GMC Sierra 2500 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the GMC Sierra 2500 across 25 model years. The 2024 model year has the most (12). The words owners use most often: “exhaust manifold” (10% of reports).
- 128engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 42%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.
- Exhaust manifold: mentioned in 13 of 128 complaints (10%)
- Diesel engine: mentioned in 7 of 128 complaints (5%)
- Fuel injector: mentioned in 7 of 128 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 71 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 128 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 2 an injury.
GMC Sierra 2500 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2025 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 14% | 600 |
| 2024 Sierra 2500 | 12 | 11% | 12,760 |
| 2023 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 9% | — |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 9% | — |
| 2021 Sierra 2500 | 8 | 15% | 66,000 |
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | 10 | 13% | 2,800 |
| 2019 Sierra 2500 | 6 | 19% | 15,000 |
| 2018 Sierra 2500 | 8 | 23% | 5,641 |
| 2017 Sierra 2500 | 6 | 16% | 54,900 |
| 2016 Sierra 2500 | 9 | 15% | 7,180 |
| 2015 Sierra 2500 | 7 | 8% | 67,097 |
| 2014 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 10% | 45,000 |
| 2013 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2012 Sierra 2500 | 3 | 10% | 78,500 |
| 2011 Sierra 2500 | 5 | 8% | 155,000 |
| 2010 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 10% | 77,000 |
| 2009 Sierra 2500 | 2 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 2008 Sierra 2500 | 4 | 6% | 72,658 |
| 2007 Sierra 2500 | 1 | 1% | 83,000 |
| 2005 Sierra 2500 | 5 | 4% | 60,062 |
| 2004 Sierra 2500 | 9 | 6% | 50,000 |
| 2003 Sierra 2500 | 6 | 4% | 124,000 |
| 2002 Sierra 2500 | 2 | 1% | 190 |
| 2001 Sierra 2500 | 8 | 6% | 84,150 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.
Engine
Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.
Risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
Fix: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500. While the contact's husband was driving uphill approximately 32 - 34 MPH and hauling a trailer, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power and rolled backwards. The brake pedal was depressed, and the parking brake was engaged to stop the vehicle. OnStar and…
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…
On 07/10/2026 at approximately 1:10 a.m., the parked and unoccupied vehicle caught fire while turned off. The vehicle had not been driven for several hours. A neighbor was awakened by the horn/alarm and popping noises, observed fire near the passenger-side cab/engine area, and called 911. The fire…
I am reporting repeated failures involving both the transmission and diesel emissions (DEF) system on my 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali equipped with the 6.6L Duramax diesel engine and Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. While under warranty, the truck required replacement of the aftertreatment…
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Sierra 2500s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 128 owner complaints about engine 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 engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine problems on the GMC Sierra 2500?
The most frequent phrase is “exhaust manifold”, in 13 of 128 complaints, followed by “diesel engine” (7).
Other GMC Sierra 2500 problems
- Electrical System problems (292)
- Service Brakes problems (252)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (238)
- Power Train problems (202)
- Air Bags problems (169)
- Steering problems (132)
See all GMC Sierra 2500 problems.