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GMC · NHTSA safety record

2026 GMC Sierra 1500

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

Owners have filed 130 safety complaints about the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the power train and equipment.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 88 complaints, 68% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 3,900 miles, the median across the 17 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers September 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

130 complaints on file

130

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

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.

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. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 88 · 68%
POWER TRAIN 29 · 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 · 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 · 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 6 · 5%
STEERING 4 · 3%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 3 · 2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 2%
LANE DEPARTURE 2 · 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 2%
STRUCTURE 2 · 2%
0 38 77

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 130.

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 2026 at 125.

132 99 66 33
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 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 2026 GMC SIERRA 1500, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test PU/CC N/A 4WD PU/CC N/A RWD PU/EC N/A 4WD PU/EC N/A RWD PU/RC N/A 4WD PU/RC N/A RWD
Overall Not rated Not rated
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash Not rated Not rated
Side barrier Not rated Not rated
Side pole Not rated Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 19.8% 19.1% 19.1% 19.1% 19.1% 19.1%
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

2 on file

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

26V289000 · May 7, 2026

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
The risk
Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 66 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

26V114000 · February 26, 2026

The defect
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Protection.”
The risk
Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 5,861 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

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.

Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

EA26005

Still open engineering analysis · opened August 20, 2026

the engine

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.  This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or an engine replacement, based on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. ODI continues to receive reports of engine failures after the completion of the recall remedy. To date, ODI has received 499 complaints alleging post-remedy engine failure in vehicles subject to Recall 25V-274, 473 of which involved an oil viscosity change and 26 a complete engine replacement. Additionally, ODI has received 191 reports of L87 engine failures in engines produced after the production period cited in Recall 25V-274. GM reported receiving 6,953 complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysisto continue investigating complaints of post-remedy engine failure. ODI is expanding the scope of this Investigation to include engines produced after the production period cited in the recall. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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.

ENGINE

towed · 10,000 miles

The contact owns a 2026 GMC SIERRA 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently engaged into limp mode. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified on the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

NHTSA complaint 11739028. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 5,018 miles

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud and rough knocking sound coming from the engine block. The oil pressure decreased to zero, and the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated before or after the failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a blown engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,018.

NHTSA complaint 11743279. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 7,500 miles

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle decelerated to 10 MPH. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle remained with the dealer for additional diagnostic tests and unknown recurring failure codes. In addition, the contact stated that the failure worsened and occurred while his wife, sister-in-law, niece, and child were present inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was

NHTSA complaint 11759680, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 6,000 miles

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the wheels locked up, and transmission made a screeching sound. The contact was able to restart vehicle after approximately 5 minutes. The failure was recurrent. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced an unstated module that was damaged during the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

NHTSA complaint 11764644. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I was driving home on the evening of September 12th 2026 and when I exited the interstate and came to a stop at the traffic signal my vehicle died and I had to have it towed. There was no way to flat tow because we couldn’t get it into neutral without the vehicle’s engine running. Once the vehicle’s engine died it would not restart. Had this happened while still on the interstate causing my vehicle to be disabled in the lane of travel it could have been deadly since it was 10 p.m. in the evening and dark outside. Anyhow had the vehicle towed to the dealership for diagnosis and the engine spun #7 rod bearing which ruined the entire engine at just 15,182 miles.

NHTSA complaint 11767996. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Dealer confirmed 6.2 V8 engine failed at a little over 4000 miles. Dealer stated it was the bottom of the engine. Probably the same failure the 21-24 recall is for.

NHTSA complaint 11768111. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
engine stall on the highway

NHTSA complaint 11767822. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle lost power after sitting for a week. start up with a jump, but the battery doesn't hold a charge after that.

NHTSA complaint 11767825. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Truck was sold to me and the dealership said the truck did not have the defect and the oil was changed to a thicker oil as a precaution. 4,000 miles later the engine failed, was diagnosed as catastrophic engine failure due to the known recall, and was replaced, new engine is now making the same rod knocking noise.

NHTSA complaint 11767598. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 6.2L , with 3550 miles; started ticking at 45 MPH and another mile to get home started knocking, had truck for less than a month; no warning lights. I had it towed to the dealer. They said it needed a new engine, no time frame for repair.

NHTSA complaint 11767221. 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
2025 116 1 —
2024 364 1 —
2023 485 3 —
2022 587 6 —
2021 575 7 —
2020 468 12 —
2019 647 10 —
2018 304 7 —
2017 354 6 —
2016 341 8 —
2015 719 9 —
2014 739 9 1
2013 115 3 —
2012 107 3 —
2011 284 5 —
2010 168 4 —

Other 2026 GMC models

Yukon 40 Yukon XL 34 Terrain 33 Sierra 2500 10 Acadia 9 Canyon 8 Sierra EV 5

Complaints on file, same model year.

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