2015 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 229owner reports
- 57,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 15involved a crash
Newest report Jul 7, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
229 of the 719 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Sierra 1500.
Narrower sheets: Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails (106 reports) · Brakes failed to stop the car (44 reports)
Tick what matches of 229 reports
Brake wear 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: 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the booster (23 reports), the ABS module (15 reports), the master cylinder (8 reports) and the pads and rotors (3 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
12 of the 229 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 42,900 and 74,000 miles, from the 168 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices 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 communicates an issue with the Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic trailer brake system causing a voltage spike into the trucks electrical system which is causing DTC C1114 to set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to diagnose and repair vehicle that may have a "Check Trailer Wiring" or "Service Trailer Brake System” message on the Driver Information Center when a trailer is ...
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about fluid leaking from the brake caliper piston area found during a service of the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the step needed to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have uneven brake pad wear. Technician will need to inspect and measure the brake pads thickness.
5 more on the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Trailer brake service alarm. Replaced module under stair tire and dash board. Still in alarm, internet says itâs a common problem with wiring harness failure. Many others have some problem.”
Filed May 11, 2022
“I keep getting a dashboard warning saying "service trailer brake system". from what i have found, this is due to an inexpensive wiring harness being used. It's very distracting and even if i dismiss the error, it keeps coming back up.”
Filed May 6, 2022
“Was driving in a parking lot. When driving slow My brakes got stiff and I couldnât stop it was so stiff it didnât want to stop I had my kids and wife. Scary and unsafe. Told GMC there was a recall they said it was already fixed with my situation. But just cuz you see on the computer it doesnât mean itâs fixed. So they said I got to pay but itâs in a recall already but properly not reboot right.”
Filed Mar 29, 2022
“The brake pedal gets hard to push down when slowing down and especially when backing up slowly. After looking into some things I'm pretty sure the problem is with the vacuum pump.”
Filed Jan 20, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 15 of 229 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. 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