GMC SIERRA 1500 · model year

2010 GMC SIERRA 1500

215 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010GMCSIERRA 1500 carries 215 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 4 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 SIERRA 1500 is air bags with 76 filings, followed by unknown or other (46) and structure:body (23). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2010 SIERRA 1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

215
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

215 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS76
UNKNOWN OR OTHER46
STRUCTURE:BODY23
ENGINE11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
STRUCTURE6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
POWER TRAIN4
SEATS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
SUSPENSION3
STEERING3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2

Recalls (4)

18V26700026/04/2018

EQUIPMENT

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pin

21V05300005/02/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaba

21V05400005/02/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS,

21V05000005/02/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally s

Recent Complaints

20251211FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

With no warning truck just started jumping in neutral after take off from red light litterly almost getting hit from behind and on coming traffic and than I let off the gas pedal than it jerks back in gear and doesn’t want to stop and wants to jerk to keep moving like transmission won’t stop pulling had to turn truck off it is something electrical in transmission I can pull fuse and it resets than it’s normal till it decides to do it again I’ve got on line and notice there is a lot more of the same truck and year having same issue and people have complained also mechanical at dealer says they have had many complaints on same issue I need my truck fixed it gave no warning and is to dangerous to drive like it is

20251211POWER TRAIN

With no warning truck just started jumping in neutral after take off from red light litterly almost getting hit from behind and on coming traffic and than I let off the gas pedal than it jerks back in gear and doesn’t want to stop and wants to jerk to keep moving like transmission won’t stop pulling had to turn truck off it is something electrical in transmission I can pull fuse and it resets than it’s normal till it decides to do it again I’ve got on line and notice there is a lot more of the same truck and year having same issue and people have complained also mechanical at dealer says they have had many complaints on same issue I need my truck fixed it gave no warning and is to dangerous to drive like it is

20251211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

With no warning truck just started jumping in neutral after take off from red light litterly almost getting hit from behind and on coming traffic and than I let off the gas pedal than it jerks back in gear and doesn’t want to stop and wants to jerk to keep moving like transmission won’t stop pulling had to turn truck off it is something electrical in transmission I can pull fuse and it resets than it’s normal till it decides to do it again I’ve got on line and notice there is a lot more of the same truck and year having same issue and people have complained also mechanical at dealer says they have had many complaints on same issue I need my truck fixed it gave no warning and is to dangerous to drive like it is

20251023STRUCTURE:BODY

Took truck in to have brake light checked to prepare for a trip. Got a call the next day from auto service center that the frame off the truck is completely rusted and that it was unable to be lifted up for service. They stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and that any hard bump, speed bump or over correction could cause the frame to fall out.

20240730STRUCTURE:BODY

Extreme frame rust and rot issues with this truck and many around this year they’re rotting away excessively

20230907VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the side of the road. We pulled over and thankfully they missed hitting one another. We just couldn't speed up to get out of their way. We cant believe their hasnt been a safety recall on the TCM for these trucks. GMC started doing Service bulletins in 2013 about the TCM causing the limp mode issues. There are dedicated facebook groups with over a 1,000 followers who are experiencing the same issues with these TCM's. Someone is going to die if they havent already. Several collisions, involving the years affected, are being re-investigated to determine why the vehicle slowed abruptly causin

20230907ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the side of the road. We pulled over and thankfully they missed hitting one another. We just couldn't speed up to get out of their way. We cant believe their hasnt been a safety recall on the TCM for these trucks. GMC started doing Service bulletins in 2013 about the TCM causing the limp mode issues. There are dedicated facebook groups with over a 1,000 followers who are experiencing the same issues with these TCM's. Someone is going to die if they havent already. Several collisions, involving the years affected, are being re-investigated to determine why the vehicle slowed abruptly causin

20230907ENGINE

Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the side of the road. We pulled over and thankfully they missed hitting one another. We just couldn't speed up to get out of their way. We cant believe their hasnt been a safety recall on the TCM for these trucks. GMC started doing Service bulletins in 2013 about the TCM causing the limp mode issues. There are dedicated facebook groups with over a 1,000 followers who are experiencing the same issues with these TCM's. Someone is going to die if they havent already. Several collisions, involving the years affected, are being re-investigated to determine why the vehicle slowed abruptly causin

20230823ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TCM. Yes it's available for inspection. It failed causing my truck to just lock the brakes up in the middle of the road almost causing an accident. Causing driver and passenger risk of Injury

20230823POWER TRAIN

TCM. Yes it's available for inspection. It failed causing my truck to just lock the brakes up in the middle of the road almost causing an accident. Causing driver and passenger risk of Injury

20230802ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The transmission control module failed while towing my trailer. I had my family loaded in the truck and the failure happened in a busy intersection, nearly causing several accidents as I was unable to move the vehicle. Now I’m told that these TCM’s are on back order with no repair date known. My truck has already been down for a month now and I’m told this could be up to a year waiting for the part. I’m told that there are thousands of these on back order and GM is doing nothing to fix it. This is inexcusably dangerous. These modules have an unprecedented failure rate and give no warning on when they will fail as they are an electronic component. You could be left stranded in an extremely dangerous intersection like I was with my family with no way to move, or on some dark canyon road. This issue must be addressed! GM needs to take on the responsibility and accountability to ensure that these TCMs are replaced with a reliable part. Trucks from 2007-2015 are all susceptible to f

20230214STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving over a bump or bridge, the vehicle swayed abnormally. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the entire subframe was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,900.

Mileage: 125,900

20220914STRUCTURE:BODY

Frame rusted out despite regular maintenance and cleaning. Rotted from the inside out, then spread to the wheel wells and bed. Crossmembers forming holes. Has gotten perpetually worse and is a well documented phenomenon by others online over the past 5 years.

20211002STRUCTURE:BODY

Dashboard has been cracking overtime.

20210727STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that upon inspection it was discovered that the receiver hitch was rusted and caused several holes. In addition, the spare tire hanger was also severely rusted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

20210608STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, she was informed that the sub-frame was corroded. The contact took the vehicle to the used car dealer where she purchased the vehicle, and requested a second opinion. The vehicle was taken to a second inspection station and was Informed that the sub-frame was corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,118.

Mileage: 178,118

20210416FireAIR BAGS

2010 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SET ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING WHEN THE WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.*JS

20210413ENGINE

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAILED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS BLOWING UP WITH METAL ON METAL SOUNDS, LOSS OF CONTROL AND POWER. I HAD MY VEHICLE TRANSPORTED TO AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC AND HE DETERMINED THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. I SPENT OVER $3000 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND IT STILL LEAKS OIL AND HAS ISSUES WITH PROVIDING CORRECT ENGINE POWER AND CONTROL. IT IS NOT SAFE NOR DEPENDABLE.

Mileage: 152,000

20210409AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK IS JUST CRACKING ALL OVER. I CONTINUOUSLY CLEAN AND USE SUN SHADES FOR IT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

Mileage: 195,000

20210409UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD ON MY TRUCK IS JUST CRACKING ALL OVER. I CONTINUOUSLY CLEAN AND USE SUN SHADES FOR IT. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

Mileage: 195,000

Compare 2010GMCSIERRA 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 have?
The 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 has 215 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 4 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500?
Yes, the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 is AIR BAGS with 76 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.