tundra | 1,525 | 54.1 | 1.29 | Worsening | Rising | 33 | Engine |
| 2 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 3,415 | 90.3 | 2.14 | Worsening | Steady | 30 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4,479 | 105.8 | 2.51 | Stable | Steady | 31 | Engine |
| 4 | Ram 1500 | 4,615 | 110.7 | 2.63 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | 5,985 | 129.2 | 3.07 | Improving | Falling | 80 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 30
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 2
Safety recalls: 2018 (7) · 2019 (10) · 2020 (12) · 2021 (7) · 2022 (6) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy Open
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued …
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy Closed
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued …
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019â2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon…
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure Closed
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GMâs full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engineâs bottom end and i…
- Air Bag Malfunction Closed
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The vehicles included model year (MY) 2020 through 2021 CT4 and CT5 passenger cars, Sierra and Silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models…
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra 1500 model year has the most complaints?
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (129.0 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (34.4).
Is the GMC Sierra 1500 getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 98% above the 2018 and 2019 models (149 early complaints per model year versus 85). In the last 12 months owners filed 1,257 complaints versus 1,264 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (49.3% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (15.1%) and Electrical (10.5%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “engine”, “denali”, “lifters”, “towed” and “seized”.
How does the GMC Sierra 1500 compare with other Full-size pickups?
Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #2 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota Tundra; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 have more.
Does the GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 30 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (8), 2 fixable over the air. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy” (opened 2026-08-20, still open).