2017 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 39owner reports
- 38,850median miles
- 5involved a crash
Newest report Oct 27, 2025 · checked Sep 29, 2026
39 of the 107 reports of brake wear on the 2017 Sierra 1500 describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (107 reports)
Tick what matches of 39 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 (15 reports) and the brake booster (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2017 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 6 recalls on the 2017 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.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,000 and 54,571 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2017 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
“I loose brake pedal at low speeds seen gm has recall for vacuum pump but shows mine not in recall”
Filed Oct 27, 2025
“I was pulling in to a parking spot and pressed the brakes and the truck didnât stop and I hit the sign. When I looked at the dash there was a âservice brake assist â warning on.”
Filed Jan 23, 2023
“I am experiencing hard brake pedal and/or brake fade when attempting to apply the brakes. Their is a recall for this problem on other models, however my truck model year is not included for some reason. This has occurred on multiple occasions and has nearly caused an accident on those occasions. My truck also began to roll out of a parking spot and I had extremely hard brake pressure but no response from the brakes.”
Filed Jan 10, 2023
“The service message appeared on the display after backing up "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" I searched this issue and found over 65 complaints for this vehicle year/make /model. I am at work and fear driving home as this issue has resulted in brake failure on some of the complaints noted. I have not contacted anyone yet, I wanted a recall notice as this is a safety issue and we cannot afford any costly vehicle repairs.”
Filed Nov 29, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 39 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
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 61 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 36 reports