GMC Sierra 3500
Owners filed 572 complaints across 31 model years of the GMC Sierra 3500. The 2020 drew the most (51); the 1996 the fewest (1).
Model years31
Complaints572
Recalls111
Fires17
Deaths1
Every GMC Sierra 3500 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 2 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2025 | 16 | 1 | — | — | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2024 | 44 | 3 | 1 | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2023 | 28 | 1 | — | 5 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2022 | 31 | 3 | — | 3 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2021 | 20 | 5 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2020 | 51 | 8 | 2 | 4 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2019 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2018 | 14 | 6 | — | — | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2017 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2016 | 19 | 6 | — | — | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2015 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 1 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2014 | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2013 | 14 | 4 | — | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2012 | 9 | 4 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2011 | 20 | 5 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2010 | 2 | 5 | — | — | Steering | Routine | |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | — | — | Tires | Routine | |
| 2008 | 25 | 3 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2007 | 16 | 3 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2005 | 24 | 1 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2004 | 24 | 1 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2003 | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2002 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2001 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 2000 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 3 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fatalities reported | |
| 1999 | 19 | 3 | — | 1 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1998 | 12 | 4 | 2 | — | Tires › Tread/Belt | Routine | |
| 1997 | 10 | 3 | — | 4 | Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly | Routine | |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine |
Which GMC Sierra 3500 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2020 is the weakest year on record, with 51 complaints concentrated in the power train. It carries 8 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.