Is the 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500 reliable?

The 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500 has 18 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: excellent. Most common issue: BRAKES problems.

What are common problems with the 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500?

Top problems: BRAKES (5 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (3 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (3 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Contact any Gmc dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500 is approximately $1,607/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.

2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500 has 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 25. The most common issue is brakes problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: while driving down a mountain road with a 5th wheel attached it appeared that the rear brakes on the drivers side were smoking, i pulled over to allow it to cool. we found a gmc dealership and proceeded there very slowly stopping a number of times to allow the brakes to cool down. 2 miles short of. There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 7)

BRAKES

5 complaints

28%

• WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH A 5TH WHEEL ATTACHED IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WERE SMOKING, I PULLED OVER TO ALLOW IT TO COOL. WE FOUND A GMC DEALERSHIP AND PROCEEDED THERE VERY SLOWLY STOPPING A NUMBER OF TIMES TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN. 2 MILES SHORT OF
• WHEN YOU PUT ON THE BRAKES YOU HAVE TO PRESS SO HARD AND I MEAN HARD TO GET IT TO STOP. IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT WHEN IT WAS NEW. IT YOU PUT ATRAILER BEHIND THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER HAS BREAKES THAT IS WHAT STOP THE TRUCK NOT THE TRUCK BRAKES. IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 3 MO
• Brake are very spongy all the time we’ll While driving in parking lot at low speed we lost brakes happen to hit person in front. This has been a continuous problem to point we are scared to even use the truck to go to store. Took it to Firestone. They told me it was the master cylinder. So they

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

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH A 5TH WHEEL ATTACHED IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WERE SMOKING, I PULLED OVER TO ALLOW IT TO COOL. WE FOUND A GMC DEALERSHIP AND PROCEEDED THERE VERY SLOWLY STOPPING A NUMBER OF TIMES TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN. 2 MILES SHORT OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (7)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR14/09/2017

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Risk: The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2017 Gmc SIERRA 3500

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

$1,607

Full coverage / month

$134

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1607

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

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Gmc SIERRA 3500 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 2017 SIERRA 3500, 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

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~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 18 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH A 5TH WHEEL ATTACHED IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WERE SMOKING, I PULLED OVER TO ALLOW IT TO COOL. WE FOUND A GMC DEALERSHIP AND PROCEEDED THERE VERY SLOWLY STOPPING A NUMBER OF TIMES TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN. 2 MILES SHORT OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED A NEW 2017 GMC DENALI 3500. THE TRUCK CAME WITH 4 MICHILEN LT 265/70R18 A/T2 TIRES ON IT. THE SPARE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR TIRE. PAGE 401 AND PAGE 402 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES: MIXING TIRES OF DIFFERENT SIZES,BRANDS, OR TYPES MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A CRASH OR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: SERVICE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM. Faulty control in the dash. Known issue per mechanic but no recall issued. Safety issue as trailer brake may not function properly when towing as a result
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: tHE 6L90 TRANMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT 58,408 MILES. HAD TO BACK THE TRUCK UP IN TRAFFIC OVER 1/2 MILE TO REACH A SAFE SPOT. SEEMS GM IS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND THEIR 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM TO REPAIR SEEING I WAS OUT OF THE 5 YEAR 100000 WAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Gmc dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)