RoadVitals

2009 GMC Sierra 2500 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.
8
Latest Jan 27, 2025
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.
26%
of 31 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.
1
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 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 27, 2025

When I am driving in town I have an indication message that comes up and says engine power reduced

NHTSA ID
11638925
Incident
Jan 27, 2025
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 25, 2019

RECEIVING A "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE WHILE IN MOTION ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT TOW\HAUL MODE ENGAGED. THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE #14515 ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE NHTSA SITE SAYS THAT ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. WHAT AM I TO DO?

NHTSA ID
11234837
Incident
Aug 9, 2018
Mileage
73,900 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2016

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT WORK OR ONLY PARTIALLY WORK AT TIMES. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK AND SOME TIMES IT HALF ENGAGES SO THE DOOR CAN BE HALF WAY OPENED, BUT THE LATCH IS STILL ENGAGED SO IT CANNOT BE OPENED ALL THE WAY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DOOR WILL NOT BE LOCKED WHEN I THINK IT IS IF I DEPEND ON THE ELECTRIC LOCK. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR THE ELECTRIC BUTTON ON THE INTERIOR IF IT'S NOT WORKING, NEITHER OPERATE THE LOCK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THEFT OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS, OR WORSE, MY ENTIRE VEHICLE IF THE ACTUATOR DOES NOT LOCK THE DOOR AS INTENDED. IF THE ELECTRONIC PORTION DOESN'T WORK AND I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING WHILE LOCKED, I MUST USE THE KEYLESS ENTRY TO UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS AND ENTER THE VEHICLE VIA ANOTHER DOOR AND REACH OVER TO MANUALLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT THE OTHERS WILL STOP WORKING AS THE DRIVER DOOR HAS AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE. THESE SCENARIOS HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING, AFTER A SHORT OR LONG DRIVE AS WELL. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY TIME THAT YOU ARE SAFE FROM IT NOT OCCURRING.

NHTSA ID
10904473
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
106,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2015

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED INTERNALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. SWITCH WILL NOT ROTATE TO THE START POSITION. STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS NOT ENGAGING (FAILED). IGNITION TONE NOTIFYING THAT THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION IS NO LONGER WORKING (WAS INITIALLY).

NHTSA ID
10721088
Incident
May 22, 2015
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 30, 2015
Crash reported

I HAVE A 2009 GMC SEIRRA AND IT SHUTS OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.AND I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS.MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT.AND OF COURSE IT STARTED HAPPENING 2-MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702507
Incident
Nov 20, 2014
Mileage
45,296 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 10, 2014

AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING. THE LOCK DOES NOT OPERATE WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FUNCTION OR THE KEYPAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ALSO QUIT WORKING. THIS IS A HIGHLY UNSAFE SITUATION ON MANY SCALES ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE NO KEYHOLES ON THOSE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653772
Incident
Oct 11, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 4, 2014

I HAVE A 2009 GMC SIERRA 2500 WITH 70,000 MILES. AT 39,200 MILES, THE ACTUATOR ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED. THEN AT ABOUT 46,000 MILES THE ACTUATOR ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED. MY DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHICH CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF THE REAR DOOR LOCK BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED BY THE DRIVER WITHOUT EXITING THE VEHICLE AND CRAWLING THROUGH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF YOU DON'T MANUALLY LOCK THE REAR DOOR, A YOUNG CHILD COULD OPEN THE UNLOCKED DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; BUT IF YOU MANUALLY LOCK THE REAR DOOR, YOU CANNOT GET A CHILD OUT QUICKLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS THE LOCK WITHOUT CRAWLING THROUGH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURES SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2009 GENERAL MOTORS TRUCKS. MY FATHER ALSO HAS A 2009 GMC SIERRA 2500, AND ONE OF THE FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON IT. I HAD A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 TRUCK FOR USE BY MY STAFF AND ONE OF THE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON IT. A FRIEND HAS A 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, AND ONE FRONT AND ONE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED ON HIS VEHICLE. AND, A GOOGLE SEARCH LED ME TO MANY POSTINGS AND COMPLAINTS RELATED TO DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURES ON 2009 GENERAL MOTORS TRUCKS AND SUVS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONVINCE MY GM DEALER TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT - THEIR ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE TWO ACTUATORS IS APPROXIMATELY $800.00 WHICH I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10630865
Incident
Oct 2, 2012
Mileage
39,200 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 1, 2012

I HAVE A 2009 GMC SIERRA 2500 WITH 39,200 MILES. MY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING, SO MY DOOR NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I NOTED ON-LINE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN GMC TRUCKS, TAHOES, AND SUBURBANS - AND I EVEN HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GM TRUCKS. BECAUSE THIS IS SO VERY COMMON, AND TO ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT SEEMS LIKE GM SHOULD BE ADDRESSING THIS. I INQUIRED WITH THE DEALER, AND THE COST FOR A SINGLE DOOR LOCK IS WELL OVER $200. BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN READING, I CAN EXPECT THE REMAINING LOCKS TO GO OUT OVER TIME. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I BELIEVE IT IS AFFECTING MANY OTHERS AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10473261
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
37,500 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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .