Is the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 reliable?

The 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 923 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: BRAKES problems.

What are common problems with the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500?

Top problems: BRAKES (229 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (95 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (93 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500?

Yes, there are 9 recall(s): STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR. Contact any Gmc dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 is approximately $1,473/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Q: Is the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 often stolen?

The Gmc SIERRA 1500 was the #16 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 6,300 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 923 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 472. The most common issue is brakes problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: on 2/5/2017 while turning unto my street the steering wheel locked and i could not move my truck from hitting a block wall. i also tried breaking but the car did not stop in time to not hit the wall. i was driving slowly (20 mph) because i was in a neighborhood and me and my family were all wearing . There are 9 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 27 crash reports 12 injuries

923

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

BRAKES

229 complaints

25%

• ON 2/5/2017 WHILE TURNING UNTO MY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT MOVE MY TRUCK FROM HITTING A BLOCK WALL. I ALSO TRIED BREAKING BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE WALL. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (20 MPH) BECAUSE I WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ME AND MY FAMILY WERE ALL WEARING
• BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TOWING A 3500 POUND BOAT. VACUUM BOOSTER SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS MOVING SLOWLY THROUGH A PARKING LOT PULLING MY BOAT, WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKES THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMED OUT AND THE TRUCK AND TRAILER CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY
• BACKING BOAT DOWN BOAT RAMP (NOT A STEEP RAMP) IN TRAILER MODE, BRAKING DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. PUMPED PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, USED LOTS OF FORCE ON PEDAL. BECAUSE OF SLOW SPEED AND INCREASED EFFORT, THE VEHICLE DID STOP. PULLED FORWARD AND REPEATED AT SLOWER REVERSE SPEED AND SAME POOR BRAKING. DRY C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 15 crashes

“ON 2/5/2017 WHILE TURNING UNTO MY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT MOVE MY TRUCK FROM HITTING A BLOCK WALL. I ALSO TRIED BREAKING BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE WALL. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (20 MPH) BECAUSE I WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ME AND MY FAMILY WERE ALL WEARING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Based on 590 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 46K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

175

30-60K

197

60-100K

165

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Reported earliermedian 1K mi · 67 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Reported earliermedian 33K mi · 53 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

Reported earliermedian 49K mi · 18 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Reported earliermedian 12K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Reported earliermedian 34K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Reported earliermedian 13K mi · 10 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (9)

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM07/09/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.

Risk: If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18289.

Above-average theft risk

#16 most stolen in 2025

The Gmc SIERRA 1500 was the #16 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 6,300 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Full-size truck; parts demand

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,473

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1473

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Gmc SIERRA 1500 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

45K mi

Engine coolant

150K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

23K mi

Engine air filter

45K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

45K mi

Uses GM Oil Life System. Full-size trucks may have shorter differential and transfer case intervals if used for towing.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Gmc New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Gmc. If you're buying a used 2015 SIERRA 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Gmc dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 923 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: ON 2/5/2017 WHILE TURNING UNTO MY STREET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I COULD NOT MOVE MY TRUCK FROM HITTING A BLOCK WALL. I ALSO TRIED BREAKING BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE WALL. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY (20 MPH) BECAUSE I WAS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ME AND MY FAMILY WERE ALL WEARING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I HAD MADE A COMPLAINT TO CHAPDELAINE BUICK- GMC THAT MY BRAND NEW TRUCK DID NOT SEEM TO GO INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT FOR ME. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE TRUCK WORKED JUST FINE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I THEN NOTICED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DURING NIGHT OPERATION WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ADJUSTED TO PROPER BRIGHTNESS THE CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS AND MOST NOTABLY, THE INTELLILINK SCREEN ARE DANGEROUSLY BRIGHT. THE INTELLILINK SCREEN DOES NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRIGHTNESS CONTROL FROM THE DIMMER. WHEN SET TO OFF IN AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: DURING NIGHT OPERATION WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ADJUSTED TO PROPER BRIGHTNESS THE CENTER CONSOLE LIGHTS AND MOST NOTABLY, THE INTELLILINK SCREEN ARE DANGEROUSLY BRIGHT. THE INTELLILINK SCREEN DOES NOT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BRIGHTNESS CONTROL FROM THE DIMMER. WHEN SET TO OFF IN AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Gmc dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)