RoadVitals

2015 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.
11
Latest Jan 26, 2026
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.
12%
of 89 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.
3
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 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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

Electrical
Filed Jan 26, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 189,458 and the contact stated he discovered on Carfax that mileage was 188,052; however, the contact discovered that the mileage was 112,708.

NHTSA ID
11713486
Incident
Aug 10, 2023
Mileage
189,458 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 26, 2024

Electric trailer brake control modular is malfunctioning on my 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500. Multiple of sources told me this is a common problem with this generation of GMC.

NHTSA ID
11604778
Incident
May 1, 2024
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 2022

Water intrusion from antenna ran down into my wires causing corrosion in my electrical harness. Truck will throw code p2138 and go into reduced power mode. Very dangerous when you are in traffic. Truck will not go over 15mph when this happens. This has been a problem intermittently since I have owned the truck at 119000 miles . Gotten progressively worse.

NHTSA ID
11490387
Incident
Oct 21, 2022
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2022
Fire reported

I was driving down the road after turning on the rear window defrost. The cab of the truck filled with smoke billowing from the back seat. I pulled over and turned the truck off. I got into the back seat to try to identify what was on fire, and noticed the lines of the rear window defrost system were actually smoldering. Then one of the rear windshield panels exploded in my face. Upon reading online, it looks like a recall was issued for this same problem in Canada but not the USA.

NHTSA ID
11489877
Incident
Oct 18, 2022
Electrical
Filed Dec 13, 2021
Fire reported

I turned on my rear defroster. I smelled electrical burning and rear window shattered with my 6 month old in the back seat in her car seat. GM states there is a recall which can be referenced as N192220470. Speaking with customer service and dealership the recall is VIN specific and my vehicle is not included in the recall even though the year and make is listed in the recall. Very dangerous, especially when there are passengers in the back seat of the vehicle

NHTSA ID
11443574
Incident
Dec 11, 2021
Electrical
Filed Jul 14, 2021

At various intervals, all four door lock actuators have failed. first rear door failures occurred in July 2020. Front door lock actuators began failing Spring of 2021. Rear lock actuators were repaired at a contested (I was charged for 3 hours labor when truck was on site for two) cost of $801.86.

NHTSA ID
11424839
Incident
Jul 28, 2020
Electrical
Filed Jun 15, 2021

The display of the intellink system acts erratic and eventually freezes up. It happens in all modes ( map, radio, phone, ….). The only way to reset is shut the truck off. GMC knows of the problem but their only solution is replace the radio and or replace the touch panel. This can be a safety issue but I take my eyes off the road to try and get the display to work.

NHTSA ID
11420961
Incident
Aug 18, 2018
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2021

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER OR REMOTE STARTING THE VEHICLE. IN JAN OF 2020, THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENT (N192265660). I HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED ON 6/18/20 (SEE ATTACHED WORK ORDER). ON 02/11/21 I WAS RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. ON 02/13/21 I REMOTE STARTED THE VEHICLE TO LET IT WARM UP (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY). UPON ENTRY OF THE INTO THE VEHICLE I SMELLED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURNING WIRES. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE GLASS ON THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED (SEE PICTURES). I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING AS EXPECTED FOLLOWING A REMOTE START. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE REAR DEFROSTER OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR YEARS I RAN THIS DEFROSTER WITH NO ISSUE. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO PREVENT ANY THERMAL EVENT FROM OCCURRING. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY, OR THE RECALL FIX CREATED A NEW THERMAL EVENT. THE BURNING WIRES AND SHATTERING GLASS WERE A FEW OF THE INDICATORS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I PLAN TO CONTACT GM FOR A WAY AHEAD.

NHTSA ID
11396621
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 2021

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER OR REMOTE STARTING THE VEHICLE. IN JAN OF 2020, THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENT (N192265660). I HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED ON 6/18/20 (SEE ATTACHED WORK ORDER). ON 02/11/21 I WAS RUNNING THE REAR DEFROSTER AND HEARD A CRACKLING SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. ON 02/13/21 I REMOTE STARTED THE VEHICLE TO LET IT WARM UP (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY). UPON ENTRY OF THE INTO THE VEHICLE I SMELLED WHAT APPEARED TO BE BURNING WIRES. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE GLASS ON THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED (SEE PICTURES). I LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING AS EXPECTED FOLLOWING A REMOTE START. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE REAR DEFROSTER OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT FOR YEARS I RAN THIS DEFROSTER WITH NO ISSUE. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER TO PREVENT ANY THERMAL EVENT FROM OCCURRING. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER THE RECALL WAS NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY, OR THE RECALL FIX CREATED A NEW THERMAL EVENT. THE BURNING WIRES AND SHATTERING GLASS WERE A FEW OF THE INDICATORS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I PLAN TO CONTACT GM FOR A WAY AHEAD.

NHTSA ID
11396619
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
115,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 13, 2019
Fire reported

ON 5/12/19 THE CHECK BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, SO I LEFT OUT SIDE FACING STREET IN CASE I HAD TO JUMP TO TAKE TO DEALER ON MONDAY. I WENT IN THE HOUSE AND 1/2 HOUR LATER HEARD AND EXPLOSION AND WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
11207167
Incident
May 12, 2019
Mileage
60,194 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 18, 2019

WATER STEADILY DRIPPING THROUGH THE SUN VISOR BAR THAT MOUNTS TO INTERIOR OF ROOF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN RAINING/SNOWING TODAY. DOES NOT MATTER IF YOUR DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. ELECTRICAL WIRES RUN THROUGH THIS BAR POSING A FIRE HAZARD. GM REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE.

NHTSA ID
11180933
Incident
Feb 18, 2019
Mileage
97,149 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .