2008 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 1500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 8th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. That ranks 8th out of 32 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (243 complaints, 64%), typically at around 85,735 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 5 fires, 16 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 381owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 243 | 64% | 85,735 | “takata air bags” (29%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 41 | 11% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 31 | 8% | 57,880 | — | — |
| Structure | 25 | 7% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 23 | 6% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 19 | 5% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 3% | 79,921 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 2% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 2% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 2% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% | 45,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% | 8,600 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 168,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 351 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 3,850 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 151,071 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 0% | 163,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 0% | 872 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 157,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Non-crash engine compartment fires (EA08010) — opened Jun 12, 2008, closed Sep 8, 2008, led to recall 08V441000.
- Non-crash engine compartment fires (PE08010) — opened Feb 4, 2008, closed Jun 12, 2008.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH and towing a camper, the vehicle began to bounce while navigating curves. The traction control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed…
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH with her husband and grandson inside the vehicle and entering the driveway at the residence, there was an abnormally loud explosion coming from inside the vehicle and the driverâs side seat belt tightened…
I was driving down the highway at 70 mph, when there was a loud bang followed by a gun powder smell. My seatbelts went tight...hazard lights automatically came on...radio went dead...and the Airbag light came on. The pretensioners in both driver and passenger seats had deployed. I pulled over and…
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, diesel fuel started leaking onto the garage floor. The contact recently purchased the vehicle, inspected the source of the leak, and discovered that the fuel lines were completely rusted…
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact about the disclaimer about the dashboard possibly being damaged. The dealer informed the contact that there were no…
Other GMC Sierra 1500 years
← 2007 Sierra 1500 · 2009 Sierra 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 1500 | 142 | 2 |
| 2025 Sierra 1500 | 119 | 1 |
| 2024 Sierra 1500 | 368 | 1 |
| 2023 Sierra 1500 | 490 | 3 |
| 2022 Sierra 1500 | 594 | 6 |
| 2021 Sierra 1500 | 587 | 7 |
| 2020 Sierra 1500 | 479 | 12 |
| 2019 Sierra 1500 | 653 | 10 |
| 2018 Sierra 1500 | 305 | 7 |
| 2017 Sierra 1500 | 354 | 6 |
| 2016 Sierra 1500 | 343 | 8 |
| 2015 Sierra 1500 | 719 | 9 |
| 2014 Sierra 1500 | 742 | 9 |
| 2013 Sierra 1500 | 116 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra 1500 | 107 | 3 |
| 2011 Sierra 1500 | 284 | 5 |
| 2010 Sierra 1500 | 168 | 4 |
| 2009 Sierra 1500 | 234 | 4 |
| 2008 | 381 | 2 |
| 2007 Sierra 1500 | 263 | 2 |
| 2006 Sierra 1500 | 145 | 0 |
| 2005 Sierra 1500 | 177 | 0 |
| 2004 Sierra 1500 | 212 | 2 |
| 2003 Sierra 1500 | 180 | 1 |
| 2002 Sierra 1500 | 166 | 1 |
| 2001 Sierra 1500 | 140 | 2 |
| 2000 Sierra 1500 | 181 | 1 |
| 1999 Sierra 1500 | 158 | 1 |
| 1998 Sierra 1500 | 59 | 2 |
| 1997 Sierra 1500 | 83 | 3 |
| 1996 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 Sierra 1500 | 3 | 0 |
See all GMC Sierra 1500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners most often report air bags, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 243 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.