2019 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Engine rattles or ticks
- 30owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
323 of the 646 complaints on this car are about the engine. 30 of those describe engine rattle.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
Engine rattle 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: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group hear something before anything breaks. Most describe a ticking or tapping at idle, a rattle that's worse on a cold start and fades as the engine warms, or a noise that comes and goes over weeks. Some report the check engine light following a while later. It's the early-warning end of the engine complaints, and the reports that end in a named part are useful to anyone hearing the same sound.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the lifters (17 reports) and the engine (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Sierra 1500
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. Open.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. Closed aug 20, 2026.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Open.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Closed oct 23, 2025, led to recall 25V-274.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 49,801 and 106,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 11 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 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 bulletin advises the tech that the Exhaust Roller Follower may be the issue with the engine Ticking noise, misfire or rough run and what to replace if found the cause.
This bulletin provides information on common diesel engine tick noises and how they are considered part of normal operation and no parts should be replaced for these normal operating conditions.
This service bulletin provides a service procedure to correct a condition of a Ticking Noise from the Engine.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to repair the valve lifter oil manifold and/or lifters to correct the customers concern of engine misfire, ticking noise and/or MIL Illuminated.
7 more on the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Lifters (the part that opens and closes engine valves) fail prematurely. There was a loud ticking noises, rough idling. Took to dealership and they advise that yes the lifters are failing and not drivable at this time.”
Filed Jun 30, 2026
“My engine has a loud knocking/ticking noise. I have had one mechanic look at it. He has me taking my truck to a dealership this week. He believes the known issue with GMC's 6.2 engine is taking place in the engine in my 2019. From a verbal conversation with the dealership, they believe the same. I was advised to complete this form ASAP.”
Filed Oct 28, 2025
“Engine has a bearing failure. Just purchased the truck it started to tick so I was being proactive stopped driving the the truck to prevent lock up.”
Filed Jan 19, 2025
“Every time I start the engine I get loud ticking noises. This is Lifter noise! I took it into the Dealership and they said the noise was normal. GM is known for having this Lifter problem in the heads. This can destroy my engine, causing premature wear on the lifters themselves.”
Filed Jan 7, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 30 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 157 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 112 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 105 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 94 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 63 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 41 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 26 reports