Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 126,498. It was later discovered that the mileage on the title was approximately 250,205.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THEN SUDDENLY THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEATER WIRES THAT HAD A CONNECTOR THAT HAD BURNED THE WIRES ON BOTH ENDS OF THE CONNECTOR. THE RELAY OR THE BOIL MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER (MOORE BUICK GMC 2445 N MARINE BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546, (910) 455-1414) WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE TWO WIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND ICON ARE SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE WARNING COMES ON EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE.
POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTANTLY. THIS POSES A SAFTEY CONCERNE AS THE LOCKS SOMETIMES WILL NOT AUTO LOCK WHEN PUT IN GEAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE VENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO A SHOULDER LANE WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE BEGAN TO CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WIRES WERE VISIBLE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED A CASE FOR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
RADIO PLAYS SOME DAYS AND THAN SOMETIMES IT PLAYS NORMAL, BACKUP SAFTEY BEEPS YOU CANNOT HEAR IT, BUZZARD FOR KEYS LEFT IN THE IGNITION, YOU CANNOT HEAR IT. THE WAS STATIONARY
LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE BURNED 5 QUARTS OF OIL IN UNDER 3000 MILES. 105K MILES ON 5.3 LITER V8. DEALER SAID TYPICAL FOR THIS ENGINE TO HAVE CARBON BUILDUP AND NEEDS NEW PISTON RINGS AND PISTONS. ALSO DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED AND WINDOW SWITCHES.
ALL FOUR POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED. FIRST THREE FAILED BEFORE REACHING 30000 MILES. DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ARGUED WITH THEM, BY THE TIME MY TRUCK HAD 50000 MILES ALL FOUR HAD FAILED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE. GM WANTS $300 PER DOOR TO REPAIR. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THEM $1200 FOR SOMETHING I PAID FOR WITH THE PRICE OF THE TRUCK.
A LIGHT FLICKERS ON OCCASION THAT LOOKS LIKE A AIRBAG WARNING. IT DOES NOT STAY ON LONG OR OFTEN.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,518.
MY DASHBOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS EXPOSING THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE DASH. THESE CRACKS ARE IN VARIOUS PLACES ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND IT IS CURRENTLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DASH) I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO BE DEPLOYED THE PLASTIC DASHBOARD WOULD EXPLODE AND EXPOSE MY PASSENGERS OR MYSELF TO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY DASH BOARD IS NOW EXPOSED TO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. I AM FILING THIS INCIDENT WITH THE HOPES THAT IT WILL HELP A RECALL TO BE ISSUED. I NOTICED THE FIRST SMALL CRACK IN 2011. I HAVE KEPT AN EYE ON IT OVER THE YEARS AND AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE EXPOSED OPENINGS IN THE DASH IN SEVERAL PLACES. UNTIL TODAY, I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN UNLUCKY, HOWEVER AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT IS APPARENT THAT I AM NOT ALONE, AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED UNDER A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO FILE THIS REPORT ON MY BEHALF. FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS NEEDED. BEST REGARDS. *TR
FRONT AIR BAG IMPACT SENSORS CORRODED AND DID NOT DEPLOY AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT
MY SERVICE MAN WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AT STORE WHEN AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND SEAT BELTS LOCKED. HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT. THEY SAID YES , BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. WE COULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IF NECESSARY. THE BILL WAS $1413.89. (PARTS $798.00--LABOR 562.59 TAX 48.19). WE HAD TO GET IT FIXED AS IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT SEAT BELTS (OR AIR BAGS). WE FEEL THESE ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS AN D WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICHLE!!!! THANKS
JAN 2015 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. ALSO JUNE OF 2015 THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED ACTING UP. PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK NOW THE DRIVER DOOR IS ACTING UP ALSO... MANY COMPLAINTS SEEN ON BOTH THESE CONCERNS.
POWER SURGE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM... VOLTAGE METER WILL DROP BELOW 9 VOLTS THEN THE FOLLOWING OCCURS: HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, RADIO SHUTS OFF, CLIMATE CONTROL SHUTS OFF, DASH LIGHTS FLICKER, AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES, SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING POPS UP, AND TRUCK STALLS OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AND IF THIS IS ELECTRICAL MAY CAUSE FIRE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS AT ANYTIME FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON REGARDLESS OF WEATHER/TEMPERATURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
3 OF MY 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED. BOTH REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED EXCEPT MANUALLY FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. REACHING OVER THE SEAT TO UNLOCK A CHILD'S DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD. IN MY OPINION, GMC SHOULD STEP UP AN ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER DISPLAY WAS DIM AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE CONTACT ADJUSTED THE DIMMER SWITCH, DID NOT IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY FOR ALL OF THE OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS EXCEPT THE ODOMETER READING. THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO REMEDY WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 08/12/14*LJ
THE THREE PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK SIMULTANEOUSLY I UNDERSTAND A TSB HAS BEEN SENT TO DEALERS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE ,AND SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL ONLY LOCK/UNLOCK MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PROBLEM IS A FAILED DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. IT WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR KEY FOB AND THERE IS NO KEYHOLE EXCEPT ON DRIVERS DOOR. THIS IS MY SECOND GMC VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED OR GMC HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WOULDN'T YOU CONSIDER A DOOR THAT DOES NOT LOCK/UNLOCK THE INTENDED WAY A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
ON 04.12.2014 AFTER GOING TO THE STORE, PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT. THE TIME WAS 10PM. WHILE INSIDE HEARD A POP SOUND AROUND 10:15 PM. WENT OUTSIDE AND THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT FROM UNDER THE CARPORT, TRYING TO SAVE DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE. FIRE DEPT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE WARPED ALL THE VINYL UNDER THE CARPORT. LUCKY IT DIDN'T CATCH THE HOUSE ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS WORSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TT
PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING FIRST. AFTER 6 MONTHS OR SO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING ALSO. THEN WITHIN MONTHS AFTER THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK FAILING BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS QUIT WORKING WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. NOW NONE OF THE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY OR WHEN THE LOCK BUTTON IS PUSHED. *TR
RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK INTERMITTENT LOCKING. CAR ALARM WILL SET AND VEHICLE WILL START WITHOUT THE DOOR LOCKING. *TR
ALL FOUR OF MY TRUCKS DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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