Diagsheet

Fifth generation (GMT T1XX) · first-year watch

2026 GMC Sierra 1500, day 374

  • 128complaints since Sep 23, 2025
  • 2recalls
  • 0involved a crash
  • 4,200median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

Changed since August

  • 33 new complaints in September, mostly about engine, transmission and drivetrain and electrical.
  • Nothing filed yet on sticky steering, transmission failure or fire.
  • 4th most complaints of the 79 2026 models on this site.
2026 GMC Sierra 1500
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

What is your Sierra 1500 doing?

Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2026 model year.

What's been reported

NHTSA's own component codes. One report can cite several.

  • Engine
    86
  • Transmission and drivetrain
    29
  • Electrical
    14
  • Other
    9
  • Fuel and propulsion
    9
  • Collision avoidance
    7
  • Steering
    4
  • Backup camera
    4

Problems so far

Recent reports

“Engine died while driving at higher speed on interstate. Barely able to pull to emergency lane before truck stopped. No warning of any issues with it. Had towed to dealership. Dealership confirmed 6.2 engine was faulty. Engine replaced under warranty. Truck only had 1207 miles on it when engine died.”

Filed Jul 31, 2026

“Sudden catastrophic engine failure with only 6000 miles on vehicle on May 26, 2026. 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X with known defective 6.2L L87 V8. Had to coast across three lanes of traffic to get to other median as highway location was on large curve. Someone very easily could have been hurt or killed.”

Filed Jul 2, 2026

“I bought a brand new 2026 1500 GMC sierra AT4X and after 1,800 miles the engine seized and failed.”

Filed Jun 5, 2026

“The engine started having knocking and I took it to the dealership and now I have been waiting 45 days with no engine replacement in site after they told me the engine failed completely. It had 3,900 miles on the engine!”

Filed May 9, 2026

At a glance

Next to the 2024
The 2026 is too new for a fair per-year comparison. It has 128 complaints so far; the 2024, on sale longer, has 362.
Top problem
One problem takes up much of the file: engine failure, named in 54 of the 128 complaints (42%). Engine failure tends to show up early. Of the 38 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 4,000 miles and a quarter under about 3,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports
None of the 128 complaints reports a crash, a fire or an injury.
Recalls behind the top problems
No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure and stalling. For those, the complaints are all there is.
When owners filed
Every complaint so far came in during 2025. So far in 2026, 123 more have come in.

Service bulletins for the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500

GMC filed 202 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. 2 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. 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.

Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 2 bulletins · 8 complaints

  • Service bulletinPIT6545ASep 15, 2026

    This PI is created to inform GM dealers that some vehicles may intermittently fail to connect wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto after Bluetooth pairing during the first key cycle. The condition is caused by a software anomaly.

  • Service bulletinPIP6119May 27, 2026

    A dealer may encounter multiple DTCs when a B65 Manifold Absolute Pressure/Intake Air Temperature Sensor fails. Diagnostics may be misleading but if the Fuel Rail Temperature has the 419 degrees displayed this PI will assist with repairs.

NHTSA investigations

EA26-005opened Aug 20, 2026
Engine · model years 2021 to 2026

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy. Open.

NHTSA summary
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V-274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V-274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period c

Recalls

Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

26V-289May 7, 2026
Do not drive Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
26V-114Feb 26, 2026
Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual

General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”

Risk and remedy
Risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

All 2 recalls on the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

Guide Seeing this on your own car? How to file a complaint with NHTSA

The log

Complaints by the month NHTSA received them, newest first. Blue bars mark a month with a recall or an investigation.

Sep 2026
33Engine, Transmission and drivetrain
Aug 2026
28Engine, Transmission and drivetrain investigation EA26005
Jul 2026
12Engine, Electrical
Jun 2026
10Engine, Wheels
May 2026
8Engine, Transmission and drivetrain recall 26V-289: Transmission and drivetrain
Apr 2026
7Engine, Transmission and drivetrain
Mar 2026
8Engine, Transmission and drivetrain
Feb 2026
10Engine, Transmission and drivetrain recall 26V-114: Equipment
Jan 2026
7Engine, Transmission and drivetrain
Dec 2025
3Electrical, Brakes
Nov 2025
0
Oct 2025
1Engine
Sep 2025
1Windshield and wipers

Questions

What is the most common problem on the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500?

Engine failure, with 54 of the 128 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 4,000 miles.

At what mileage do 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 problems start?

Of the 65 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 2,000 miles and half by about 4,000.

How many 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

None of the 128 complaints reports one.

Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500?

No recall on file for the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Other model years