2007 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 GMC Sierra 3500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags736.8%
- Brakes315.8%
- Engine315.8%
- Electrical210.5%
- Body & structure15.3%
- Powertrain (other)15.3%
- Suspension15.3%
- Transmission15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2007 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V324000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
DASH CRACKS AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG AND OVER DRIVER DISPLAY. SHOULD AIR BAGS DEPLOY, BROKEN DASH PIECES CUT, THUS COMPROMISE AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS. ALSO BROKEN DASH SHARDS MAY BE PROJECTED IN THE EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT CREATING HIGH VELOCITY, DANGEROUS SHRAPNEL. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. 2011. STILL OWN THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A FUEL STATION AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID POURING FROM THE BRAKE LINES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CASEY'S FRONTIER CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2350 COOKEVILLE HWY, LIVINGSTON, TN 38570, (931) 563-9076) AND REPAIRED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AS INTENDED, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL (ITBC). BACK IN JAN., 2011 I GOT A MESSAGE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC): IT SAID "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM". MESSAGE INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, AND THEN MORE FREQUENTLY , AND THEN MESSAGE APPEARED AT START-UP EVERY TIME. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. IN APRIL OF 2013 THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RETURNED IN EXACTLY THE SAME PATTERN AS THE PREVIOUS FAULT. THIS A FAULTY SYSTEM AT BEST, AND HAS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAWS. THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE HERE IS: WHEN THE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DIC; ALL TRAILER BRAKING IS LOST. THERE IS NO DEFAULT OR BACK-UP SYSTEM IN WHICH TO APPLY TRAILER BRAKES. EVEN THE MANUAL TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL BUILT INTO THE ITBC IS ALSO RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS ITBC FAILURE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AND AT ANY SPEED. THIS VEHICLE IS RATED TO TOW A TRAILER OF 10,000LBS. PLUS. MANY PEOPLES LIVES COULD BE PUT IN JEOPARDY IF SUDDENLY ALL TRAILER BRAKING WERE LOST ON A STEEP DOWNGRADE. THIS ITBC SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RE-DESIGNED SO THAT A VEHICLE OPERATOR CAN OPERATE THE TRAILER BRAKES MANUALLY IF AUTOMATIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL IS LOST WHEN THE OPERATOR GETS A "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" ON THE DIC. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE IN HIS HOME. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND REMAINED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURNS, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V438000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL (ITBC). BACK IN JAN., 2011 I GOT A MESSAGE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC): IT SAID "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM". MESSAGE INTERMITTENT AT FIRST, AND THEN MORE FREQUENTLY , AND THEN MESSAGE APPEARED AT START-UP EVERY TIME. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. IN APRIL OF 2013 THE SAME PROBLEM HAS RETURNED IN EXACTLY THE SAME PATTERN AS THE PREVIOUS FAULT. THIS A FAULTY SYSTEM AT BEST, AND HAS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAWS. THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE HERE IS: WHEN THE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DIC; ALL TRAILER BRAKING IS LOST. THERE IS NO DEFAULT OR BACK-UP SYSTEM IN WHICH TO APPLY TRAILER BRAKES. EVEN THE MANUAL TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL BUILT INTO THE ITBC IS ALSO RENDERED INOPERABLE. THIS ITBC FAILURE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AND AT ANY SPEED. THIS VEHICLE IS RATED TO TOW A TRAILER OF 10,000LBS. PLUS. MANY PEOPLES LIVES COULD BE PUT IN JEOPARDY IF SUDDENLY ALL TRAILER BRAKING WERE LOST ON A STEEP DOWNGRADE. THIS ITBC SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RE-DESIGNED SO THAT A VEHICLE OPERATOR CAN OPERATE THE TRAILER BRAKES MANUALLY IF AUTOMATIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL IS LOST WHEN THE OPERATOR GETS A "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" ON THE DIC. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER; HOWEVER, AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE LIGHT SHUT OFF AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN AT WILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE RECURRED TO ALLOW THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BEFORE SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12990 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13050.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL MORE RAPIDLY THAN NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BURN ONE FULL QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES TRAVELED. THE DEALER RESEALED THE TURBO BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER ROAD BUMPS HE COULD HEAR THE DOORS SHIFTING INSIDE OF THE DOOR FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE BODY BOLTS BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE SHOULD OIL THE DOORS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF NOISE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE LEAK COULD LEAK OUT ALL FLUID AND CAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CONDITIONER AT A COST OF $ 822.32. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO CUT THE BILL TO $411.16. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY GM THAT THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE PART. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART WAS MADE OF DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT MADE A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE AND THE PARTS WERE SENT TO GM TO BE EXAMINED. UPDATED IVOQ 01/04/12 *JB *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. AFTER THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS, IT WOULD NO LONGER MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE SHOCK AND LEAF SPRING WERE THE ONLY PARTS HOLDING IT TOGETHER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING AND THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER; HOWEVER, AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE LIGHT SHUT OFF AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN AT WILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IF THE FAILURE RECURRED TO ALLOW THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BEFORE SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12990 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13050.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .