2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 923 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.5x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 27 crash reports 12 injuries

923

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

11.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

TRANSMISSION

95 complaints

10%

• 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
• DRIVING MY NEW 2015 GMC $52,000 GMC SIERRA, I NOTICED A DISTINCT SLIPPING/HESITATION/GENERAL ROUGHNESS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO EITHER HAVE A TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CHECK, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND IT
• THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OR HESITATE AT TAKEOFF. THE RUNNING LIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO SEE DOWN THE ROAD.

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

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

93 complaints

10%

• 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
• I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2015 GMC SIERRA K1500 SLT. I SELECTED THE SLT FOR THE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS WHICH ARE NOT OFFERED ON THE LOWER TRIMS FOR IMPROVED LIGHTING. HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE EXTREMELY POOR ILLUMINATION (CANNOT SEE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, VERY DIM, POOR PROJECTION IN FRONT) IN L
• THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. REGARDLESS OF THE SYSTEM DISPLAYED, (RADIO, PHONE, OR JUST THE CLOCK/OFF SCREEN), THE LIGHTING IS TOO BRIGHT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER. THE DASH LIGHT DIMMER CONTROL SWITCH WORKS THE DASH LIGHTS AND THE INFOTAIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

93 complaints

10%

• 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
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS DIMINISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. T
• OPERATED TRUCK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A RURAL AREA AT NIGHT YESTERDAY. LOW BEAMS PROVIDE INADEQUATE LIGHT BRIGHTNESS AND REACH. NO APPROPRIATE LATERAL LIGHTING. ONCOMING TRAFFIC "WASHED OUT" MY LIGHTING. CAN NOT EXCEED 30MPH WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING SAFETY. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE DANGEROUS ON LOW BEAM. HIGH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

84 complaints

• MADE 1 TRIP OUT OF STATE TO VISIT MY SON AND TO CARRY HIM A BEDROOM SUITE. I LIVE IN GA. AND HE LIVES IN TENN. WHEN I RETURNED I NOTICED FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. CALLED DEALER IN BRUNSWICK GA. THEY SAID TO BRING THE TRUCK THEN. WHEN TRUCK WAS PUT ON RACK, FOUND ENGINE HEADS WERE FAULTY. HAD TO ORDER N
• 2015 GMC SIERRA HAS A DELAY THROTTLE RESPONSE. DOES IT AT ALL SPEEDS AND FROM TAKE OFF. TOOK TO DEALER AND SERVICE ADVISOR PULLED TRUCK IN SHOP. GOT OUT AND SAID IT DOES HAVE A DELAY. THE RAN VIN NUMBER THROUGH GMC DATA BASE AND TOLD ME. MANUFACTURE SAID IT WAS A NORMAL THING. IT'S NOT NORMAL AND
• I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN 4/2106 AND THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. IS THIS NORMAL?

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

“MADE 1 TRIP OUT OF STATE TO VISIT MY SON AND TO CARRY HIM A BEDROOM SUITE. I LIVE IN GA. AND HE LIVES IN TENN. WHEN I RETURNED I NOTICED FLUID UNDER THE TRUCK. CALLED DEALER IN BRUNSWICK GA. THEY SAID TO BRING THE TRUCK THEN. WHEN TRUCK WAS PUT ON RACK, FOUND ENGINE HEADS WERE FAULTY. HAD TO ORDER N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)