GMC Sierra Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 343 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the GMC Sierra across 18 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (140). The words owners use most often: “windshield wipers” (55% of reports).
- 343visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $310typical repair cost reported by owners
- 64%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.
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 189 of 343 complaints (55%)
- Work intermittently: mentioned in 49 of 343 complaints (14%)
- Wiper motor: mentioned in 35 of 343 complaints (10%)
- Causing poor: mentioned in 24 of 343 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the GMC Sierra at $310, and half of them between $240 and $760.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2005), 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 visibility problems happen?
Based on 63 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 343 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 1 an injury.
GMC Sierra visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sierra | 1 | 2% | 97,000 |
| 2016 Sierra | 1 | 17% | 64,000 |
| 2015 Sierra | 1 | 2% | 152,000 |
| 2012 Sierra | 1 | 3% | 25,371 |
| 2010 Sierra | 2 | 6% | 25,325 |
| 2007 Sierra | 2 | 3% | 60,132 |
| 2006 Sierra | 2 | 4% | 97,500 |
| 2005 Sierra | 2 | 2% | 132,000 |
| 2004 Sierra | 7 | 4% | 34,750 |
| 2003 Sierra | 2 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2002 Sierra | 6 | 2% | 33,500 |
| 2001 Sierra | 5 | 2% | 96,650 |
| 2000 Sierra | 13 | 3% | 47,000 |
| 1999 Sierra | 18 | 3% | 79,700 |
| 1998 Sierra | 32 | 17% | 80,000 |
| 1997 Sierra | 24 | 10% | 85,066 |
| 1996 Sierra | 84 | 34% | 71,000 |
| 1995 Sierra | 140 | 54% | 87,072 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Visibility:windshield
Model years: 2003
Problem: Certain pickup trucks fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." some of these vehicles lack a continuous urethane bonding bead between the body surface and the windshield.
Risk: In vehicles with this condition, the windshield may not be retained in accordance with the safety standard during a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove, reseal, and reinstall the windshield. Owner notification began on january 28, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Model years: 1995, 1996
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Risk: This condition can result in inoperative wipers, reducing a driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed with the defroster activated, a smoke odor was detected inside the vehicle. The contact's wife checked the rearview mirror and saw flames coming from the rear windshield. The contact's…
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that when doing the initial start, the rear of the vehicle began smoking and caught on fire. The contact turned off the vehicle and the fire settled however shortly after the rear window fractured. There were no injuries and no medical…
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road…
On or about that date, driving about 25 miles on rural roads at speeds from 45 to 55 mph, the dampness in the air caused condensation haze to form on the inside of the window. I turned on the defrosters which cleared off the drivers side window so i could see but the passengers side never cleared…
The heating and ac controls were replaced 2 times in 2007.and are still not working properly today i was driving home with the ac on because it's 99 degrees in los angeles county and like it has been doing for years it started blowing hot air on its own. I have see other gm vehicles with the same…
Frequently asked questions
Do all GMC Sierras have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 343 owner complaints about visibility for the GMC Sierra. 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 visibility?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the GMC Sierra?
Owners report a typical cost of $310 (half paid between $240 and $760), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the GMC Sierra?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield wipers”, in 189 of 343 complaints, followed by “work intermittently” (49).
Other GMC Sierra problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (954)
- Service Brakes problems (304)
- Power Train problems (293)
- Steering problems (248)
- Electrical System problems (241)
- Air Bags problems (193)
- Structure problems (193)
- Suspension problems (160)
See all GMC Sierra problems.