GMC · vehicle model

GMC SIERRA 1500

10,310 NHTSA complaints and 56 safety recalls across model years 1994–2026.

Complaints
10,310
Recalls
56
Model years
33

The GMCSIERRA 1500 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 10,310 consumer safety complaints and 56 safety recalls across 33 model years (1994–2026). That averages roughly 312 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even, most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration, which the table below isolates for the SIERRA 1500 by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing GMCSIERRA 1500 risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
202629
2025103
2024339
2023434
2022580
2021582
2020567
2019755
2018398
2017460
2016435
2015906
20141017
2013147
2012143
2011359
2010215
2009280
2008437
2007308
2006182
2005218
2004253
2003210
2002192
2001171
2000215
1999182
199868
1997100
19967
19953
199415

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

3
97
5
98
21
99
28
00
19
01
13
02
21
03
33
04
44
05
123
06
175
07
188
08
110
09
267
10
203
11
135
12
147
13
243
14
249
15
584
16
718
17
636
18
730
19
678
20
566
21
574
22
555
23
721
24
2212
25
309
26
View all trending models →

Compare GMCSIERRA 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the GMC SIERRA 1500?
The GMC SIERRA 1500 has received 10,310 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1994 to 2026, with 56 recalls. That averages about 312 complaints per model year.
What years of GMC SIERRA 1500 are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the GMC SIERRA 1500 from 1994 to 2026 (33 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the GMC SIERRA 1500 have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many GMC SIERRA 1500 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common GMC SIERRA 1500 complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the GMC SIERRA 1500 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my GMC SIERRA 1500 has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.