79 of the
769 complaints filed about the GMC Sierra 3500
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
While out of Town driving back home Wheel lock up on my 3500hd dually 2023 gmc .. vehicle had shudder effect and from 75 to 25 mph drasticly and engine reduced power light came on and wouldn’t come out of drive and then after stopping vehicle To cement parking safety block the vehicle had multiple codes for valve body and transmission failure relating to the na242454441 issue on previous year models and gmc is not working properly on a resolution but admitting that it is having the exact issue of previous models and with this issue I was promised for full replacement at no cost I am currently working with executive team to help fix the issue that the dealership in Levelland Texas is not honest about what codes are within parameters when infact have A dtc code reader and was able to get a photo and have history of code showing etc
NHTSA complaint #11737984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have had an incident where my 2023 gmc 3500 hd was had left me stranded earler this week. i towed the new truck to a certified dealer and i haven't heard anything since then. they mentioned my transmission will need to be fully replaced because valve body issues of solenoid a,e,f, are stuck open and closed codes on the 10 speed transmission upon researching my trucks history it was manufactured in 2022 and pulled out for sale october 2022 and i have seen. 242454441 special recall the same issues i experienced shudder and engine power reduced and no parking gear or driving. i need help and didnt have any warning of anything about this till now since it was showing my vehicle only had a tailgate issue which gmc didnt help me out when i had to pay for my taillight after firewood flew out with the tailgate opening in jan 2023 they said it wasnt a known issue then fixed the tailgate but not the taillight so i need help proving my truck belongs with the 242454441 class of recalls because not only does the transmission the exact same as previous models obviously 1000s of others are getting this issue thank you
NHTSA complaint #11736546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displayed. While refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge failed to correctly display the level of fuel inside the fuel tank until the vehicle had been driven for approximately 20 minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be updated. The system was recalibrated; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, George Kell Motors (3808 Van Dyke Rd, Newport, AR 72112); and the system was recalibrated. However, the failures persisted. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission was shifting hard, and the vehicle took over 2 hours to drive 19-miles. The engine temperature gauge fluctuated between 185 and 188 degrees. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road to cool down before continuing to drive, while not exceeding 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a third dealer, Fremont Chevrolet GMC Riverton (1401 N Federal Blvd, Riverton, WY 82501); who determined that the bell body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired, but parts were on back order. The contact became aware that there was a recall related to failure; NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V129000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11728507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:UREA INJECTION SYSTEM (DEF)
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard and was jerking while shifting gear. Additionally, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 50 MPH. The messages “Reduced Acceleration” and “DEF Low” were displayed. While refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge failed to correctly display the level of fuel inside the fuel tank until the vehicle had been driven for approximately 20 minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be updated. The system was recalibrated; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, George Kell Motors (3808 Van Dyke Rd, Newport, AR 72112); and the system was recalibrated. However, the failures persisted. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission was shifting hard, and the vehicle took over 2 hours to drive 19-miles. The engine temperature gauge fluctuated between 185 and 188 degrees. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road to cool down before continuing to drive, while not exceeding 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a third dealer, Fremont Chevrolet GMC Riverton (1401 N Federal Blvd, Riverton, WY 82501); who determined that the bell body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired, but parts were on back order. The contact became aware that there was a recall related to failure; NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V129000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11728507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 3500HD. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there would be a diesel odor coming into the cabin of the vehicle. The failure had become more persistent, causing black smoke to enter the cabin of the vehicle. The failure caused the contact and other vehicle passengers to have headaches, nausea, and dizziness. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact began speaking to their daughter, sitting in the front passenger seat, and noticed her not responding. When looking over, the contact noticed her daughter's head was lowered. The contact immediately pulled over to the side of the road, where she pulled her daughter out of the vehicle and called an ambulance. A fire truck was also dispatched in order to drive the vehicle to the fire department, where they tested the vehicle; however, they were unable to duplicate the failure. The contact's daughter was taken to the hospital, where it was determined that she had suffered from carbon dioxide poisoning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) was clogged, and that the Exhaust Manifold and Turbo Inlet were both fractured, causing a blockage in the Engine Bank. It was determined that all the avenues through which air and carbon should have been exiting the vehicle had failed and were causing everything to come into the cabin of the vehicle instead. The vehicle was scheduled for repair; however, only the exhaust manifold could be repaired, while the other parts, such as the DPF and hose, were on national backorder and awaiting retrieval. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact stated the manufacturer had been avoiding acknowledging that black smoke had been entering the vehicle's cabin and had yet to resolve that issue. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11722160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This 2024 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty has experienced a continuous pattern of major mechanical and electrical failures since early ownership. The vehicle required a complete engine replacement under warranty at approximately 43,626 miles. Since that time, the vehicle has continued to experience repeated injector failures, control module faults, communication errors, and voltage-related system issues. Current diagnostic codes indicate multiple simultaneous failures including ignition relay feedback circuits, control module power faults, gateway communication loss, brake system communication faults, and battery voltage circuit errors. The dealership has diagnosed a power distribution / fuse block failure at approximately 79,000 miles. These electrical failures affect multiple vehicle systems and raise concerns regarding reliability and potential safety risks due to loss of communication between control modules and possible braking system interaction. The vehicle has been in the dealership numerous times for repairs including engine replacement, injector replacement, control module reprogramming, and electrical diagnostics. I am submitting this complaint due to concern over a potential systemic electrical defect and ongoing reliability issues.
NHTSA complaint #11718551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving in the high way and the vehicle started having issues and then it completely shut off and wouldn’t drive or anything in the middle of the highway and the dash said it was reducing power.
NHTSA complaint #11714077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My truck is affected by GM’s engine block‑heater safety recall (NHTSA 21V‑496 / GM N212329840) addressing a risk of short circuit and potential engine‑compartment fire at the heater cord/terminal connection. GM’s interim action has been to remove/disable the block‑heater cord, which my dealer did, and then marked the recall “completed.” As a result, the NHTSA VIN tool shows 0 unrepaired recalls, even though no actual repair/restored functionality exists and GM continues to advise owners not to use the block heater until parts are available. Safety concern / impact: I live in a cold‑weather area and purchased this diesel expecting a functioning block heater for reliable cold starts. Disabling the heater has removed an intended cold‑weather safety/starting aid for multiple winters without a final fix. GM’s bulletin explicitly allowed dealers to disable the cord to close the recall, rather than provide a repair, leaving owners without the feature indefinitely. Suspiciously, I have also had to replace glow plugs on this truck sooner than traditional wear / failure rates would demand - including one glow plug that has been replaced twice in short span of time (should have lasted years). I continue to monitor GM’s recall portal; still no parts/remedy schedule. Please review whether GM’s chosen remedy—disabling a safety‑related feature and closing the recall—is adequate and within a reasonable time under the Safety Act. If not, I request NHTSA open a Recall Query into remedy adequacy and timeliness so owners receive a real repair (replacement heater/cord/connector) or appropriate alternative remedies.
NHTSA complaint #11712853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oil cooler for truck is defective and thus allowed all oil to be mixed with the coolant. GM is stating they will flush engine and replace with exact same part. Very common issue and sad to have a $100k truck and it is junk.
NHTSA complaint #11706444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
“I own a 2025 GMC Sierra with 30,000 miles. The oil cooler failed and caused loss of oil pressure and potential internal engine damage. The dealership acknowledges the failure but refuses to escalate the case or perform a proper inspection. I am being instructed to continue driving the truck even though it may suffer catastrophic failure while driving. This is a safety hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #11701995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The engine oil drained into the radiator from a flaw in there design in which outrageously high labor cost for the owner of the vehicle they put a rubber house in the radiator in which leaked without any warning indicating that there was a problem with the oil nor the radiator coolant system. repairs are in the thousand and I as a consumer should have this matter resolved at no cost due to bad design cost they should have made a oil cooler with its own separation compartment like the transmission cooler because they are replaceing everything else what about the engine itself thats still going to be contaminated like all the replacement part, seal hoses,and radiator, coolant, and thermostat. How can just parts be contaminated but not the engine? They are just replacing things that costs alot. This is a drive train issue, there were no oil in the engine.
NHTSA complaint #11700192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine lag and performance drops while driving vehicle. Vehicle was taken to the dealership and remained at dealership for five days. Employee was given permission to drive the vehicle to experience the issue. Issue was confirmed by dealership, but they stated it's one of three issues and they would have to repair all three issues at my cost to figure out what's causing the engine lag.
NHTSA complaint #11696867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the engine seized at 65mph. available for inspection. was left stranded in a limited access area with no cell service. there was no warning, the engine just stopped at highway speed and would not restart. the problem was confirmed by an independent service center. they couldnt identify which component had failed without a costly teardown. occurred at 112,000 miles, past the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11691992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the messages "Service Charging System" and "Service Diesel Emissions System" were displayed, and suddenly the power steering and power brakes malfunctioned, causing the contact to almost lose control of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 79,000.
NHTSA complaint #11688172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased my vehicle in 2019. Since then, I have had several issues. I've had to replace the coolant reservoir, DEF heater/pump and twice changed the number 8 injector plug. The warning light came on just after the warranty went out. The code reader read the ambient sensor and no sensor.
NHTSA complaint #11661793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that the exterior lights of the vehicle were flashing erratically, and the tailgate was opening unintendedly. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced erratic transmission shifts, and the vehicle was jerking and made an abnormal clunking sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to a truck stop and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery became fully drained while parked with the windows rolled down in snowy weather. The contact stated that after waiting 6 hours for AAA to arrive, the vehicle jump-started. The contact stated that the battery had drained on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the two batteries needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle overheated while driving. The contact stated that GMC OnStar was contacted and informed the contact that diagnostic trouble codes related to the transmissions were retrieved. The vehicle was taken to another dealer Weston Buick GMC (22555 SE Stark St, Gresham, OR 97030) to be diagnosed. The vehicle was being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired and remained out of the contact's State of residence. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and covered vehicle rental expenses that allowed the contact to return to their residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was used for load transportation, and the failure had caused both the contact and her husband to be stranded while delivering loads, which caused lodging expenses and loss of wages. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11658498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the engine might need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11658087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500. The contacted stated that while her husband was attempting to start the vehicle, the contact stated that after five minutes the engine independently failed while the vehicle was running. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel system and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11657920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.