FaultScore

GMC Sierra 3500 steering problems

41 of the 769 complaints filed about the GMC Sierra 3500 are about the steering — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.

41

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

Median failure at 33,000 miles

Median failure at 98 miles

Median failure at 39,169 miles

Median failure at 39,400 miles

Median failure at 86,578 miles

Median failure at 32,232 miles

Median failure at 61,000 miles

Median failure at 72,000 miles

Median failure at 68,000 miles

Median failure at 18,200 miles

Median failure at 37,034 miles

Median failure at 9,470 miles

Median failure at 221 miles

Median failure at 79,000 miles

Median failure at 250 miles

What owners said

2024 GMC Sierra 3500 Export, PA

STEERING

The control arm bearing appears to have failed without warning causing loss of steering control. This occurred at low speed on a street in [XXX] last night near a gas station, so the driver was able to drive to a safe location easily without risk to life. Had the failure happened at speed a possibly fatal collision would have been likely. The vehicle has been used for the past 8 months to drive to work and has not been subject to any stress. It has not been modified. The tow truck driver said he has seen a number of other control arm failures recently, not necessarily in the same vehicle type. It may be due to bad pot holes this year in [XXX] , they are bigger and deeper than normal. This information is based on assessment by tow truck driver last night. Vehicle is at Jim Shorkey in Murrysville for repairs INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11735445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2023 GMC Sierra 3500 at 79,000 miles Aragon, GA

STEERING

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.

2025 GMC Sierra 3500 Cameron Park, CA

STEERING

Hose from power steering pump came off causing truck to loose power steering and brakes. Fortunately we had just exited the interstate and were in a parking lot when this occurred. Truck was towed 90 miles to dealer who confirmed that hose was incorrectly installed by factory

NHTSA complaint #11683541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 GMC Sierra 3500 Brookline, NH

STEERING

since new there is a violent vibration in the steering wheel and floor boards. steering wheel oscillates side to side at speed from 38mph to very bad at 65mph. Dealer has had it 5 times and still cant fix it. they state the front hub extensions are out of round and have tried 3 sets without any success. this truck is not safe to drive as it will put your hands to sleep due to the vibration. Also it will cause premature system component failure. the GM forum and Duramax forum is showing many cases nation wide with this symptom. Also there is NO provision with the current 18 inch wheel to index concentrically with the mating hubs on all four wheel locations This is mainly affection the Dually wheel Denali or high-country vehicles

NHTSA complaint #11615826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 GMC Sierra 3500 Kent, WA

STEERING

When braking, the service trailer brake system message and service stabilitrac message appear on the dash and brake pedal gets soft to hard repeatedly and truck pulls from side to side violently as if one side of the trucks brakes are working and the other side is not.

NHTSA complaint #11595591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 GMC Sierra 3500 at 250 miles Columbia Falls, MT

STEERING

The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 3500 equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Primacy, Tire Size: LT235/80/R18, DOT Number: (Not Available). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side front tire tread was separating, and the vehicle was vibrating. The contact stated that the inner rim was bent, and additionally, the steering gear box was leaking. The steering wheel was uncontrollable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions and was diagnosed that the steering gear box was leaking and needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that the air bag chip was inoperable. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact was seeking a buyback. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was approximately 250.

NHTSA complaint #11594117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2024 GMC Sierra 3500 Rogers, AR

STEERING

The vehicle has had steering and alignment issues since the day I purchased the truck. The steering wheel is not centered. The steering wheel is always turned to the left but the vehicle pulls to the right. I have had it at my local dealership five times and they have confirmed what I have described but they are not able to fix the issue fully. They have rotated the tires 3 times and have aligned it all five times. The vehicle will be good for about 100 miles and will go out of alignment again. The dealership explained to me that they are experiencing this with all 2024 Chevy and GMC heavy duty trucks. The vehicle is very difficult to keep straight especially at higher speeds on the interstate. I am part of a 2024 Chevy and GMC owners facebook page and hundreds of consumers are complaining of the same issue.

NHTSA complaint #11560701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 GMC Sierra 3500 at 27,500 miles Brookfield, VT

STEERING

BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GO SOMEWHERE, GOT ON THE MAIN ROAD AND IT WAS WONDERING WITH A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, NEXT HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT WHEELS STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED TO UNDER 40 MPH, HIT ANOTHER ROAD SEAM AND IT DID THE SAME THING.TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED STEERING BOX. TRUCK ONLY HAS 27,500 MILES ON IT. NEVER SEEN A DIRT ROAD, NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER.$1700.00 LATER ITS FIXED. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AND GMC HAS NOT RECALLED THESE TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY KNOW ABOUT. HAS SOURED MY TRUST IN THEIR BRAND.

NHTSA complaint #11416308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 GMC Sierra 3500 at 9,470 miles Abilene, TX

STEERING

DRIVING TO WORK. POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BRAKING SYSTEM SEEM TO BE INEFFECTIVE. INSTRUMENT PANEL SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE BATTERY INDICATOR DISPLAYING "BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM" FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #11390458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 GMC Sierra 3500 at 16,000 miles Burlington, WI

STEERING

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL 2 TO 3" VERY UNSAFE, AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SERVICE BULLETIN PIT5501D. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NHTSA complaint #11387014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 GMC Sierra 3500 at 33,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT 20-30 MPH AND HAULING A TRAILER, THE DRIVER ENTERED THE HIGHWAY, MADE A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAVENDER BUICK GMC WEST (7400 TX-1604 LOOP, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78254) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V719000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA complaint #11325288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 GMC Sierra 3500 at 221 miles Niwot, CO

STEERING

VEHICLE EXHIBITS STEERING WHEEL SHAKE / SHIMMY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH, SOMETIMES SEVERE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR (CURRENTLY 4 DEALER VISITS), INCLUDING APPLICATION OF SERVICE BULLETIN 19-NA-240 DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM HAS NOW INDICATED THIS IS A "NORMAL" CONDITION, AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE FURTHER WARRANTY REIMBURSABLE LABOR FOR CORRECTION TO DEALER. THIS STEERING CONDITION AFFECTS SAFETY AS IT OCCURS IN VARYING SEVERITY AND WITH NO WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT / BUMPS, AND HAS NEARLY LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THIS CONDITION WAS PRESENT AT DELIVERY OF TRUCK AT 221 MILES. TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 1688 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11288740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 GMC Sierra 3500 at 58,000 miles Springfield, OR

STEERING

I WAS DRIVING UP HILL THE TRUCK LOST POWER DIED/SHUTDOWN SO I HAD NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES WE LIVE ON A COUNTRY RURAL ROAD. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO KENDALL CHEVROLET IN EUGENE OREGON WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE NOVEMBER 2 WITH ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PINPOINT.

NHTSA complaint #11281407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 GMC Sierra 3500 at 16,068 miles Heflin, AL

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND HAULING A TRAILER, THE ABS, SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE, SERVICE POWER STEERING, AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE NOT TOWING A TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUSTER MILES CHEVROLET (1884 ALMON ST, HEFLIN, AL 36264, (256) 781-4536) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,068.

NHTSA complaint #11278880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 GMC Sierra 3500 at 103,000 miles Duncanville, TX

STEERING

I WAS TRAVELING ON A BUSY ROADWAY AT 40 MPH WHEN FUEL FILTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER - INCLUDING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. THANKFULLY I HAD NOT YET ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN BUT WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AND NOT INJURE ANYONE AROUND AND THAT DAY WAS NOT TOWING A LOAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHO THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE "BOSCH CP4 FUEL PUMP" HAD EXPLODED SENDING METAL SHRAPNEL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ENGINES FUEL SYSTEM. THE ONLY FIX WAS THE ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AT A COST OF OVER $11K. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE TRUCK 3 MONTHS PRIOR. UPON HEARING THIS, I SEE THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT SAFETY PROBLEM AFFECTING A WHOLE LINE OF 2011 - CURRENT GM, FORD, DODGE, AND JEEP DIESEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CP4 PUMPS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS LAWSUITS UNDERWAY FOR THIS FAILURE INCLUDING ONE OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE TOWING (WHAT THESE TRUCKS ARE MADE FOR) BECAUSE OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKING UPON ENGINE STALL AFTER FUEL PUMP EXPLOSION. THE GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR REFERENCE IS #16-NA-102. IN ADDITION, THE NHTSA HAS RECEIVED TWO MANUFACTURER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS VERY SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS VERY MUCH A RECALL WORTHY SAFETY ISSUE. LOSING ENGINE POWER AND LOSS TO ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING IN THESE VEHICLES IS BEYOND DANGEROUS. IN ADDITION, WHEN IT IS HAPPENING TO VEHICLES DESIGNED TO TOW WEIGHTS IN EXCESS OF 30K POUNDS TRAILER LOAD BEHIND THE AFFECTED VEHICLE THE DANGER IS AMPLIFIED THAT MUCH GREATER. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE VERY MUCH AT STAKE FOR GM'S FAILURE TO REMEDY A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. GM LISTS IT AS ONLY A "HARD START OR NO START". THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE IN WRITING THE DANGER OF FULL POWER LOSS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH IS MOST OFTEN HOW IT PRESENTS ITSELF.

NHTSA complaint #11209541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 GMC Sierra 3500 at 20,400 miles Andover, MN

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL HAS SLOP/PLAY IN IT. WHEEL HAS 3-4 INCHES OF PLAY BEFORE IT CATCHES. CAN DRIVE DOWN ROAD AND 1 MIN WHEEL IS TO THE LEFT NEXT ITS TO RIGHT TO KEEP TRUCK GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11191309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 GMC Sierra 3500 at 61,000 miles Knoxville, MD

STEERING

AT LOW SPEED THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WHEN TURNING EITHER DIRECTION

NHTSA complaint #11175747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 GMC Sierra 3500 at 98 miles Harlan, IN

STEERING

SOLD ME A "GOOD RUNNING VEHICLE" THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSE ENGINE TO SHUTDOWN, CAUSED NO BRAKING, VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF CENTER DO TO STEERING COMPONENTS, NO SAFETY BELTS IN REAR OF VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint #11142741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 GMC Sierra 3500 Slidell, LA

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE PASSING A BOAT RAMP HAULING A BOAT TRAILER, THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGACY BUICK GMC (293 E HOWZE BEACH RD, SLIDELL, LA 70461, (985) 231-5256) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11113566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 GMC Sierra 3500 Goose Creek, SC

STEERING

FRONT TIRES ARE CONTINUALLY WEARING ON THE FRONT OUTSIDE EDGE. WEARING UNTIL BALD IN FIRST 15000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP, MULTIPLE FRONT END ALIGNMENT CALIBRATION TESTS AND ACTUAL FRONT END CALIBRATION NOT RESOLVING ISSUE. FRONT TIRES REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES AND AGAIN WEARING ON OUTSIDE EDGE AT 40,000 MILES. WORSE ON DRIVER SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR RESOLUTION AND CONTACTED GM TWICE TO OPEN TICKET. LAST GM TICKET WAS 8-4030406653. TIRES ARE MICHELIN AND ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 65,000 MILES. NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF WEAR ON ANY PAST GM VEHICLE OWNED. REAR TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UNABLE TO GET DEALER OR GM TO FIND CAUSE AND RESOLVE ONCE AND FOR ALL. TIRED OF PAYING OUT OF POCKET ALIGNMENT COSTS. THE FRONT TIRES ARE ON THE SECOND SET AND THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE IS 42K. I HAVE ATTACHED IMAGES OF FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHICH HAS GREATEST WEAR AND IMAGE 20180328_113012.JPG IS THE ORIGINAL BACK TIRES WHICH HAVE NO WEAR. FRONT ARE THE SECOND SET SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE. ORIGINAL SET WAS COMPLETELY BALD ON OUTSIDE EDGE BEFORE 19K MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11081808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other GMC Sierra 3500 problems