Avoid: 2008, 2007 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2018
16 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 18 model years, the GMC Sierra 3500HD has 1,524 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 84 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and electrical system. 2008 drew the most complaints (471), 2019 the fewest of the years on the road 3+ years (13).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for GMC Sierra 3500HD vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $31,518–$55,636.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2023 | 28 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2020 | 45 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2017 | 74 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2015 | 89 |
| 2014 | 108 |
| 2013 | 53 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2011 | 63 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2008 | 471 |
| 2007 | 359 |
Highest: 2008 (471 complaints). Lowest: 2019 (13).
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on model year and powertrain.
Valve body and control module failures, parts on national backorder, affects newer models (2020+).
Issues with lifters, cam phasers, and crankshafts mentioned in the context of GM full-size trucks; diesel injector failure and smoking on high-mileage older Duramax engines.
Intermittent issues causing doors to lock/unlock, airbag/stabilitrak lights, instrument panel resets, and engine power loss (2013 model); specific problem with negative battery cable causing a short (2013 model); park assist/exhaust brake button backlight failure (2013 model).
Fake leather seat material peeling, tailgate liner popping, tailgate button failures on newer high-trim (e.g., Denali) models.
Mentioned in a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) dating to 2018, present on a 2023 model, described as a persistent noise at idle that the dealer acknowledged but did not fix.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Sierra 3500HD. Individual model years are broken down above.
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