2008 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 2500 years
- More complaints than other years 11th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500. That ranks 11th out of 30 Sierra 2500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (39 complaints, 62%), typically at around 75,000 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 63owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 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 | 39 | 62% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 14% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 6% | 72,658 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 5% | 153,880 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 5% | 71,800 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 3% | 3,532 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 3% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% | 81,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 205,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | 1,935 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 159,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 5 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls (3)
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 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. 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 front passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-866-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N192290990.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD trucks manufactured November 28, 2006, to August 29, 2008, and 2007-2008 GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD trucks manufactured November 27, 2006, to August 29, 2008. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's numbers for this recall are 15438 and 15817.
Electrical system
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.
Risk: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14260.
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 curtain airbags on both the passenger and driver side deployed while driving down the road. The truck is available for inspection although the deployed bags have been cut off in order to drive it home. Pictures were taken before doing so and are available for inspection. My son is pretty shaken…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while researching the history of the vehicle it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 166,521 and while researching…
High speed collision with a cement truck destroyed most of the front portion of the vehicle. Neither passenger nor driver airbag deployed and seat belts did not lock up, injuring the driver. No warning lights indicating an airbag problem appeared prior to crash. The vehicle is now impounded at…
A year or so after recievinv my airbag recall service, my dash started cracking. It started at the passenger side airbag. It is now cracked in other places and rattles constantly while in motion. I feel this is a safety hazard. I've yet to see a gmc/chevy from 2007.5-14 that this is not a problem…
Steering column seperated at the tilt column pivot joint. Total steering lost. The collapsible column section allowed the pivot joint retention to dissengage also slide toward engine compartment. There are two set screws, that work loose (google search of issue resulted in lots of documented…
Other GMC Sierra 2500 years
← 2007 Sierra 2500 · 2009 Sierra 2500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 Sierra 2500 | 28 | 1 |
| 2024 Sierra 2500 | 106 | 4 |
| 2023 Sierra 2500 | 33 | 1 |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | 43 | 3 |
| 2021 Sierra 2500 | 52 | 6 |
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | 78 | 9 |
| 2019 Sierra 2500 | 32 | 7 |
| 2018 Sierra 2500 | 35 | 5 |
| 2017 Sierra 2500 | 37 | 6 |
| 2016 Sierra 2500 | 59 | 6 |
| 2015 Sierra 2500 | 89 | 6 |
| 2014 Sierra 2500 | 30 | 2 |
| 2013 Sierra 2500 | 46 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 3 |
| 2011 Sierra 2500 | 63 | 4 |
| 2010 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 5 |
| 2009 Sierra 2500 | 31 | 5 |
| 2008 | 63 | 3 |
| 2007 Sierra 2500 | 83 | 3 |
| 2006 Sierra 2500 | 66 | 1 |
| 2005 Sierra 2500 | 115 | 1 |
| 2004 Sierra 2500 | 143 | 1 |
| 2003 Sierra 2500 | 160 | 0 |
| 2002 Sierra 2500 | 134 | 1 |
| 2001 Sierra 2500 | 134 | 2 |
| 2000 Sierra 2500 | 48 | 1 |
| 1999 Sierra 2500 | 36 | 0 |
| 1998 Sierra 2500 | 15 | 1 |
| 1997 Sierra 2500 | 14 | 2 |
See all GMC Sierra 2500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500?
Owners most often report air bags, unknown or other, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 39 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 2500 model years, the 2008 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.