527 of the
4,896 complaints filed about the GMC Sierra
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
527
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
7
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed with the defroster activated, a smoke odor was detected inside the vehicle. The contact's wife checked the rearview mirror and saw flames coming from the rear windshield. The contact's wife pulled over and heard a loud explosion from the rear windshield shattering before turning off the vehicle. The flames from the rear windshield were extinguished on their own after the vehicle was turned off. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact's wife deactivated the defroster before driving to work. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rear windshield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #11585843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that when doing the initial start, the rear of the vehicle began smoking and caught on fire. The contact turned off the vehicle and the fire settled however shortly after the rear window fractured. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. There was no fire report. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the window needed to be replaced and there was a Canadian recall (Manufacturer Number N192220470 ) for the rear windows defrost failing. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
NHTSA complaint #11510803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, disengaged the defroster and the smoke gradually faded away. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and scheduled an appointment for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #11448788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY MY BRAKES ARE MY MAIN ISSUE AND SAFETY PROBLEM. I NEARLY RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. MY TRUCKS BRAKES LOSE PRESSURE AFTER THE FIRST INITIAL STOP COMING TO ANY TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP SIGN, SLOW TRAFFIC, PARKING LOTS ETC... NO MATTER HOW SLOW OR FAST THE TRUCKS MOVEMENT IS. FIRST BREAK ATTEMPT IS OK BUT 2ND STARTS LOSING PRESSURE AND 3RD ATTEMPT IS COMPLETE LOST OF PRESSURE ANF AND THE TRUCK JUST ROLLS UNTIL IT SLOWLY COMES TO A STOP. I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS MOTORIST REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. EVERY TIME I GET INTO MY TRUCK AND START IT. MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR MOVES OUT OF ITS SETTING AND I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11290664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER USING THE REMOTE STARTER WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I STARTED TO DRIVE MY GRANDSON TO SCHOOL. A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME SMOKE AND SPARKS STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE REAR SEAT NEXT TO THE SLIDING WINDOW AND ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. AS I PULLED OVER THE REAR WINDOW PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BURST. I ASSUME FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATED BY THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER.
NHTSA complaint #11279784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID ONLY SPRAYS OUT 30% OF THE TIME. USUALLY IN THE MORNING THEN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE DAY IT WILL NOT SPRAY OUT. THEY REPLACED THE PUMP AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE AND NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN RUNNING LOWER RPMS DRIVING THE TRUCK IT BEGINS TO FEEL LIKE ITS SHAKING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, LIKE A SHUDDERING FEELING. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT DESCRIBES MINE PERFECTLY. I HAVE THE 8SPEED
NHTSA complaint #11265931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VISIBILITY IN THE HEADLAMPS WAS NOT ILLUMINATING PROPERLY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
NHTSA complaint #10747750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURNED OFF ENGINE, HVAC FAN STILL ON. WILL NOT TURN OFF. THIS IS THE DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. HAD TO REMOVE FUSE SO THE BATTERY WILL NOT DISCHARGE. SERVICE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES, INCLUDING OURS.
NHTSA complaint #10716011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE NOV. 2013, AND EVER SINCE I NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE DO NOT LIGHT THE ROAD PROPERLY, WHETHER YOU HAVE THEM IN LOW OR HIGH BEAM. THE DISTANCE OF THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM APPEAR TO BE THE SAME (AT TIMES IT SEEMS THE HIGHS) ARE AIMING SKYWARD. NOT TO LONG AGO I ALMOST RAN OVER A WOMAN AND A CHILD WHO WERE CROSSING A STREET OVER TO MY LEFT WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN (THIS WAS A DARK AREA). LUCKILY I WAS GOING SLOW WHEN I WAS MAKING THE TURN AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THEM WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS HIT THEM AND CAME INTO VIEW. BY THIS STATEMENT I AM TRYING TO POINT OUT THAT THERE NO LIGHTING TO EITHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, I AM SURE (POSITIVE) THAT IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM? IF NOT, I THINK THERE SHOULD ONE. BECAUSE IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXAMPLE I AM SUBMITTING TO YOU EVER HAPPENS, THE DRIVER WILL HELD RESPONSIBLE. AN IN MY CASE IT WILL BE BLAMED DUE TO MY AGE.
NHTSA complaint #10712254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS TRUCK PROVIDE INADEQUATE LIGHTING, INCLUDING BOTH LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS. ANY NIGHT DRIVING IS DIFFICULT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY, THERE SIMPLY IS NOT ENOUGH ILLUMINATION TO SEE. CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS - ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH OR DURING PRECIPITATION. THE HEADLIGHT HAS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW WITH GMS APPROACH AT A SHUTTER SYSTEM. THIS TYPE OF DESIGN DOES NOT LEAVE ANY OPTIONS FOR SIMPLY CHANGING THE TYPE OF BULB - THE DESIGN IS ACTUALLY AT FAULT FOR THE POOR VISIBILITY. THE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS SIMPLY CANNOT BE FIXED WITH A DIFFERENT BULB TYPE DUE TO THE SHUTTER DESIGN TYPE. MANY COMPLAINTS ARE BEING REGISTERED ONLINE RELATED TO THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM. THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. IF THERE IS A STANDARD FOR MINIMUM HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING, THIS MODEL HEADLIGHT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED IF IT IS MEETING THE MINIMUM STANDARD. NOT SAFE, A DEFINITE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ATTENTION.
NHTSA complaint #10704545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE ON THIS TRUCK IS THE WORST I'VE SEEN IN ANY VEHICLE, BUT FOR A TRUCK, I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THEY ARE FACTORY SET AND DO NOT NEED ADJUSTMENT. THAT INFORMATION WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT CHECKED DURING THE QUALITY CHECK OR CHECKED BUT FELT IT WAS AS GOOD AS IT GETS. ON HIGH BEAM, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT IS POINTING SO FAR UP, IT'S IN THE TREES AND ABOVE THE ROAD. THE RIGHT SIDE HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ARE INADEQUATE FOR ALL PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY SEEING AROUND CURVES AND TURNS. YOU ARE LITERALLY BLIND ON A DARK STREET, EVEN WITH THE FOG LIGHTS. VERY POOR ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR ADJUSTMENT AND THEY DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. THIS WILL BE THE LAST GM PRODUCT I BUY SINCE IT SEEMS THE LAST THREE VEHICLES I'VE OWNED HAD ISSUES THAT COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE GM FAMILY. FOR THE PRICE OF THESE VEHICLES, THEY SHOULD BE TOP QUALITY. GM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE QUALITY THEY DELIVER TO CUSTOMERS FOR VEHICLES PRICED OVER $45K.
NHTSA complaint #10668893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE HAS THE WORST HEADLIGHTS OF ANY NEW VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED. IT SEEMS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND I AVOID IT WHERE I CAN. THE BEAM PATTERN IS AWFUL AND THE ILLUMINATION IS POOR. I'VE BEEN DRIVING CARS WITH PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS FOR YEARS, SO I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE REAL ISSUE. THESE LIGHTS ARE JUST POORLY DESIGNED OR CHEAP. TRIPS TO THE DEALER ARE UNFRUITFUL. THE DEALER KNOWS THEY ARE POOR, BUT CAN DO NOTHING EXCEPT BE SURE EVERYTHING IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT BUYING A 2014 GMC PICKUP, BUY SOMETHING ELSE. THEY ARE THAT BAD. I JUST KNOW I'M GOING TO HIT A DEER SOON ENOUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10653009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON OR ABOUT THAT DATE, DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES ON RURAL ROADS AT SPEEDS FROM 45 TO 55 MPH, THE DAMPNESS IN THE AIR CAUSED CONDENSATION HAZE TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW. I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTERS WHICH CLEARED OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SO I COULD SEE BUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE NEVER CLEARED AND I HAD 0 VISIBILITY TO ANYTHING ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD OR PULLING OUT FROM DRIVEWAYS OR ROADS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET REPAIRED TO BE TOLD GM HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS THAT SHOWED THEM HOW TO REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. ALSO THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A REAR CAMERA SYSTEM THAT IS INTERMITTENT IN ITS OPERATION, SOMETIMES BLURRED IMAGES OR SOMETIMES BLANK COMPLETELY. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE CAMERA SYSTEMS THINKING THE CONNECTION MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE BY BEING CONTAMINATED,OXIDIZED, OR LOSS. NOT SURE IF RELATED BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED MY RIGHT REAR SPEAKER SEVERAL TIMES CLAIMING THAT THE SPEAKER IS SEEING SHORTS AND/OR HIGHER POWER OR SHORTING INTERNALLY. BEING THIS IS MULTIPLE TIMES (3 OR 4 TIMES FOR THIS SAME REPAIR) WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS WILL I BE SEEING AND WILL ANY OF THESE LEAD TO FIRES OF ADDITIONAL SYSTEM DAMAGE. EVEN WITH THESE KNOW ISSUES AND SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED ON THE BLOWER SYSTEM AS DOCUMENTED ON THE REPAIR INVOICE, WHILE KNOWING THAT LOSS OF VISION THROUGH THE WINDOW IS POSSIBLE, GM HAS NOT INITIATE ANY CAMPAIGN TO PROACTIVELY FIX THIS. ONLY AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURS AND IF THE PERSON IS LUCKY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS WILL THEY ADDRESS THIS WHEN YOU COME INTO COMPLAIN ABOUT, BUT BY THAT TIME THEY HOPE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY CAN CHARGE YOU. AFTER ALL IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS SYSTEM WORKING PROPERLY SO PEOPLE WILL PAY TO GET THIS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10649868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE HEATING AND AC CONTROLS WERE REPLACED 2 TIMES IN 2007.AND ARE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY TODAY I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE AC ON BECAUSE IT'S 99 DEGREES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND LIKE IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS IT STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR ON ITS OWN. I HAVE SEE OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SO I BELIEVE GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10633779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSANGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE FAILURE. LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD UPON CLOSING OF THE DOOR. DOOR HANDLE PULL CLEAR FROM THE DOOR. WINDOW CANNOT BE ROLLED DOWN AND INTERNAL DOOR HANDLE IS INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10592397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2010 GMC SIERRA HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DEFROSTER NOT DOING AN ADEQUATE JOB WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW 40 DEGREES. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN ON THE A/C TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS NOR WILL IT ALLOW YOU TO TURN OFF THE RECIRCULATING AIR. SO BASICALLY AFTER 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE YOU ARE JUST PUMPING THE SAME HUMID AIR THROUGH THE CABIN CAUSING SEVERE FOGGING OF ALL THE WINDOWS. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE AND THERE IS A TSB IN PLACE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, WHICH AFFECTS THOSE OF US IN COLDER CLIMATES, I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL DONE. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN 1 PERSON IN THE TRUCK AT A TIME, THE WINDOWS ARE SO FOGGY YOU NEED TO DRIVE WITH HER HEAD OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW JUST TO SEE. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND THIS IS THE COLDEST WINTER WE HAVE HAD IN A WHILE. I DON'T THINK IT GOT BELOW 45 LAST YEAR SO I DIDN'T NOTICE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. NOW IT IS EVERYDAY. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - #11-01-38-001B.
NHTSA complaint #10562335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND NOTICED A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
NHTSA complaint #10538590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS MODEL GMC SIERRA TRUCK HAS A KNOWN PROPENSITY FOR FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MECHANISM. WHEREAS THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IT HAS RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS WHEN VISION OBSCURED BY DUST OR MUD. THE WASHER RESERVOIR IS LOCATED IN A VERY TIGHT SPACE BETWEEN THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE BATTERY. MY WASHER STARTED TO LEAK AFTER I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOPPING UP THE FLUID I KEPT GETTING A LOW WASHER FLUID WARNING LIGHT. EVENTUALLY I NOTICED THAT WHEN REFILLING ALL OF THE WASHER FLUID LEAKS OUT ONTO THE GROUND BENEATH THE TRUCK. I NOTE THAT WHEN REPLACING THE BATTERY IT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO STRIKE THE WASHER MECHANISM. THIS CAN CRACK THE RESERVOIR, DISLODGE A HOSE, OR CAUSE A GASKET IN THE DEVICE TO FAIL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH CERTAINTY AS GMC REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE THIS SAFETY CONCERN FREE OF CHARGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MECHANISM IS OF FLIMSY CONSTRUCTION AND, BY VIRTUE OF ITS LOCATION, IS PRONE TO DAMAGE WHEN REPLACING THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #10531926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEATER MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF, THE BLOWER ONLY WORKS RANDOMLY. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES. THERE IS A CHANCE OF ELECTRICAL FIRE WITH THE BEING ABLE TO RUN WITH THE SWITCH OFF ALSO THE REPORT WOULD NOT PULL A LIST OF PARTS NOR WOULD IT PERMIT ME TO TYPE IN THE PARTS: HEATER MOTOR BLOWER RESISTOR, AND WIRING CONNECTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10492033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.