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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2015 GMC Sierra 2500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

89

Complaints

5

Crashes

5

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 have filed 89 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2015 and March 2026. The most complained-about system is the exterior lighting, named in 26 of them (29%). The typical failure was reported at 37,023 miles, the median across the 57 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

21V504000 · July 1, 2021

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The risk
A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20V-736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.

General Motors, LLC · up to 410,019 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

20V736000 · November 25, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
The risk
If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V-504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.

General Motors LLC · up to 9,279 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

18V578000 · August 30, 2018

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
The risk
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18278. Note: The vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16V069 for brake pedal loosening.

General Motors LLC · up to 42,280 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V437000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

General Motors LLC · up to 40,683 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V651000 · September 8, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,640,162 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

16V069000 · February 5, 2016

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 29, 2013, to February 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
The risk
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 20760.

General Motors LLC · up to 430,771 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 89.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 26 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 11%
POWER TRAIN 8 9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 9%
ENGINE 7 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 6%
STEERING 4 4%
AIR BAGS 3 3%
SEAT BELTS 3 3%
VISIBILITY 3 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 19.

2015 2016 2026
2015 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 105,000 miles

I WAS DRIVING A GMC SIERRA 2500 (2015) TRUCK ON A ROAD (SPEED LIMIT 65 MPH) AND WAS STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO A STATE PART. A DRIVER HIT ME IN THE REAR AT A HIGH SPEED. THE POWDER FROM THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENTS FILLED THE TRUCK CAP BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint 11121544. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 60,194 miles

ON 5/12/19 THE CHECK BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, SO I LEFT OUT SIDE FACING STREET IN CASE I HAD TO JUMP TO TAKE TO DEALER ON MONDAY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE AND 1/2 HOUR LATER HEARD AND EXPLOSION AND WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint 11207167. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

fire · 61,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHEN THE CONTACT AUTO STARTED THE VEHICLE, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR WINDOW AND A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED; HOWEVER, FIVE SECONDS LATER, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT OCCURRING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL THAT HEATED UP THE WINDOW CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9/5625662049. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA complaint 11278480. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

I turned on my rear defroster. I smelled electrical burning and rear window shattered with my 6 month old in the back seat in her car seat. GM states there is a recall which can be referenced as N192220470. Speaking with customer service and dealership the recall is VIN specific and my vehicle is not included in the recall even though the year and make is listed in the recall. Very dangerous, especially when there are passengers in the back seat of the vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11443574. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After starting the vehicle, I turned on the rear defrost button and within a few minutes the rear window started producing smoke inside the vehicle. I turned the truck off immediately and then approximately 30 seconds later, the rear window on the passenger side shattered. There is a recall that was issued for this exact problem but when i contacted the dealership, I was informed that the recall applied to Canadian vehicle models only and that there was no recall issued in the U.S. for this problem. I believe that there was a great risk for my family's safety as my child sits directly in front of this window and presented an injury risk to her, as well as the overall fire risk that could

NHTSA complaint 11725053, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY

50,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the defroster was activated, and there was smoke inside the vehicle before the rear glass shattered. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint 11722449. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have went to a dealership to try and trade this vehicle in and they have informed me that this vehicles odometer has been rolled back prior to me purchasing it. It was not disclosed to me from Bob Rorhman Hyandia that this had happened.

NHTSA complaint 11713408. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

189,458 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 189,458 and the contact stated he discovered on Carfax that mileage was 188,052; however, the contact discovered that the mileage was 112,708.

NHTSA complaint 11713486. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

129,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the Fuel Pump Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

NHTSA complaint 11672477. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Blown head gasket. Engine hydro-locked.

NHTSA complaint 11667151. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Sierra 2500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 9 1
2024 98 3
2023 31 1
2022 42 3
2021 51 6
2020 73 9
2019 32 7
2018 35 5
2017 37 6
2016 59 5
2014 30 2
2013 46 3
2012 30 3 1
2011 63 4
2010 10 5

Other 2015 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 144 vehicles, 425 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst