GMC
GMC Sierra 1500 years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2022, 2023 and 2024. Best years: 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The 2022, 2023 and 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2022 has 587 complaints (117 for each year on the road), 2023 has 482 complaints (120 for each year on the road) and 2024 has 362 complaints (121 for each year on the road), against a median of 67 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2024 is engine failure (118 reports).
- 5,781complaints
- 45recall campaigns
- 13model years with a page
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2022
Most reported: engine failure (138 reports, median 40,000 miles) and stalling (110 reports, median 54,000 miles).
2023
Most reported: engine failure (114 reports, median 24,610 miles) and stalling (95 reports, median 29,000 miles).
2024
Most reported: engine failure (118 reports, median 20,000 miles) and stalling (92 reports, median 23,291 miles).
Best years
2016
Most reported: brake wear (106 reports, median 45,000 miles) and transmission shudder (49 reports, median 47,000 miles).
2017
Most reported: brake wear (107 reports, median 45,000 miles) and transmission shudder (61 reports, median 53,000 miles).
2018
Most reported: transmission shudder (68 reports, median 27,000 miles) and brake wear (44 reports, median 27,000 miles).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025 and 2026.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- No single year holds most of the file. The busiest, the 2015, has 12% of the 5,781 complaints across 13 model years.
- Problem across the years
- The top problem changes over time: brake wear from 2014 to 2017; transmission shudder in 2018; engine failure from 2019 to 2026. Pooled across the years, half of the 431 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were under about 42,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 4% of GMC Sierra 1500 complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2016, 24 of its 341 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 5 of the 13 model years where owners report engine failure have a recall on the same system: 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings jumped in 2025, with 1,590 complaints, 3.2 times the next busiest year. So far in 2026, 1,241 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
Photo: Bull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Fourth generation (GMT K2XX)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 701 | 54 | 9 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (144) | 63,000 |
| 2015 | 719 | 60 | 9 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (229) | 51,000 |
| 2016 best | 341 | 31 | 8 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (106) | 50,000 |
| 2017 best | 354 | 35 | 6 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (107) | 46,000 |
| 2018 best | 304 | 34 | 7 | Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (68) | 39,000 |
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Fifth generation (GMT T1XX)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 646 | 81 | 10 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (157) | 42,868 |
| 2020 | 468 | 67 | 12 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (103) | 58,000 |
| 2021 | 573 | 96 | 7 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (126) | 44,000 |
| 2022 avoid | 587 | 117 | 6 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (138) | 36,000 |
| 2023 avoid | 482 | 120 | 3 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (114) | 26,634 |
| 2024 avoid | 362 | 121 | 1 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (118) | 17,000 |
| 2025 | 116 | new | 1 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (32) | 10,000 |
| 2026 | 128 | new | 2 | Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (54) | 4,200 |
Year by year
2026 GMC Sierra 1500
128 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: engine failure (54 reports, median 4,300 miles), stalling (39 reports, median 3,202 miles) and misfire (16 reports, median 3,898 miles). 2 recalls, including 26V-289 on the transmission and drivetrain (do not drive) and 26V-114 on the equipment.
2025 GMC Sierra 1500
116 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: engine failure (32 reports, median 13,000 miles), infotainment (21 reports) and stalling (18 reports, median 16,000 miles). 3 reports involved a crash. 1 recall: 25V-876 on the mobility equipment.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 avoid
362 owner complaints, 121 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (118 reports, median 20,000 miles), stalling (92 reports, median 23,291 miles) and misfire (27 reports, median 24,000 miles). 5 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. 1 recall: 25V-274 on the engine.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 avoid
482 owner complaints, 120 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (114 reports, median 24,610 miles), stalling (95 reports, median 29,000 miles) and trim coming off (59 reports, median 51,350 miles). 5 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-274 on the engine and 24V-674 on the brakes.
2022 GMC Sierra 1500 avoid
587 owner complaints, 117 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (138 reports, median 40,000 miles), stalling (110 reports, median 54,000 miles) and trim coming off (65 reports, median 39,000 miles). 9 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 25V-274 on the engine and 26V-083 on the transmission and drivetrain.
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
573 owner complaints, 96 for each year on the road (1.4 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (126 reports, median 58,522 miles), misfire (104 reports, median 57,000 miles) and stalling (88 reports, median 29,000 miles). 5 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 25V-274 on the engine and 26V-083 on the transmission and drivetrain.
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
468 owner complaints, 67 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (103 reports, median 68,000 miles), misfire (84 reports, median 74,000 miles) and stalling (68 reports, median 54,500 miles). 12 reports involved a crash and 13 people were hurt. 12 recalls, including 26V-083 on the transmission and drivetrain and 24V-797 on the transmission and drivetrain.
2019 GMC Sierra 1500
646 owner complaints, 81 for each year on the road (1.2 times the model median). Most reported: engine failure (157 reports, median 83,000 miles), brake wear (112 reports, median 8,800 miles) and stalling (105 reports, median 75,000 miles). 13 reports involved a crash and 12 people were hurt. 10 recalls, including 21V-985 on the tires and 21V-423 on the tires.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 best
304 owner complaints, 34 for each year on the road (0.5 times the model median). Most reported: transmission shudder (68 reports, median 27,000 miles), brake wear (44 reports, median 27,000 miles) and stalling (23 reports, median 80,000 miles). 10 reports involved a crash and 5 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 26V-325 on the airbags and 26V-166 on the airbags.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 best
354 owner complaints, 35 for each year on the road (0.5 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (107 reports, median 45,000 miles), transmission shudder (61 reports, median 53,000 miles) and stalling (36 reports, median 60,000 miles). 14 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 19V-761 on the brakes and 19V-645 on the brakes.
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 best
341 owner complaints, 31 for each year on the road (0.5 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (106 reports, median 45,000 miles), transmission shudder (49 reports, median 47,000 miles) and stalling (23 reports). 11 reports involved a crash and 12 people were hurt. 8 recalls, including 16V-256 on the suspension system (do not drive) and 19V-761 on the brakes.
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
719 owner complaints, 60 for each year on the road (0.9 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (229 reports, median 57,000 miles), headlights (83 reports, median 12,000 miles) and A/C failure (51 reports, median 55,000 miles). 23 reports involved a crash and 11 people were hurt. 9 recalls, including 19V-761 on the brakes and 19V-645 on the brakes.
2014 GMC Sierra 1500
701 owner complaints, 54 for each year on the road (0.8 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (144 reports, median 75,000 miles), headlights (104 reports, median 23,000 miles) and A/C failure (83 reports, median 56,000 miles). 23 reports involved a crash and 15 people were hurt. 9 recalls, including 19V-761 on the brakes and 19V-645 on the brakes.
Recalls that cover several model years
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition.
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
Compare the Sierra 1500 with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Sierra 1500 vs Chevrolet Silverado 15002014 to 2026
- Sierra 1500 vs Ford F-1502014 to 2026
- Sierra 1500 vs Ram 15002014 to 2026
Questions
What GMC Sierra 1500 years should you avoid?
The 2022, 2023 and 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2022 has 587 complaints (117 for each year on the road), 2023 has 482 complaints (120 for each year on the road) and 2024 has 362 complaints (121 for each year on the road), against a median of 67 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2024 is engine failure (118 reports).
What are the best years for the GMC Sierra 1500?
The 2016, 2017 and 2018 draw the fewest complaints for their age: 2016 has 341 (31 a year), 2017 has 354 (35 a year) and 2018 has 304 (34 a year). Model years before 2016 aren't called best, because complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads and their counts run short.
What is the most common problem on the GMC Sierra 1500?
Engine failure, with 903 reports across the 13 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
How many recalls does the GMC Sierra 1500 have?
45 recall campaigns cover the GMC Sierra 1500 model years 2014 to 2026 on this site. The widest, 19V-645 on the brakes, covers 5 model years.
How many GMC Sierra 1500 complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
4% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2016 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the GMC Sierra 1500?
On 5 of the 13 model years where owners report it: 2014, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.