2015 Gmc SIERRA DENALI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Gmc SIERRA DENALI has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: hard brake pedal. at low speed the brake pedal gets really hard and makes it hard to stop the truck. pedal has to get pushed really hard to barely stop from hitting other vehicles. ongoing issue..

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

7 complaints

29%

• HARD BRAKE PEDAL. AT LOW SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE TRUCK. PEDAL HAS TO GET PUSHED REALLY HARD TO BARELY STOP FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. ONGOING ISSUE.
• POWER BRAKE VACUUM PUMP ISSUE. LOST BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC. HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED, WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO NO BRAKES.
• FAILURE OF THE BELT DRIVEN VACUUM PUMP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VERY HARD BRAKING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VACUUM PRESSURE DROPPED OFF AND CAUSED THE PEDAL TO BECOME FIRM. LUCKILY AFTER IT WAS INSPECTED FOR REPAIR THERE WASN'T OIL CONTAMINATION IN THE VACUUM LINE OR BRAKE BOOSTER SO THOSE DID NOT

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

“HARD BRAKE PEDAL. AT LOW SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE TRUCK. PEDAL HAS TO GET PUSHED REALLY HARD TO BARELY STOP FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. ONGOING ISSUE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

5 complaints

21%

• STARTING THE VEHICLE I'M PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE, THE TRUCK LUNGES BACKWARDS. ALSO A VIOLENT JERK OF THE VEHICLE HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS A MAJORITY OF THE TIME. PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR TO DRIVE I HAVE A VIOLENT JERK AND A LOUD NOISE. THE TRUCK DOES NOT LUNGE FORWARD WHEN PLACING THE TRUCK
• INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS GOES OUT AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE I'M TRYING TO PARK. EACH TIME WHILE I WAS BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE LIGHTS DASH BOARD LIGHTS COME BACK ON, THEN I RESTART THE TRUCK. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE DASH BOARD L
• WHEN COMING TO A STOP, APPLYING A STEADY AMOUNT OF BRAKE PRESSURE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND LOSES ALL FORMS OF ENGINE BRAKING CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SPEED UP AND OVERSHOOTS THE STOPSIGN.

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

“STARTING THE VEHICLE I'M PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE, THE TRUCK LUNGES BACKWARDS. ALSO A VIOLENT JERK OF THE VEHICLE HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS A MAJORITY OF THE TIME. PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR TO DRIVE I HAVE A VIOLENT JERK AND A LOUD NOISE. THE TRUCK DOES NOT LUNGE FORWARD WHEN PLACING THE TRUCK ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE NOT TO OPERATE NORMALLY.
• VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING "SERVICE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM, SERVICE PARK ASSIST, SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" ALARMS WHILE DRIVING. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN WIRING FOR HAPTIC MOTOR FOR DRIVERS SEAT. NOT ONLY DID THIS CAUSE A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE L
• INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS GOES OUT AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE I'M TRYING TO PARK. EACH TIME WHILE I WAS BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE. AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE LIGHTS DASH BOARD LIGHTS COME BACK ON, THEN I RESTART THE TRUCK. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE DASH BOARD L

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE NOT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

• BAD WELD ON HVAC CONDENSER. WAITING 7+ WEEKS FOR NATIONAL BACK-ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL SINCE CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SPILL?
• AC BLOWS HOT AIR QONT GOLD FREON FOR LONGER THEN WEEK AND HALF AND IS BACK TO HOT AIR..LEAD TO BELIEVE ITS THE AC CONDENSER HAS FAILED

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

“BAD WELD ON HVAC CONDENSER. WAITING 7+ WEEKS FOR NATIONAL BACK-ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL SINCE CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SPILL?”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

• MY GMC 2015 DIESEL DURIMAX TRUCK HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND SAID EMISSION NEEDS SERVICED. IT PROCEEDED TO CUT MY TRAVELING SPEED FROM 75 MPH TO 65 MPH TO 55 MPH. I MADE IT TO DENVER COLORADO BARELY WITHOUT THE TRUCK FALLING TO 4 MPH. I WENT YESTERDAY TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THEY SAID THAT THEY FI
• See attached document for complaint.

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

“MY GMC 2015 DIESEL DURIMAX TRUCK HAD THE ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND SAID EMISSION NEEDS SERVICED. IT PROCEEDED TO CUT MY TRAVELING SPEED FROM 75 MPH TO 65 MPH TO 55 MPH. I MADE IT TO DENVER COLORADO BARELY WITHOUT THE TRUCK FALLING TO 4 MPH. I WENT YESTERDAY TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THEY SAID THAT THEY FI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~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 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: HARD BRAKE PEDAL. AT LOW SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS REALLY HARD AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE TRUCK. PEDAL HAS TO GET PUSHED REALLY HARD TO BARELY STOP FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. ONGOING ISSUE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: STARTING THE VEHICLE I'M PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE, THE TRUCK LUNGES BACKWARDS. ALSO A VIOLENT JERK OF THE VEHICLE HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS A MAJORITY OF THE TIME. PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR TO DRIVE I HAVE A VIOLENT JERK AND A LOUD NOISE. THE TRUCK DOES NOT LUNGE FORWARD WHEN PLACING THE TRUCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE NOT TO OPERATE NORMALLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BAD WELD ON HVAC CONDENSER. WAITING 7+ WEEKS FOR NATIONAL BACK-ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL SINCE CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR SPILL?
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)