Total Complaints
84 filings
GMC Sierra · model year
2008 GMC Sierra
84 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 84
- Recalls
- 2
The verdict
The 2008 GMC Sierra posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- 43rd pctile
- complaint volume, own model years
- 2
- recall campaigns
The 2008GMCSierra carries 84 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2008 Sierra is air bags with 29 filings, followed by electrical system (15) and latches/locks/linkages (11). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2008 Sierra. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
84
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2008 GMC Sierra
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 29 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 11 |
| STRUCTURE | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recalls (2)
08V44100028/08/2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIP
10V24000004/06/2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUT
Recent Complaints
20210922AIR BAGS
2008 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL.
20210622AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V052000 (Air bags) The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall was serviced; but, a week later the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,398.
Mileage: 159,398
20160421AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20160415STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND EXPANDED TO A GAPING HOLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Mileage: 104,000
20160407ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED MY 2008 GMC SIERRA TRUCK IN NOVEMBER 2015 AFTER HAVING FOR ONLY 5 MONTHS DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL ONLY LOCK OR UNLOCK SOMETIME, MAKING IT UNSAFE IF YOU NEEDED TO EXIT QUICKLY DUE TO ACCIDENT OR FIRE. SEEN MANY OTHER POST ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS.
Mileage: 99,550
20160406AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
20160328ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK.
20160309AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20160301AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20160223STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. THE TRUCK IS RARELY DRIVEN, AND HAS JUST PASSED 30,000 MILES. THE CRACK APPEARED WHILE THE TRUCK SAT IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE.
Mileage: 36,900
20160212AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20160210UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRACK DASHBOARD THERE ARE SO MANY OF US FACING THE SAME PROBLEM DEALERS SAYING I HAVE TO PAY WHICH ONE COST TO ME AROUND $800.00 WHEN SAME PROBLEM WITH HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM
Mileage: 59,000
20160210AIR BAGS
MY SIERRA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER GM VEHICLES HAVE. THE DASH IS CRACKING, CREATING LOOSE PIECES. IT IS CRACKED AT THE AIRBAG. THIS SHARP EDGES COULD IMPAIR THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I AM AFRAID THE LOOSE DASH PIECES COULD POST A DANGER TO THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS.
Mileage: 64,000
20160210STRUCTURE:BODY
MY SIERRA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER GM VEHICLES HAVE. THE DASH IS CRACKING, CREATING LOOSE PIECES. IT IS CRACKED AT THE AIRBAG. THIS SHARP EDGES COULD IMPAIR THE PROPER FUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I AM AFRAID THE LOOSE DASH PIECES COULD POST A DANGER TO THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS.
Mileage: 64,000
20160203AIR BAGS
TAKATA INFLATORS- PULLED TRUCK INTO GARAGE AND PUT INTO PARK. DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG BLEW OUT THEN A FEW SECONDS LATER PASSENGER AIRBAG BLEW OUT. HAD BEEN DRIVING PRIOR TO THIS WITH NO ISSUES OR WARNING.
Mileage: 171,000
20160129AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
20160124UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING, PART OF THIS IS AROUND THE AIRBAG AND I THINK IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE ALREADY DEFECTIVE AIR DEPLOYS IT COULD SEND SHARDS OF BROKEN DASHBOARD INTO MY OR A PASSENGERS FACE, THIS IS COMMON IN 2007-PRESENT TRUCKS MADE BY GM, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN ADMITTING A BAD DESIGN
Mileage: 25,000
20160115AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/26/2016*LJ *CN
20160106UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH IS CRACKED IN FIVE PLACES. THE EDGE ON THE CRACKS ARE SO SHARP THAT YOU COULD CUT YOUR HAND IF IT'S MOVED ACROSS IT. ALSO HAVE TESTS BEEN DONE TO MAKE SURE THE CRACK IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED DOES NOT BECOME PROJECTILES
20151105AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Compare 2008GMCSierra to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2008 GMC Sierra have?▼
The 2008 GMC Sierra has 84 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 GMC Sierra?▼
Yes, the 2008 GMC Sierra has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Sierra?▼
The most-complained component for the 2008 GMC Sierra is AIR BAGS with 29 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
Is the 2008 GMC Sierra 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.
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2008 GMC Sierra; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.