CSR

GMC · NHTSA safety record

2017 GMC Sierra 1500

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

Owners have filed 354 safety complaints about the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 with the US government. Of those, 14 describe a crash, 4 mention a fire, 7 people were injured and no death is recorded. 6 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 118 complaints, 33% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 38,984 miles, the median across the 138 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2017 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

354 complaints on file

354

Complaints

14

Describe a crash

4

Mention fire

7

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints fell 35% year on year: 36 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 55 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 118 · 33%
SERVICE BRAKES 100 · 28%
ENGINE 58 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 54 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35 · 10%
STEERING 25 · 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 · 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 10 · 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 9 · 3%
STRUCTURE 8 · 2%
SUSPENSION 8 · 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 · 2%
0 50 100

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 354.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 57.

60 45 30 15
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2017 GMC SIERRA 1500, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test Hybrid PU/CC RWD PU/CC 4WD PU/CC RWD PU/EC 4WD PU/EC RWD PU/RC 4WD PU/RC RWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.9% 17.4% 17.9% 17.9% 17.4% 17.4% 17.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

6 on file

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

26V611000 · September 24, 2026

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The risk
A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262569920. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 24, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 1,559 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

19V761000 · October 24, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The risk
Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

General Motors LLC · up to 652,967 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

19V645000 · September 6, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
The risk
As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,456,719 vehicles across all model years covered

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP

17V487000 · August 3, 2017

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The owner's manual for the affected vehicles may be missing instructions on how to use the tether anchorage and child restraint anchorage systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
The risk
If the instructions are missing from the owner's manual, the child seat may be installed incorrectly and not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will provide a corrected insert for the owners manual, free of charge. The recall began on September 25, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 17307.

General Motors LLC · up to 29,647 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

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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 · towed

I was hit broad side, by driver running red light. He was doing over 50 MPH I was hit left side forward of left door. My steering wheel airbag did not deploy fully. The crash caused only the steering wheel bag to deploy but it only came out maybe half way, it smoldered so bad I panicked seeing all the smoke and had to crawl out of my truck after kicking open the passenger door because the nose of the truck is racked to the right the passenger door would not open. Other car had full airbag deployed, all curtains and steering wheel

NHTSA complaint 11444983. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

1 injured · 13,000 miles

ON AUGUST 24TH 2018 WHILE DRIVING MY NEW 2017 GMC SIERRA THRU WEST BRANCH MICHIGAN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I COULD BARELY GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD SAFELY. STEERING THE TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I CALLED THE GMC DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSON SAID TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, WAIT A BIT AND RESTART THE TRUCK. I DID THIS AND EVERYTHING REENGAGED. A WHILE LATER DOWN THE ROAD IT HAPPENED AGAIN. POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. THIS VEHICLE IS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WE CHOSE AFTER OUR NEW 2016 GMC SIERRA CONTINUED TO SHUT DOWN OVER 30 TIMES WITH ECM PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. MY WIFE WAS TERRIFIED AND RELUCTANT TO EVER DRIVE THAT VEHICLE AFTER THAT.

NHTSA complaint 11129770, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DRAW BLANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME TO NORMAL DRIVING WITHIN FIVE SECONDS OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAD INJURED HIS LEFT WRIST WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. LANDERS BUICK GMC(78 GOODMAN RD E, SOUTHAVEN, MS 38671) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT HAVE YET OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD LINKED THAT FAILURE TO THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11414942. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured

This complaint is about the automatic extending/retracting foot steps on my GMC Sierra. The step is supposed to extend outwards when the door is opened and retract back under the truck when the door is closed. Instead, when the door is opened the step extends and at random will retract back inwards. Aside from being annoying this is actually dangerous as the other day i was exiting my truck with one foot on the step and the other reaching down to the ground when the step started retracting. The foot on the step was pulled under the truck and got stuck in the step. This threw me off balance and the other foot hit the ground at an angle and twisted my ankle. I called a local gmc dealership

NHTSA complaint 11478294, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

140,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH to 50 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and made a shuddering sound while shifting between gears. Additionally, the contact stated that the engine lifters and camshaft were previously replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The traction control warning light was intermittently illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to a dealer to determine whether the failures

NHTSA complaint 11765271, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The catastrophic power failure with no warning on my 2017 GMC Sierra, at 87450 miles completely contaminated the engine oil cooling lines with metallic debris and fractured structural mounts. The servicing dealership replaced the transmission but is refusing to remediate the engine line contamination without out-of pocket payment. The vehicle cannot be safely operated without causing terminal engine failure on the highway, creating a imminent mechanical and traffic safety hazard.

NHTSA complaint 11763735. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I had an engine rebuilt completed on my L86 2017 GMC 6.2. After the repair, the engine failed due to the crank shaft on the engine being oversized which is the same problem that GM is having with the L87 engines. When the crank was ordered from the dealer for my L86, the only part number for the crank that was available was the new part number that was being used in the L87. Seems the same cranks were used in both engines and this recall on the L87 should be extended to anyone that had a rebuilt complete. Me and my family were left on the side of the road for a few hours which endangered our lives. The problem was determined by an independent service center and was fixed by the purchase of

NHTSA complaint 11760208, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
When I accelerate the vehicle, the gears shifts every 10mph when it shouldn’t. It does it all the way up to 60mph. It has been an on going problem since we got the truck

NHTSA complaint 11753626. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Truck was started using auto start and I drove roughly a mile down the road smelt burning and looked in the back seat, I saw smoke and promptly pulled to the side of the road shut the vehicle off then I heard a loud pop and saw the back drivers side window shattered.

NHTSA complaint 11737629. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I drive this vehicle on higher speed roads to work everyday. Roads also used by large tractor trailers and like larger vehicles. I was told by dealer that I had broken exhaust manifold studs at a previous oil change. While driving the truck it seemed to lose power for a short time but I was in traffic and assumed the loss of power at that time was related to a possible exhaust leak.I scheduled a appointment to have the repairs addressed. When I picked up the vehicle I was told that there was a ticking noise in the top of the motor. They stated it was the lifters and needed to be repaired for $7136 dollars. I researched the problem and found out how big of an issue this is specifically for

NHTSA complaint 11732205, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Sierra 1500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 130 2 —
2025 116 1 —
2024 364 1 —
2023 485 3 —
2022 587 6 —
2021 575 7 —
2020 468 12 —
2019 647 10 —
2018 304 7 —
2016 341 8 —
2015 719 9 —
2014 739 9 1
2013 115 3 —
2012 107 3 —
2011 284 5 —
2010 168 4 —

Other 2017 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 149 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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