RoadVitals

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 7, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 167 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 7, 2023

Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the side of the road. We pulled over and thankfully they missed hitting one another. We just couldn't speed up to get out of their way. We cant believe their hasnt been a safety recall on the TCM for these trucks. GMC started doing Service bulletins in 2013 about the TCM causing the limp mode issues. There are dedicated facebook groups with over a 1,000 followers who are experiencing the same issues with these TCM's. Someone is going to die if they havent already. Several collisions, involving the years affected, are being re-investigated to determine why the vehicle slowed abruptly causing a fatal accident. A class action lawsuit is gaining momentum because GM will not do anything about the TCM.

NHTSA ID
11543308
Incident
Jan 9, 2023
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2023

TCM. Yes it's available for inspection. It failed causing my truck to just lock the brakes up in the middle of the road almost causing an accident. Causing driver and passenger risk of Injury

NHTSA ID
11540416
Incident
Jul 1, 2023
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2023

The transmission control module failed while towing my trailer. I had my family loaded in the truck and the failure happened in a busy intersection, nearly causing several accidents as I was unable to move the vehicle. Now I’m told that these TCM’s are on back order with no repair date known. My truck has already been down for a month now and I’m told this could be up to a year waiting for the part. I’m told that there are thousands of these on back order and GM is doing nothing to fix it. This is inexcusably dangerous. These modules have an unprecedented failure rate and give no warning on when they will fail as they are an electronic component. You could be left stranded in an extremely dangerous intersection like I was with my family with no way to move, or on some dark canyon road. This issue must be addressed! GM needs to take on the responsibility and accountability to ensure that these TCMs are replaced with a reliable part. Trucks from 2007-2015 are all susceptible to failure. That is a massive amount of vehicles! Help us get this problem fixed!

NHTSA ID
11536012
Incident
Jul 1, 2023
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 31, 2020

MY DASH HAD 4 CRACKS IN IT. THE PART COVERING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS VERY IN SAFE

NHTSA ID
11385748
Incident
Jun 10, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, THE TACHOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES BECAME INOPERABLE, AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ADDITIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL WIRE WAS REMOVED FROM THE BATTERY AND REPLACED, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11208055
Incident
May 15, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2018

PERSISTENT BURNING OF HEADLIGHT BULBS. NUMEROUS HEADLIGHT BULB CHANGES, WIRING CHANGED, HOUSING CHANGED, AND LIGHT CONTINUES TO BURN OUT. NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL REPORTING THE SAME OCCURRENCE. VERY TIME CONSUMING, COSTLY, AND IRRITATING ESPECIALLY WHEN COPS BECOME INVOLVED AND HAND OUT TICKETS.

NHTSA ID
11060814
Incident
Jan 5, 2018
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 6, 2017

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF THEN TURNS BACK ON RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING DOOR LOCKS POP UP AND DOWN. VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER

NHTSA ID
11013057
Incident
Jun 2, 2017
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO YATES BUICK GMC (13845 W TEST DR, GOODYEAR, AZ 85338) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CRIMPED WIRE LEADING TO THE AIR BAG HAD CAUSED A SHORT, AND THE WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR, THE AIR BAG WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAG AT A REDUCED COST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,500.

NHTSA ID
11001941
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
58,500 mi
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Jan 26, 2017

THE 2010 GMC SIERRA LD 1500 HAD MULTIPLE PREMATURE FAILURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WERE PERTAINING TO THE RADIO ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTERNAL SHORT FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL AND THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRONIC FUNCTION PANEL. MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE, A FAILURE PROGRESSED IN WHICH THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE FUNCTION BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS AND UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTION PANEL UNLESS USING THE KEY FOB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE REAR PASSENGERS MAY WIND THE WINDOWS DOWN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER WAS ONLY ABLE TO WIND THE WINDOW DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE AUX FUNCTION SHORTED PREMATURELY SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ATTACH A DEVICE, IT MAY OR MAY NOT CONNECT DUE TO AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH IT MAY NOT RECOGNIZE THE DEVICE (PHONE, MP3, TABLET OR IPAD/IPOD). AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSED FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND UPON A MECHANICS INSPECTION, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SWITCH PANEL AND RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON THE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THERE WAS ALSO PROGRESSION OF PREMATURE RUST UNDER THE FRAME IN WHICH THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED COATING THE FRAME TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER RUSTING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10948308
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 2015

HOOKED UP A TRAILER (FIRST TIME EVER), DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, CHECKED FUSES, FOUND A MELTED FUSE. FOUND A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT IS VIN SPECIFIC AND VIN IS NOT COVERED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND REPORTED PROBLEM TO GMC, WAS TOLD TO REPORT IT HERE. ALSO FOUND A VIN SPECIFIC RECALL FOR THE DRIVER CONTROL BUTTON FOR THE PASSENGER WINDOW (SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T) AND AGAIN THIS VIN IS NOT COVERED.

NHTSA ID
10807487
Incident
Nov 2, 2015
Mileage
91,986 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .