GMC Sierra 1500 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 3,662 owner complaints and 32 safety recalls for the GMC Sierra 1500. That averages 90.6 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 2.25 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #2 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 97.2.
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
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 93% above the 2018 and 2019 models (149 early complaints per model year versus 85).
The 2024 model year has the highest rate (131.5 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (34.7). The 2018 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 90.6 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (50.1% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (14.9%) and Electrical (10.1%). Engine complaints are 2.2 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 85 complaints (2.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 44 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 1,393 complaints versus 1,331 in the previous 12 months — up 5%. The 2021 model year generated the most recent reports (221). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 40 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 32 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (8), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 2 fixable over the air. 6 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Upper Grille Deflector Detachment” (recall query, opened 2026-10-09, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Toyota Tundra, but fewer than Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 and Ford F-150.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 305 | 34.7 | 0.86 | 36 | 7 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 | 653 | 83.8 | 2.08 | 214 | 10 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 475 | 70.0 | 1.73 | 165 | 12 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 585 | 101.1 | 2.51 | 221 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 595 | 124.3 | 3.08 | 209 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 489 | 129.1 | 3.2 | 218 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 367 | 131.5 | 3.26 | 168 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 118 | 66.0 | 1.64 | 87 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 75 | 75.0 | 1.86 | 75 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
“Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 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: 1,393 · Previous 12 months: 1,331 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
1,833 · 50.1% · 2.25 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
547 · 14.9% · 1.28 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
371 · 10.1% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
294 · 8.0% · 0.88 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
176 · 4.8% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
152 · 4.2% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Steering ›
79 · 2.2% · 0.34 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
52 · 1.4% · 0.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system ›
44 · 1.2% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
42 · 1.1% · 0.2 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts
34 · 0.9% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
27 · 0.7% · 0.48 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
11 · 0.3% · 0.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 40 months
What owners report
5/08/2026: I stopped outside my garage. I then placed the truck in park and exited the vehicle while running. I went inside my garage and several minutes later, heard a crash.
I was driving at 70 mph on the highway. I heard clunk and then rattling and saw smoke while losing power. Check 4wd warning illuminated. Came to stop in busy traffic and where I first parked on shoulder, saw shoulder of roadway smoking and on fire.
2021 GMC with 6.2L motor. The engine begin to produce a clattering noise in the upper part of the engine. When the clattering happens the vehicle will shudder.
Since I purchase this truck I've been having no audio twice a week. Dealer has no fix GMC knows they have issues and still they are selling this vehicles.
The Fuel pump modular system failed leaving me unable to start the vehicle and left me stranded in the [XXX] heat for hours. The vehicle only has 57k miles. There was a recall for this specific issue for many GM vehicles but not mine. There was no warning!
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 | 1,578 | 54.3 | 1.35 | Worsening | Rising | 34 | Engine |
| 2 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 3,662 | 90.6 | 2.25 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 32 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4,756 | 108.4 | 2.69 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 34 | Engine |
| 4 | Ram 1500 | 4,840 | 110.2 | 2.73 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 74 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | 6,163 | 117.6 | 2.91 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 84 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 32
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 2
Safety recalls: 2018 (7) · 2019 (10) · 2020 (12) · 2021 (7) · 2022 (6) · 2023 (3) · 2024 (1) · 2025 (1) · 2026 (2)
Investigations
- Upper Grille Deflector Detachment Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 118 complaints alleging detachment of the upper grille deflector on 2022-2024 model year (MY) GMC Sierra vehicles. 21 of these 118 complaints allege that the upper grille deflector detached after Recall 25V-060 was performed. The complaints allege that the upper grille deflector detaches while driving. In some cases, leading to a cracked winds…
- 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 R…
- 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) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Y…
- 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 R…
- 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 GM’s 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 engine’s bottom end and in so…
- 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…