FaultScore

Worst years for a GMC Sierra 3500

Owners have filed 769 complaints about the GMC Sierra 3500 with NHTSA across model years 1996 to 2026. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

2020 GMC Sierra 3500

72 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2025 GMC Sierra 3500

25 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every GMC Sierra 3500 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 5 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2025 B 25 0 0 Brakes
2024 D 66 0 2 20,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2023 F 45 13 0 79,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2022 F 44 6 0 31,154 Electrical System
2021 B 28 0 0 70,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2020 F 72 6 4 28,700 Transmission & Drivetrain
2019 D 20 1 1 27,000 Brakes
2018 B 20 0 0 53,800 Brakes
2017 D 18 1 3 17,000 Brakes
2016 C 27 0 0 63,750 Engine & Cooling
2015 D 40 1 3 43,000 Electrical System
2014 C 10 1 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control
2013 B 15 1 0 37,435 Airbags
2012 B 15 0 0 29,958 Engine & Cooling
2011 B 24 0 1 97,500 Airbags
2010 2 0 0 Electrical System
2009 8 0 0 62,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2008 B 28 0 0 68,000 Airbags
2007 C 19 0 1 32,000 Airbags
2006 C 14 1 2 45,949 Transmission & Drivetrain
2005 C 29 0 2 46,000 Brakes
2004 C 29 0 2 87,000 Brakes
2003 9 2 0 60,500 Brakes
2002 C 29 3 1 101,000 Brakes
2001 D 44 3 1 61,580 Brakes
2000 D 30 3 1 57,007 Brakes
1999 C 25 1 0 60,000 Brakes
1998 C 12 0 2 Brakes
1997 C 15 4 0 Steering
1996 2 0 0 Electrical System

What breaks on a GMC Sierra 3500

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 149 19.4%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2020

Worst in 2024

Engine & Cooling 79 10.3%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2001

Airbags 56 7.3%

Worst in 2008

Steering 41 5.3%

Worst in 2005

Worst in 2020

Tires 32 4.2%

Worst in 2022

Worst in 2020

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 18 2.3%

Worst in 2023

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 16 2.1%

Worst in 2015

Lights 15 2.0%

Worst in 2015

Wheels 11 1.4%

Worst in 2023

Exactly what failed on a GMC Sierra 3500

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 15 20.8%
Tread/Belt 14 19.4%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 12 16.7%
Integrated Trailer Brake Control 7 9.7%
Warnings 4 5.6%
Adaptive Cruise Control 4 5.6%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 4 5.6%
Sidewall 4 5.6%
Engine 4 5.6%
Automatic Transmission 4 5.6%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every GMC Sierra 3500, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1997 peak 28 Aug 2026

GMC Sierra 3500 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the GMC Sierra 3500

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.