2010 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: there are cracks on drivers side dash & around air bag on passenger side. *tr. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 2 crash reports 4 injuries

216

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

77 complaints

36%

• THERE ARE CRACKS ON DRIVERS SIDE DASH & AROUND AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
• AROUND 37,000 MILES A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH, AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THERE ARE NOW 3 CRACKS AROUND THE AIRBAG AND THESE CRACKS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A TEAR IN THE AIRBAG DURING DEPLOYMENT, RENDERING THE AIRBAG INEFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT. FROM
• PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEN TOOK IT TO A GMC DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS DUE TO LOSS OF POWER TO THE AIR BAG MODULE ATTRIBUTED TO CORROSION WI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THERE ARE CRACKS ON DRIVERS SIDE DASH & AROUND AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

47 complaints

22%

• THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE WINDOWS OF MY NEW 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 WT, HAVE AN EXTREME TENDENCY TO FOG OVER IN TEMPERATURES NEAR THE FREEZING POINT. I HAVE READ, AND OBSERVED, THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GETS NEAR THE FREEZE ZONE (I THINK THE A
• 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. CONSUMER STATES THE JACK THAT COMES WITH THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO USE WHEN REMOVING THE REAR TIRE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE JACK COULD EASILY SLIP OFF FROM UNDER THE AXLE, WHICH IS ROUND AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY FLAT OR CONTAINED SURFACE FOR THE JACK TO BE PLACED. *JB
• THE DASH HAS CRACKED RIGHT ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG . THE TRUCK WAS CLEANED AND DETAILED ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2015 , PARKED BACK IN THE GARAGE AND WHEN I LEFT IN IT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 , 2015 I NOTICED THE DASH WAS CRACKED . THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME SINCE IT IS THE PASSENGER AIR COMPA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE WINDOWS OF MY NEW 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 WT, HAVE AN EXTREME TENDENCY TO FOG OVER IN TEMPERATURES NEAR THE FREEZING POINT. I HAVE READ, AND OBSERVED, THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GETS NEAR THE FREEZE ZONE (I THINK THE A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

33 complaints

15%

• I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB. THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE INADEQUATELY AND/OR DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, AND WILL OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE RESTRAINTS ARE MOUNTED ON SHORT POSTS, WHICH DO NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERCOATING OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE IN SMALL PORTIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO BEFORE THE FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER A
• INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE CHROME IS FLAKING. 3/9/13 IT CUT MY INDEX FINGER FAIRLY DEEP AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH IN LENGTH. OF COURSE IT BLED ALL OVER MY SUIT AS I WAS HEADING TO BE THE BEST MAN AT A WEDDING. 7/21/13. MY SON WAS GETTING OUT OF THE DRIVERS DOOR AND RECEIVED THE SAME INJURY. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB. THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE INADEQUATELY AND/OR DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, AND WILL OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE RESTRAINTS ARE MOUNTED ON SHORT POSTS, WHICH DO NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

15 complaints

• 2004 GMC SIERRA WITH 5.3L ENGINE. AT 53,920 MILES BEGAN TICKING AT COLD START UP. CONFIRMED BY GMC DEALER TODAY THAT CYLINDER HEAD HAS CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SEEP INTO ENGINE OIL. $3,800 TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS AND INSTALL NEW LIFTERS. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 06-06-01-01
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PISTONS WERE LOOSE AND STRUCK THE CYLINDER WALL, IT WOULD LOOSEN UP THE ENGINE AND CAUSED AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOTHING TO
• THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE WINDOWS OF MY NEW 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 WT, HAVE AN EXTREME TENDENCY TO FOG OVER IN TEMPERATURES NEAR THE FREEZING POINT. I HAVE READ, AND OBSERVED, THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GETS NEAR THE FREEZE ZONE (I THINK THE AC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2004 GMC SIERRA WITH 5.3L ENGINE. AT 53,920 MILES BEGAN TICKING AT COLD START UP. CONFIRMED BY GMC DEALER TODAY THAT CYLINDER HEAD HAS CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SEEP INTO ENGINE OIL. $3,800 TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS AND INSTALL NEW LIFTERS. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 06-06-01-01”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• HOOKED UP A TRAILER (FIRST TIME EVER), DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, CHECKED FUSES, FOUND A MELTED FUSE. FOUND A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS VIN SPECIFIC AND VIN IS NOT COVERED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND REPORTED PROBLEM TO GMC, WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT HERE. ALSO FOUND
• THE 2010 GMC SIERRA LD 1500 HAD MULTIPLE PREMATURE FAILURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WERE PERTAINING TO THE RADIO ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTERNAL SHORT FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL AND THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRONIC FUNCTION PANEL. MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE, A FAILURE P
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO YATES BUICK GMC (13845 W TEST DR, GOODYEAR, AZ 85338) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CRIMPED WIRE LEADING TO THE AIR BAG HAD CAUSED A SHORT, AND THE WIRE NEEDED TO BE R

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“HOOKED UP A TRAILER (FIRST TIME EVER), DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, CHECKED FUSES, FOUND A MELTED FUSE. FOUND A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS VIN SPECIFIC AND VIN IS NOT COVERED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND REPORTED PROBLEM TO GMC, WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT HERE. ALSO FOUND ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 216 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THERE ARE CRACKS ON DRIVERS SIDE DASH & AROUND AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE WINDOWS OF MY NEW 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500 WT, HAVE AN EXTREME TENDENCY TO FOG OVER IN TEMPERATURES NEAR THE FREEZING POINT. I HAVE READ, AND OBSERVED, THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GETS NEAR THE FREEZE ZONE (I THINK THE A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB. THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE INADEQUATELY AND/OR DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, AND WILL OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE RESTRAINTS ARE MOUNTED ON SHORT POSTS, WHICH DO NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 2004 GMC SIERRA WITH 5.3L ENGINE. AT 53,920 MILES BEGAN TICKING AT COLD START UP. CONFIRMED BY GMC DEALER TODAY THAT CYLINDER HEAD HAS CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO SEEP INTO ENGINE OIL. $3,800 TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS AND INSTALL NEW LIFTERS. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 06-06-01-01
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)