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GMC SierraYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,929 NHTSA owner complaints across 30 model years, the GMC Sierra years to avoid are 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the strongest years are 1992, 2009, 2011 and 2012. The Sierra has 56 safety recalls on record.

GMC Sierra
Years to avoid'95 '99 '00 '01Use caution: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004Best years'92 '09 '11 '12Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints3,929Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls561988–2017 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

GMC Sierra years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sierra median. Tap a year for its full report.

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2017Solid64/10061 complaints · 0 recalls2016Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls2015Best67/10053 complaints · 6 recalls2014Solid50/100101 complaints · 11 recalls2013Best68/10039 complaints · 3 recalls2012Best76/10029 complaints · 2 recalls2011Best73/10043 complaints · 2 recalls2010Best70/10034 complaints · 0 recalls2009Best73/10037 complaints · 1 recall2008Solid61/10068 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid60/10059 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid66/10053 complaints · 4 recalls2005Solid49/100117 complaints · 9 recalls2004Caution35/100188 complaints · 7 recalls2003Caution35/100206 complaints · 6 recalls2002Caution29/100249 complaints · 4 recalls2001Avoid27/100264 complaints · 4 recalls2000Avoid18/100443 complaints · 8 recalls1999Avoid14/100600 complaints · 5 recalls1998Caution33/100190 complaints · 0 recalls1997Caution32/100238 complaints · 0 recalls1996Caution29/100246 complaints · 2 recalls1995Avoid28/100261 complaints · 6 recalls1994Caution38/100190 complaints · 3 recalls1993Solid59/10072 complaints · 2 recalls1992Best76/10030 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/10012 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/10018 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common GMC Sierra problems

All model years combined: 3,929 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic1006109
Visibility49112
Power train31523
Service brakes30431
Steering25616
Electrical system25533
Structure20218
Air bags193111
Engine and engine cooling17214
24 other systems1375102
56 recalls

GMC Sierra recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

94%Electrical system: software16V-084 · 2016 · Feb 11, 2016 · 139 vehicles100%Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive15V-830 · 2016 · Dec 10, 2015 · 90 vehicles99%Other: labels13V-544 · 2013–2014 · Oct 30, 2015 · 1,808 vehicles83%Electrical system: ignition15V-640 · 2014–2015 · Oct 9, 2015 · 3,073 vehicles63%Electrical system: ignition14V-827 · 2011–2012 · Dec 30, 2014 · 84,192 vehicles100%Axle assembly: axle shaft14V-819 · 2015 · Dec 24, 2014 · 152 vehicles99%Steering: electric power assist system14V-719 · 2015 · Nov 10, 2014 · 679 vehicles85%Electrical system14V-614 · 2014 · Oct 1, 2014 · 106,307 vehicles95%Seats14V-446 · 2014–2015 · Jul 23, 2014 · 124,007 vehicles94%Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)14V-374 · 2014–2015 · Jun 27, 2014 · 392,459 vehicles64%Equipment14V-345 · 2014 · Jun 18, 2014 · 184 vehicles87%Electrical system: software14V-301 · 2014 · Jun 6, 2014 · 57,512 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 56 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

19 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Sierra

  1. Brake line corrosion failurePE10010 · 1999–2003 · closed Jan 5, 2011
    No recall
  2. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA08010 · 2008 · closed Sep 8, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-441
  3. NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08010 · 2008 · closed Jun 12, 2008
    No recall
  4. CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILURE - STALLPE06016 · 2001–2002 · closed Sep 14, 2006
    No recall
  5. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREDP05009 · 1999–2003 · closed May 31, 2006
    No recall
  6. UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATIONPE05020 · 1999–2002 · closed Sep 13, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-379
  7. TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLESEA05007 · 1998–2000 · closed Apr 11, 2006
    Led to recall 06V-066
  8. TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BREAKAGERQ04010 · 1998 · closed Apr 14, 2005
    No recall
  9. PARKING BRAKE FAILUREEA04011 · 1999–2003 · closed May 10, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-161
  10. TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGEEA04005 · 1999–2003 · closed Sep 28, 2004
    Led to recall 04E-067