RoadVitals

2009 GMC Sierra Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
37
Latest Feb 16, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 1, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 GMC Sierra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 37 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Feb 16, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number - 09184C (Material Over Sensing and Diagnostic Module Retaining Moisture) . The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed as a corroded air bag control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ID
11507624
Incident
Jan 15, 2021
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 11, 2022

2009 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE AIRBAG RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFOMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE AIRBAG SENSOR REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11478744
Incident
Aug 11, 2022
Airbags
Filed Nov 4, 2021
Crash reported

The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, he crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not know whether a warning light illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries and drove the vehicle to his residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist with the air bags failure unless he had a recall notification. The contact also stated while driving at 40 MPH, his vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries and drove to his residence. A police report was not filed. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact stated while driving at 75 MPH on a wet road, the brake pedal was depressed and the front and rear tires inadvertently locked. The vehicle slid off the road and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he did not sustain any injuries and drove to his residence. A police report was not filed. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (AIR BAGS) for the front passenger air bag only. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11439348
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 14, 2021

The contact called on behalf of a GM dealer where he is employed. He stated that a customer had dropped off his 2009 GMC Sierra to be serviced for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags). As the vehicle sat on the dealer lot with the engine off, the contact witnessed both the passenger and driver side air bags deploy without incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 68,895.

NHTSA ID
11436802
Incident
Oct 14, 2021
Mileage
68,895 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 22, 2021

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 GMC SIERRA. The contact stated that the "Service airbag notification" warning light had illuminated onthe instrument panel. The contact then received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000(AIRBAGS); however, the parts for the repair were unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The failure was unknown. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11421861
Incident
Aug 1, 2020
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE STABILIZER TRACK CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE A CLINKING NOISE AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10849999
Incident
Mar 2, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,844. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ; UPDATED 05/02/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10807813
Incident
Sep 8, 2015
Mileage
27,844 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Nov 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AS DESIGNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 1/21/16 *SS *CN

NHTSA ID
10790762
Incident
May 18, 2015
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2015

DASHBOARD CRACKING

NHTSA ID
10779162
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
Mileage
65,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 9, 2015

ABOUT A YEAR GO STARDED TO SEE A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD BY THE AIR BAG

NHTSA ID
10762443
Incident
Nov 18, 2014
Filed Jul 12, 2015

THE SPRING ON THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER BROKE AND I FOUND IT ON THE GROUND. THE SPRING ITSELF IS NOT AVAILABLE AND I HAD TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF NEARLY $300. HAD THIS TIRE COME LOOSE DURING HIGH SPEED TRAVEL IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. I GUESS I'M LUCKY I FOUND THE SPRING AND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10733445
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
43,000 mi
Filed May 19, 2015

MY DASHBOARD IS DISINTEGRATING. IT STARTED WITH A FEW HAIRLINE CRACKS, BUT NOW THERE ARE FIST SIZED HOLES IN MY DASHBOARD, AND IT IS FULL OF CRASKS. IF I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, I WOULD HAVE A FACE FULL OF PLASTIC SHARDS.

NHTSA ID
10717350
Incident
May 13, 2014
Mileage
37,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 2015

I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK, HAD LEFT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, WALKED OVER TO GET SOMETHING OFF THE GROUND AND HEARD THE HORN BLOW. I WALKED BACK OVER TO THE TRUCK TO GET BACK IN AND IT WAS LOCKED. I CALLED ON STAR AND THEY COULDN'T UNLOCK IT SO THEY HAD TO SEND A LOCK-OUT SERVICE TO UNLOCK THE TRUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THREE IN WHICH ON STAR HAD UNLOCKED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683376
Incident
Feb 13, 2015
Mileage
93,801 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THAT THE PART CAME IN ONE PIECE AND THE ENTIRE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10682875
Incident
Feb 4, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 14, 2015

I AM HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STABILITRAK ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. WHENEVER IT GETS COLD ( BELOW APPROX. 38 DEGREES) THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. EVEN IF I TURN IT OFF IT STILL AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE (LOW SPEED, ENGINE HESITATING). THE TRUCK RUNS FINE IN WARMER WEATHER JUST CRAPS OUT WHEN ITS COLD. I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF DISTRESSED DRIVERS WHO ARE HAVING THEIR 'TRAC ' 'STAB, ABS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHTS EITHER GOING ON ONE AT A TIME OR SIMULTANEOUSLY BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEM. THIS IS A STUPID SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED OR ELIMINATED ALL TOGETHER. IN ANY EVENT I DON'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE THE ONE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURES MISTAKES IN DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672449
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 2015

IN COLD WEATHER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK, THE ONLY THING THAT DOES WORK IS THE BACK LIGHTING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671593
Incident
Oct 13, 2014
Mileage
55,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY REDUCED TO 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE RESTARTED WITH SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID
10671026
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
62,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 15, 2014
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME PLATING WAS SEPARATING FROM ALL OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PARTS THAT WERE STICKING OUT WERE VERY SHARP. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS ON THE RIGHT HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10664269
Incident
Dec 13, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 23, 2014

I' M WRITING IN TOO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER ON MY 2009 GMC SIERRA. I SEE THAT A RECALL ALONG WITH A LAWSUIT WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WAS SUBMITTED. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH GMC ON THIS ISSUE SINCE 2011. THEY STATED IT WAS A FUSE AND REPLACED THE FUSE , BUT MY DASHBOARD ALONG WITH ALL THE GAUGES GO OUT EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY DID. THIS ISSUE WAS NOTED AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED IN 2011. THE LAST TIME MY DASHBOARD WENT OUT (WHILE DRIVING) WAS 10/14/2014. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660356
Incident
Nov 17, 2010
Mileage
23,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID
10650674
Incident
Oct 7, 2014
Mileage
89,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID
10630629
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID
10626280
Incident
May 28, 2014
Mileage
59,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 16, 2014

POWER LOCKS QUIT WORKING HAVE TO USE THE KEY TO OPEN DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10598656
Incident
Jun 28, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 10, 2014

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR PRE-OWNED 2009 GMC SIERRA DENALI WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE POWER AND ALL SENSORS GOING OFF. THE SENSORS START GOING OFF THE STABILITY CONTROL CUTS OFF IT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED THEN DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT AND KILLS IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT WILL DO IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN JUST STARTS WORKING RIGHT AGAIN. SO WE NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR WHERE WE WILL BE. IT'S LIKE IT'S NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597321
Incident
Feb 20, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 23, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10593587
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
55,544 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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