2009 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 2009 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
- Airbags112.5%
- Driver assistance112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Exterior lighting112.5%
- Powertrain (other)112.5%
- Tires & wheels112.5%
- Transmission112.5%
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
I keep going back to get the recall done and they keep telling me they don't have parts .This has gone on for years
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DROVE MY WIFE TO THE PHARMACY AND AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO PALMDALE ROAD IN VICTORVILLE THE TRUCK WENT INTO TO LIMP MODE. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTO PARK AT 25MPH ALMOST CAUSING A REAR COLLISION BEHIND US. THE GMC SIERRA 3500HD 2009 CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP CAUSING A BIT OF WHIPLASH TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON BOARD. THE TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THIS CLOSE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
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
I DROVE MY WIFE TO THE PHARMACY AND AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO PALMDALE ROAD IN VICTORVILLE THE TRUCK WENT INTO TO LIMP MODE. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTO PARK AT 25MPH ALMOST CAUSING A REAR COLLISION BEHIND US. THE GMC SIERRA 3500HD 2009 CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP CAUSING A BIT OF WHIPLASH TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON BOARD. THE TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THIS CLOSE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *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
FEB 7, 2011, WITH JUST 11,200 MILES REPLACED TWO GLOW PLUGS. SEPT 6, 2013, IN MILLERSBURG, OHIO, WITH 26,632 ANOTHER GLOW PLUG WAS REPLACED AND WAS ADVISED WE SHOULD HAVE THE TURBO CHECKED WHEN WE RETURNED HOME IN CALIFORNIA. MARCH 20, 2014, WITH 31,986 MILES, TURBO WAS REPLACED. GIVEN THAT OUR 2005 GMC TRUCK, VIN # [XXX], BLEW UP AND BURNED UP WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES, THIS IS VERY ALARMING THAT OUR 2009 TRUCK IS HAVING SUCH MAJOR PROBLEMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A GMC SIERRA 3500HD DUALLY AND THE TOP ROOF LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS RT AND LT 4TIMES AT THE DEALER . MY WARRANTY 36000MILS EXPIRED AND THE LIGHTS ARE BURNOUT ,I CAN ALSO SMELL BURN SOLDER INSIDE TRUCK CAB. ALSO MY TIRES ARE NO GOOD AFTER 10000 MILES TIRES WORE OUT GENERAL TIRES AW . TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE SPECIALLY COMING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
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
I DROVE MY WIFE TO THE PHARMACY AND AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ONTO PALMDALE ROAD IN VICTORVILLE THE TRUCK WENT INTO TO LIMP MODE. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP INTO PARK AT 25MPH ALMOST CAUSING A REAR COLLISION BEHIND US. THE GMC SIERRA 3500HD 2009 CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP CAUSING A BIT OF WHIPLASH TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON BOARD. THE TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THIS CLOSE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT A GMC SIERRA 3500HD DUALLY AND THE TOP ROOF LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS RT AND LT 4TIMES AT THE DEALER . MY WARRANTY 36000MILS EXPIRED AND THE LIGHTS ARE BURNOUT ,I CAN ALSO SMELL BURN SOLDER INSIDE TRUCK CAB. ALSO MY TIRES ARE NO GOOD AFTER 10000 MILES TIRES WORE OUT GENERAL TIRES AW . TIRES SHOULD HAVE LASTED MORE SPECIALLY COMING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
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 2008 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GETTING A SERVICE INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LINE LEAK. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
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 .