2015 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 106owner reports
- 54,000median miles
- $1,029median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Mar 2, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
106 of the 229 reports of brake wear on the 2015 Sierra 1500 describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (229 reports) · also: brake failure
Tick what matches of 106 reports
Brake booster failure on other Sierra 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (51 reports), the brake booster (23 reports) and the master cylinder (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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 amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
All 9 recalls on the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Sierra 1500
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
What owners paid
7 of the 106 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $1,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,728 and 70,000 miles, from the 92 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal.
What owners wrote
“The brake vacuum pump is failing. When in a parking lot the brakes get very hard al.ist causing an accident. There is no vacuum when trying to park in parking lot. The 2015 GMC Sierra had a recall for this but my VIN did not. Not sure why as it's failing too. I need my truck so will have it fixed today, but want a recall.”
Filed Sep 27, 2023
“In several occasions my brake when approaching stop sign or light and I hit my brakes more than once it goes to the floor and it become difficult to stop without having to push very hard on the brake pedal. It does it almost every time.”
Filed Jun 19, 2023
“Brake vacuum fail, causing the brake pedal to become stiff and unable to stop the vehicle. This issue has been on the recall for the same year and make of truck as mine, yet mine is not eligible for this recall repair? Please help Thank you”
Filed Aug 29, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 106 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Headlights too dim or fail 83 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 51 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 44 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 40 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 37 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 33 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 33 reports