95 of the 2,284 complaints filed about the GMC Sierra 2500 are about the body and structure — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2011.
95
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
6
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY:STEP/LADDER
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that on several occasions, the automatic power side-out step failed to extend as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,726.
NHTSA complaint #11733416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The same thing that happenes to the grill mold in recall N242490120 happened to my vehicle with the hood vent ornament. For reference, the Part number is 84802205/85057002. I was driving on the highway to work and it flew off which caused it to scrape my hood and chip my windshield.
NHTSA complaint #11731414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door handle failed to operate as needed, and the contact was unable to exit the vehicle through the driver’s side door. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and a new handle was ordered. The part was replaced under warranty. Soon after the repair, the liftgate failed to open or close as needed and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the liftgate to be serviced under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300.
NHTSA complaint #11731146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door handle failed to operate as needed, and the contact was unable to exit the vehicle through the driver’s side door. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and a new handle was ordered. The part was replaced under warranty. Soon after the repair, the liftgate failed to open or close as needed and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for the liftgate to be serviced under warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300.
NHTSA complaint #11731146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The rear defroster massively overheated. It started heavily smoking and eventually exploded the rear windows. Only warning sign was the smoke which we noticed quickly because the windows were up. Had the windows been down we might not have noticed before a fire started. I'm taking it to a dealership now. This module also triggers on from a remote start. Extremely dangerous!!!
NHTSA complaint #11701143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The accident occurred when the tailgate opened without warning or any buttons being pushed while towing a boat trailer. The tailgate become bound between the truck and trailer. The tailgate was damaged and limited my ability to turn the truck. My truck is normally parked in a garage and doesn’t sit in the weather. This truck is my 3rd vehicle so it doesn’t really get driven unless it is pulling a trailer, I tow with it all the time but very rarely use the bed or tailgate. Monday June 16 – Drove from Gallatin, Tn – Eddyville, Ky – Paducah, Ky the weather was constantly heavy rain and wind. Tuesday June 17 – Drove from Paducah, Ky to Defeated, TN more of the same bad storm. There were 3 of us and no one opened the tailgate, we hooked up to my boat and drove less than a quarter mile to the boat ramp, when we arrived, the tailgate had opened and the stairs on the boat had impacted the small part of the tailgate during a right turn. Prior to leaving the driveway and after hooking up the boat I had to back up slightly and remove pressure to remove the chock block from the boat trailer tires. (I would have noticed that the tailgate was open) this happened with no warning, put me and my passengers at risk and did over $1000 dollars in property damage. I was expecting GM to replace the parts that were faulty and the small part of the tailgate that was damaged. I returned twice to Larry Stovesand GMC and had them access the switch. They have refused to supply paperwork from those visits and have become dismissive and deceptive. The contact there is Craig Morgan cmorgan@lsbuickgmc.com
NHTSA complaint #11695282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
During a drive home, while in motion, the tailgate of the vehicle opened on its own. This has occurred after the recall to repair this issue was already performed. I know the tailgate was shut prior to the drive because I back into my parking spot and walk the sidewalk behind my truck prior to starting the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11682282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was driving my 2022 GMC 2500 HD (not towing, just normal drive) after an oil change <900 miles ago and new brakes/rotors 3 days prior <100 miles (total mileage 81,000, serviced exclusively at GMC dealership) when the loss of power alert flashed on the screen. I was 2 miles from my destination, going approx 55mph, so I kept driving to destination, when the vehicle stalled in driveway. As I was scrolling through menus to see the alert I looked up and smoke and flames were coming out of the engine. I attempted to extinguish with a fire extinguisher I had with me, but it was no use. The entire engine was engulfed, melting out, tires and windshield exploded from heat etc. Total loss. Vehicle was inspected by insurance co fire investigator, no origin confirmed due to extent of damage. Vehicle was offered to GMC for their inspection as it was partially under OEM warranty and I had an extended warranty from dealership, which I also notified. Extended would not do anything without the vehicle at GMC and diagnosis, which again, there is no engine etc so not repairable. GMC was to be in contact with insurance co. No status update received.
NHTSA complaint #11674699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The recall has been performed over a year ago. The dealership failed to update their records, our company continues to receive notices that we need to have this recall completed.
NHTSA complaint #11664549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My truck is experiencing an issue that is already a recall for similar trucks, but my VIN is not included in the recall. My tailgate opens on its own. This sometimes happens when I am driving down the road. This is a safety risk because if I am hauling something in the back, and the tailgate drops down, there is a chance the load could fall out of the truck and harm another vehicle or person that is behind my truck. I brought the truck to the dealer and they said they could not find any evidence of this issue, even though they stated that it is a known issues with these trucks. There were no waring lamps or messages. The only symptoms are that the battery can die if the truck is not used for a day or more and that the tailgate opens on its own whether the truck is parked or driving.
NHTSA complaint #11661778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that his son informed him that there was a puddle of water in the rear seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the upper track for the rear sliding window was fractured on both sides, causing water to leak inside the vehicle. The dealer determined that the rear window needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.
NHTSA complaint #11652530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Vehicle was parked in a school parking lot. Rear Trailer Harness and modules in back short circuited causing an electrical fire that expanded to the driver’s taillight rear bumper, and bed of truck.
NHTSA complaint #11645862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
While towing my dump trailer early in the morning for about 20 minutes I noticed sudden hard up shifting and down shifting in some gears on flat surface roads. I then proceeded to approach an incline hill about a 5% grade and then, what I've recently learned, my transmission locked up and released for a split second. The roads were slick so it didn't seem too harsh, I continued with no incident for another 40 miles and then it happened again while pulling up a 7% grade in a left hand sharp turn at 40 mph. The truck fish tailed and jack knifed my trailer on the left rear side of my truck and the front left side of the trailer. I was on a one lane road and had to continue until I reached my detitanation, I slowed and maintained a speed of 45 in order to prevent it from happening again but it did it 5 more times before reaching my destination. I'm currently scheduled to have the transmission checked on 02/27/2025 at Peterson's Chevrolet Nampa Idaho. In the meantime, I have no means of using any of my trailers.
NHTSA complaint #11644738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the tailgate detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,000.
NHTSA complaint #11624103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact called on behalf of a Fire Department that owns a 2011 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while the Fire Department technician was performing a routine maintenance on the vehicle, the technician became aware that the sub frame was rusted with a hole in the sub frame. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 19-NA-255. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 29,252.
NHTSA complaint #11608925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I drove from California to ohio after I bought the truck, I noticed that when stopping to get gas my tailgate was open without me touching it. I drove with cameras showing the truck bed to see what happened and I watched it do it again while driving the vehicle, it just opened on its own while driving. The incident happened again once I was back in ohio when I had my trailor hooked up and it cause the tailgate to collide with the trailor tongue and dented the whole top of the tailgate.3
NHTSA complaint #11600504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the contact's husband noticed that rainwater had entered the rear interior of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rainwater had entered through the rear sliding window. In addition, the contact stated that the aluminum casing around the rear window had fractured. The contact stated that due to the failure, the interior of the vehicle had a moldy odor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured window frame. The contact was informed that the rear window and frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11595742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My tailgate unexpectedly open as I was driving down the road. (2021 GMC 2500 Denali Sierra) This was the second time this has happened and lost things driving down the road. (3 propane tanks and a small grill the first and then an air compressor the second time) Both times it happened I opened and closed the tailgate with the vehicle running. Both times I was unaware of tailgate opening and did not notice until I got home. The first time it happened I thought it was operator error but after this weekend, I looked into this and see there was a recall on it this month. I still felt it was necessary to report incidents.
NHTSA complaint #11579498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Tailgate fell down when I had a trailer hooked up. I was parked, then backed up the trailer. Tailgate came down on the jack and scratched the tailgate. There is a recall on some trucks but mine says no recall. Sounds like same issue.
NHTSA complaint #11574977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Tailgate opening on its own when vehicle is in park. Has done this when engine is running in park and with engine shut off in park.
NHTSA complaint #11571291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.