FaultScore

GMC Sierra engine problems

242 of the 4,896 complaints filed about the GMC Sierra are about the engine — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

242

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

7

Crashes

13

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1976 Sierra 1 0.4%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

1983 Sierra 1 0.4%
1989 Sierra 1 0.4%
1990 Sierra 2 0.8%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

1992 Sierra 1 0.4%
1993 Sierra 7 2.9%

Median failure at 163,219 miles

1994 Sierra 6 2.5%
1995 Sierra 6 2.5%

Median failure at 145,000 miles

1996 Sierra 12 5.0%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

1997 Sierra 19 7.9%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

1998 Sierra 12 5.0%

Median failure at 79,788 miles

1999 Sierra 19 7.9%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2000 Sierra 22 9.1%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2001 Sierra 24 9.9%

Median failure at 46,000 miles

2002 Sierra 25 10.3%

Median failure at 40,850 miles

2003 Sierra 13 5.4%

Median failure at 4,000 miles

2004 Sierra 9 3.7%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

2005 Sierra 17 7.0%

Median failure at 59,640 miles

2006 Sierra 1 0.4%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2007 Sierra 4 1.7%

Median failure at 59,500 miles

2008 Sierra 1 0.4%

Median failure at 74,300 miles

2009 Sierra 4 1.7%

Median failure at 49,000 miles

2010 Sierra 3 1.2%

Median failure at 46,000 miles

2011 Sierra 8 3.3%

Median failure at 59,990 miles

2012 Sierra 6 2.5%

Median failure at 11,000 miles

2013 Sierra 3 1.2%

Median failure at 11,000 miles

2014 Sierra 8 3.3%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

2015 Sierra 3 1.2%

Median failure at 170,000 miles

2017 Sierra 4 1.7%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

What owners said

2015 GMC Sierra at 170,000 miles Dallas, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was a loud pop in the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where condensation was observed in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #11565112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 GMC Sierra at 170,000 miles Dallas, GA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was a loud pop in the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where condensation was observed in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the radiator and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #11565112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 GMC Sierra at 100,000 miles Ball Ground, GA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle veered to the side of the road and was restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times where the failure was not able to be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11549542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Sierra Cold Spring, KY

ENGINE

1997 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED, ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL 6,000LB LOAD. BUT, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED, LOST SPEED, AND STALLED WHILE PULLING LESS THAN 4,000LBS. THE FAILURE OCCURED AT SPEEDS OF 55-65MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11442823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 GMC Sierra Central City, NE

ENGINE

COOLANT LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. I'VE HAD IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX IT. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY CHEVY HIGH COUNTRY THAT HAS THE SAME 6.6 DIESEL ENGINE IN IT. THE MECHANICS ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL OF THESE MODEL 6.6 DIESEL REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS GMC OR CHEVY. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL. THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY COMES UP ON THE DISPLAY SAYING I AM LOW ON FLUID. HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECK IT IT IS ALWAYS FULL. THERE IS A HIGH CHANCE THAT IF IT IS LOW I WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESET IT THINKING THAT THE WARNING LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. AGAIN, THE GM TEXT KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE FLEET. AGAIN, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS YOU CAN REACH ME AT [XXX] THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11312136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 GMC Sierra Cheboygan, MI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 19V328000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (WHEELER CHEVROLET BUICK LOCATED AT 11401 N STRAITS HWY, CHEBOYGAN, MI 49721) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11301554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 GMC Sierra Caldwell, ID

ENGINE

GMC HAS REFUSED TO FIND A FIX FOR THE HEATER CORD DEFECT WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASON WHY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I LIVE IN IDAHO. GMC SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS UNTIL FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #11265310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 GMC Sierra at 2,000 miles Townville, PA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (DONOVAN AND BAUER AUTO GROUP, 11579 HYDETOWN ROAD, TITUSVILLE, PA 16354), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION-SHUTTERING FEELS LIKE ENGINE MISS. UPDATED 8/14/18

NHTSA complaint #11054695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 GMC Sierra at 59,980 miles Wellesley Island, NY

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE, SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 50 MPH. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE INTO THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT. I TURNED IT OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY RAN TESTS AND SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME THING WHEN I TURNED IT OFF IT WORKED FINE AFTER SITTING FOR 10 MINUTES I GOT HOME AND WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT TO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. I HAVE READ A LOT AND FORUMS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO RESOLUTION TRULY BEING FOUND. THIS IS A 2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 WITH THE ALL-TERRAIN PACKAGE AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT IT GETS OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. THIS REALLY MAKES ME THINK THIS IS SOMETHING GM SHOULD LOOK INTO.

NHTSA complaint #10852316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 GMC Sierra at 60,000 miles RIO Rancho, NM

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILIZER TRACK CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A CLINKING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10849999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 GMC Sierra Westborough, MA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V201000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10825550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 GMC Sierra at 60,000 miles Elizabethtown, KY

ENGINE

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AT THE AIR BAG. LIFTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THE CAMSHAFT IS MAKING NOISES. MY TRACTION CONTROL KEEPS SHUTTING ITSELF OFF AND TELLING ME TO SERVICE IT. REALLY BAD WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER PILLAR.

NHTSA complaint #10818548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 GMC Sierra at 100,000 miles Kent, WA

ENGINE

THE TBS GOES OUT. PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO REDUCED POWER. I WAS GOING 65 MPH AND THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO 15 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. LOSE ALL BREAKS CONTROL , ABS GOES OUT TO. ALMOST HAVE BEEN DUE TO GM

NHTSA complaint #10817766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 GMC Sierra at 51,900 miles District Heights, MD

ENGINE

ENGINE LIFTER ISSUE/LOW OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM RELATES TO HAVING THE LIFTERS REPLACED. THE 5.3 VORTEC ENGINE HAS AFM (ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT). DEALER WANTS $5800 TO FIX THE LIFTER ISSUE, WHILE ESTIMATES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH NECESSARY PARTS RUNS BETWEEN $6900 AND $7200. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM? TRUCK HAS 52,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN THE ISSUE BECAME EVIDENT DURING THE STARTUP. TRUCK IS NOW AT THE DEALER (TOWED) AWAITING REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10811698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 GMC Sierra at 90,000 miles Cheshire, CT Fire

ENGINE

DROVE FROM MY HOME TO COWORKERS (20MINS) LEFT TRUCK IN COWORKERS DRIVEWAY ,AND WENT TO WORK. ONE HOUR LATER COWORKER REC'D CALL FROM NEXT DOOR THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10787590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 GMC Sierra at 31,500 miles Schuilkill Haven, PA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SIERRA. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT TWO SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED EXCESS ENGINE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCV VALVE, VALVE COVER, AND TWO SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,500.

NHTSA complaint #10782507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 GMC Sierra at 270,000 miles Cynthiana, KY

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED IN SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DISPLAY PANEL READ "REDUCED POWER MODE" AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WIRE HARNESS, THE THROTTLE ACCELERATOR CONTROL MODULE, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WERE REPAIRED. THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 270,000.

NHTSA complaint #10748147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 GMC Sierra at 115,500 miles Stevensville, MD

ENGINE

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT BROKE OFF. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS.

NHTSA complaint #10721745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 GMC Sierra at 126,500 miles Lumber Bridge, NC

ENGINE

I SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB OF THE PICKUP TRUCK AND HEARD A SHRIEKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN TO RELIEVE MY DIZZINESS FROM THE FUMES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND 3 OF THE 6 BOLTS BROKEN THAT FASTEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE ENGINE. EXHAUST FUMES ARE LEAKING FROM THE BURNED OUT GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10713935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 GMC Sierra at 83,000 miles Glenmoore, PA

ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING FLUID CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OF REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA complaint #10691876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other GMC Sierra problems