GMC Sierra 2500 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 291 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the GMC Sierra 2500 across 28 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (48). The words owners use most often: “trailer brake” (7% of reports).
- 291electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $790typical repair cost reported by owners
- 59%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Trailer brake: mentioned in 20 of 291 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the GMC Sierra 2500 at $790, and half of them between $710 and $910.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2021), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 176 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 291 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 28 a fire, 2 an injury.
GMC Sierra 2500 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 30% | 9,000 |
| 2025 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2024 Sierra 2500 | 33 | 31% | 8,000 |
| 2023 Sierra 2500 | 5 | 16% | 33,000 |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | 12 | 28% | 55,163 |
| 2021 Sierra 2500 | 6 | 12% | — |
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | 13 | 17% | 4,706 |
| 2019 Sierra 2500 | 9 | 28% | 87,000 |
| 2018 Sierra 2500 | 7 | 20% | 28,000 |
| 2017 Sierra 2500 | 6 | 16% | 30,000 |
| 2016 Sierra 2500 | 9 | 15% | 30,000 |
| 2015 Sierra 2500 | 11 | 12% | 115,000 |
| 2014 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 13% | 22,795 |
| 2013 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 7% | 79,530 |
| 2012 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 13% | 67,000 |
| 2011 Sierra 2500 | 9 | 14% | 10,050 |
| 2009 Sierra 2500 | 7 | 23% | 52,100 |
| 2008 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 5% | 153,880 |
| 2007 Sierra 2500 | 5 | 6% | 56,000 |
| 2006 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 6% | 52,900 |
| 2005 Sierra 2500 | 42 | 37% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Sierra 2500 | 48 | 34% | 56,000 |
| 2003 Sierra 2500 | 36 | 23% | 92,000 |
| 2002 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2001 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 3% | 99,750 |
| 2000 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 6% | 75,000 |
| 1999 Sierra 2500 | 2 | 6% | 100,000 |
| 1998 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 7% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle experienced a loss of engine power accompanied by a check engine warning light and a âReduced Accelerationâ/reduced-power condition. The exact component causing the malfunction has not yet been determined. The vehicle and any affected components are available for inspection upon…
driving down the road going to and intersection the dash says I received a Service ESC message followed by a Reduced Acceleration warning on the center display. I also had the forward collision, traction control and check engine lights come on. I also noticed the shudder/jerk. The truck is giving a…
When I try to start my truck it comes up as service trailer brake control module and it has caused my truck battery to drain so I cant even crank my truck up.
My 2025 GMC Sierra 2500 experienced repeated electrical failures that caused complete battery drainage and multiple overnight noâstart conditions within the first year of ownership. These failures occurred in extreme desert heat, where temperatures in [XXX] reach 120°F. A vehicle that repeatedly…
The contact called on behalf of an insurer who owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that 15 minutes after the vehicle was parked and turned off, a neighbor informed the owner that the vehicle had caught on fire. The owner and the neighbor extinguished the fire using water hoses. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Sierra 2500s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 291 owner complaints about electrical system for the GMC Sierra 2500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the GMC Sierra 2500 electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the GMC Sierra 2500?
Owners report a typical cost of $790 (half paid between $710 and $910), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the GMC Sierra 2500?
The most frequent phrase is “trailer brake”, in 20 of 291 complaints.
Other GMC Sierra 2500 problems
- Service Brakes problems (252)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (238)
- Power Train problems (202)
- Air Bags problems (169)
- Steering problems (132)
- Engine problems (128)
See all GMC Sierra 2500 problems.