GMC Sierra 2500 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,822 owner complaints and 47 safety recalls on file for the GMC Sierra 2500, across 30 model years (1997–2026). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (160). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
GMC Sierra 2500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sierra 2500 year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2024. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Sierra 2500: 160 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Sierra 2500: 143 complaints, 1 recall
- 2002 Sierra 2500: 134 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 Sierra 2500: 10 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2026 Sierra 2500: 10 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 Sierra 2500: 14 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common GMC Sierra 2500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 291 | 28 | 2 |
| Service Brakes problems | 252 | 26 | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 238 | 15 | 16 |
| Power Train problems | 202 | 27 | 7 |
| Air Bags problems | 169 | 24 | 29 |
| Steering problems | 132 | 25 | 10 |
| Engine problems | 128 | 25 | 2 |
| Structure | 93 | 21 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81 | 17 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 77 | 22 | 1 |
| Tires | 76 | 25 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 65 | 18 | 1 |
| Suspension | 39 | 18 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 38 | 17 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 37 | 18 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 29 | 13 | 0 |
| Equipment | 24 | 11 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 15 | 7 |
| Wheels | 23 | 13 | 1 |
| Visibility | 22 | 14 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 15 | 9 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 13 | 9 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Communication | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All GMC Sierra 2500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Sierra 2500 | 28 | 1 | — | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Sierra 2500 | 106 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2023 Sierra 2500 | 32 | 1 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | 43 | 3 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 Sierra 2500 | 52 | 6 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | 77 | 9 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Sierra 2500 | 32 | 7 | 4★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Sierra 2500 | 35 | 5 | 4★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Sierra 2500 | 37 | 6 | 4★ | Service Brakes | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Sierra 2500 | 59 | 6 | 4★ | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Sierra 2500 | 89 | 6 | 4★ | Exterior Lighting | More complaints than other years |
| 2014 Sierra 2500 | 30 | 2 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Sierra 2500 | 46 | 3 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 3 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 Sierra 2500 | 63 | 4 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 5 | — | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 5 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Sierra 2500 | 63 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 Sierra 2500 | 83 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 Sierra 2500 | 66 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Sierra 2500 | 115 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Sierra 2500 | 143 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Sierra 2500 | 160 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Sierra 2500 | 134 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Sierra 2500 | 134 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Sierra 2500 | 48 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Sierra 2500 | 36 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Sierra 2500 | 15 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Sierra 2500 | 14 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from GMC: all GMC models · GMC VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra 2500 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (134), 2002 (134), 2003 (160), 2004 (143), 2005 (115), 2024 (106) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sierra 2500 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the GMC Sierra 2500?
Electrical System, with 291 complaints across 28 model years.
How many recalls does the GMC Sierra 2500 have?
47 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.