Gmc Sierra Reliability
4,890 NHTSA complaints (1982–2017). Complaint rate: 64.1 per 1,000 vehicles.
Gmc Sierra Generations
Manufacturer redesigns the car every few years (a “generation”). Each generation has different engineering and common issues. Click a generation to see year-by-year breakdown.
| Generation | Years | Code | Complaints | Crashes | Volume | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 1988–1998 | GMT400 | 1,602 | 86 | Show years | |||
| Gen 2 | 1999–2006 | GMT800 | 2,591 | 217 | Hide years | |||
| 1999 | 721 | 58 | View 1999View→ | |||||
| 2000 | 557 | 58 | View 2000View→ | |||||
| 2001 | 333 | 41 | View 2001View→ | |||||
| 2002 | 291 | 26 | View 2002View→ | |||||
| 2003 | 248 | 16 | View 2003View→ | |||||
| 2004 | 224 | 12 | View 2004View→ | |||||
| 2005 | 152 | 3 | View 2005View→ | |||||
| 2006 | 65 | 3 | View 2006View→ | |||||
| Gen 3 | 2007–2013 | GMT900 | 405 | 31 | Show years | |||
| Gen 4 | 2014–2018 | K2XX | 284 | 20 | Show years | |||
| Gen 5 | 2019–present | T1XX | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1994–2005 Gmc Sierra (286 crash-related complaints). The 2016 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Gmc Sierra Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 618 | 13.3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 304 | 10.2% |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 253 | 0.8% |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 164 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 159 | 6.9% |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 141 | 4.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 127 | 3.1% |
| STEERING | 124 | 4.0% |
| AIR BAGS | 118 | 35.6% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 104 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983GOOD | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | View 1983View→ |
| 1987GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 1987View→ |
| 1988GOOD | Gen 1(GMT400) | 6 | 0 | 1 | View 1988View→ |
| 1989GOOD | Gen 1(GMT400) | 22 | 2 | — | View 1989View→ |
| 1990GOOD | Gen 1(GMT400) | 30 | 1 | 12 | View 1990View→ |
| 1991GOOD | Gen 1(GMT400) | 12 | 0 | — | View 1991View→ |
| 1992GOOD | Gen 1(GMT400) | 33 | 2 | 2 | View 1992View→ |
| 1993 | Gen 1(GMT400) | 109 | 9 | 1 | View 1993View→ |
| 1994AVOID | Gen 1(GMT400) | 221 | 3 | 2 | View 1994View→ |
| 1995AVOID | Gen 1(GMT400) | 327 | 24 | — | View 1995View→ |
| 1996AVOID | Gen 1(GMT400) | 310 | 20 | 8 | View 1996View→ |
| 1997AVOID | Gen 1(GMT400) | 302 | 6 | 5 | View 1997View→ |
| 1998AVOID | Gen 1(GMT400) | 230 | 19 | 8 | View 1998View→ |
| 1999AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 721 | 58 | 2 | View 1999View→ |
| 2000AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 557 | 58 | 3 | View 2000View→ |
| 2001AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 333 | 41 | 2 | View 2001View→ |
| 2002AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 291 | 26 | 3 | View 2002View→ |
| 2003AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 248 | 16 | 3 | View 2003View→ |
| 2004AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 224 | 12 | 7 | View 2004View→ |
| 2005AVOID | Gen 2(GMT800) | 152 | 3 | 2 | View 2005View→ |
| 2006 | Gen 2(GMT800) | 65 | 3 | 3 | View 2006View→ |
| 2007 | Gen 3(GMT900) | 71 | 7 | 2 | View 2007View→ |
| 2008 | Gen 3(GMT900) | 84 | 4 | — | View 2008View→ |
| 2009 | Gen 3(GMT900) | 48 | 3 | — | View 2009View→ |
| 2010GOOD | Gen 3(GMT900) | 43 | 3 | 2 | View 2010View→ |
| 2011 | Gen 3(GMT900) | 67 | 1 | — | View 2011View→ |
| 2012GOOD | Gen 3(GMT900) | 46 | 7 | 7 | View 2012View→ |
| 2013GOOD | Gen 3(GMT900) | 46 | 6 | 2 | View 2013View→ |
| 2014AVOID | Gen 4(K2XX) | 132 | 8 | 2 | View 2014View→ |
| 2015 | Gen 4(K2XX) | 67 | 4 | 2 | View 2015View→ |
| 2016GOOD | Gen 4(K2XX) | 8 | 3 | 1 | View 2016View→ |
| 2017 | Gen 4(K2XX) | 77 | 5 | 1 | View 2017View→ |
See also: Gmc Sierraaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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