Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2015 Gmc Sierra 1500 — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2018 to Dec 2021
The most reported issue is service brakes problems (190 complaints). 29 complaints involved crashes. 10 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 18V586000
Component: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.
Risk: If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18289.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V645000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
NHTSA Campaign: 19V761000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V651000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V437000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V209000
Component: SEAT BELTS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks manufactured January 29, 2013, to January 21, 2015. While entering the vehicle, the seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned such that the driver slides over it. This movement may result in the fatigue and separation of the cable.
Risk: If the tensioner cable separates, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent the tensioner from being damaged. Any tensioner that has already been damaged will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15822.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V504000
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20V-736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V245000
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Risk: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V736000
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Risk: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V-504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 803)
Engine →6 issues
While driving at 45 mph, you heard a popping noise and saw smoke coming from the front of your vehicle. Your engine went into limp mode, lost power, and your brakes became unresponsive. As you pulled into a parking lot, flames erupted from under the hood. A bystander used a fire extinguisher and the fire department was called to fully extinguish the fire; you sustained a minor hand injury. This engine fire requires immediate investigation by a qualified mechanic to determine the root cause before the vehicle is driven again.
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Your engine suddenly seized while driving at 40 mph on a busy highway, forcing you to pull off the road. You heard a couple of popping noises just before the engine stopped, but there were no warning lights on the dashboard. The engine has not been inspected since the incident and remains in the same condition as when it seized.
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Your engine is making a knocking sound caused by a collapsed lifter in one of the Active Fuel Management cylinders, which bent the push rod and damaged the camshaft. Metal fragments from this failure have circulated throughout your oil system, which can cause additional engine damage if not addressed. The engine will need to be inspected and likely rebuilt or replaced, and the oil system will need to be thoroughly flushed.
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While driving at 40 MPH, your engine started making a tapping sound and had to be towed to a repair shop. The initial diagnosis found a bent push rod and broken lifter, which were replaced along with all push rods and AFM lifters for about $10,700. The same issue occurred again recently, resulting in catastrophic engine failure that now requires a complete engine replacement.
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Your truck's Active Fuel Management (AFM) system failed at 70,000 miles, causing a cylinder 7 misfire error code (P0307) during normal commuting. This happened right after an oil change with no aggressive driving. Fixing this will likely require diagnosis and repair or replacement of the AFM system components, which may include lifters, solenoids, or a full engine rebuild depending on the extent of damage.
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Your engine suddenly lost power while driving, forcing you to limp home. A dealer diagnosed failed lifters on one side of the engine, which required several thousand dollars to repair. You had noticed increasing ticking sounds from the engine before the failure occurred, and after the repair, the same ticking has returned after 70,000 additional miles, suggesting the problem may recur. Fixing this issue typically requires replacing the failed valve lifters and related engine components.
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Power Train →3 issues
Your truck makes a loud clunking noise or shifts abruptly when accelerating from a stop, particularly when shifting from first to second gear. Other 2015 Sierra 1500 owners have reported the same hard shifting problem during acceleration from a standstill. The issue may be related to the transmission control module. A transmission specialist will likely need to diagnose the shifting problem and may need to reprogram or replace the transmission control module.
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Your transmission is shuddering and having trouble shifting smoothly into the correct gears. This could indicate a transmission fluid issue, internal wear, or sensor problems that need diagnostic attention to prevent further damage.
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Your gear shifter gets stuck when you try to shift into reverse, drive, or park, requiring you to manually move the shifter cable underneath the vehicle to engage the gear. Even after an independent mechanic replaced both the upper and lower shifter cables, the shifter won't stay in the gear you select and moves on its own. The repair will likely involve inspecting and possibly replacing the shifter cable assembly, shift linkage, or transmission shift mechanism.
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Steering →2 issues
Your power steering fails or becomes very difficult to use when you're driving at low speeds or when the vehicle is stopped. This is the same issue covered under safety recall 14743 for 2015 GMC Sierra trucks. The problem likely involves the power steering pump or electrical system and may require diagnosis and repair or replacement of steering components.
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Your power steering system has stopped working while driving, causing your steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The engine also shut off during this event, though you were able to restart it after several attempts. This problem has happened more than once, and you may have seen a "Service StabiliTrak" warning message on your dashboard. The dealership confirmed your vehicle isn't covered by the related recall.
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Air Bags →1 issue
Your airbags failed to deploy during a severe frontal T-bone collision at 55 MPH, even though the impact was forceful enough to push the other vehicle into a ditch. This is a critical safety failure that should have triggered the airbag system. The issue will likely require a diagnostic scan of the airbag control module and possibly replacement of the airbag sensors or the entire airbag system.
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Unknown Or Other,service Brakes →1 issue
Your brake system isn't working properly at low speeds and often fails to stop the vehicle, which has nearly caused several crashes. You're seeing a Brake Assist failure warning light and stability control warning lights on your dashboard. Even after the dealership updated the software, the problem got worse instead of better, and the brakes still don't work correctly. Fixing this will likely require a complete brake system diagnosis and may involve replacing the brake booster, master cylinder, or other brake components.
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Electrical System →1 issue
When you remote-started your truck, smoke and flames came from the rear power window area. The remote start activated the rear defrosters, which triggered an electrical problem that caused a loud pop and shattered your driver's side rear window. The window is now melted and chipping away, creating a safety hazard and blocking visibility. This issue may require replacement of the rear window motor, wiring harness, and defroster grid.
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic →1 issue
Your brake pedal felt hard and didn't respond normally, making it difficult to stop your truck. The ABS warning light came on, and you were able to bring the vehicle to a stop and drive it home. The braking system may need inspection to check the hydraulic lines, master cylinder, or ABS module for leaks or malfunctions.
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Fuel System, Diesel →1 issue
While driving at 65 mph, your truck suddenly lost engine power and displayed an "Engine Power Failure" warning light. A mechanic found metal shavings in the fuel system and determined the fuel system had failed and needed to be replaced. This is a serious issue that left your vehicle stranded and unable to operate.
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Structure →1 issue
Your truck's paint appears to be prone to rust and deterioration. The paint quality from the manufacturer may not be adequately protecting the frame, allowing rust to develop. This issue could eventually affect the structural integrity of your vehicle if left unaddressed. Addressing this typically involves rust removal, priming, and repainting the affected areas.
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
After you remote started your truck and got in about 5 minutes later, the rear passenger-side power sliding window suddenly shattered when you closed the door. GM says your VIN isn't covered by a recall for this issue, even though your truck appears to match the criteria for a recall or customer satisfaction program related to rear window thermal events.
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Power Train,electrical System →1 issue
Your transmission's temperature sensor isn't working properly, causing your transmission to shift hard or slowly and making your truck shutter and vibrate while driving. This happens because the transmission can't properly read its own temperature to shift at the right time. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the faulty temperature sensor.
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Suspension,structure →1 issue
Your truck is making a loud clunking noise while driving. Two repair shops have already worked on it but installed incorrect parts, which didn't fix the problem. Since you bought it used from a dealership that sold it as-is, you may need to have a suspension specialist diagnose which parts are actually causing the noise and replace them with the correct ones.
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