2009 GMC Sierra 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500: 4 recalls, 234 owner complaints.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #18V267000 · 2018 · 6,154 vehicles
What's wrong: These extinguishers May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle May detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit:…
Why it matters: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, instructing them to contact kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V052000 · 2021 · 557,023 vehicles
What's wrong: " additionally, gm is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, and escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 1500, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, oregon, rhode island, south…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V050000 · 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, gm is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 1500, yukon, yukon xl vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V053000 · 2021 · 692,526 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, gm is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, and escalade ext, Chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, silverado 2500/3500, suburban, tahoe, GMC sierra 1500, sierra 2500/3500, yukon, and yukon xl vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (122): the most common themes are warning light on (14), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (5), fails to deploy (2).
- Other / unknown (38): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Body & structure (20): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Electrical (20): the most common themes are electrical failure (7), door / lock issues (7).
The 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 has 234 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 33 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 271). Complaints peaked in 2017 (64 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 72,750 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (381 complaints, 2 recalls), 2010 (168 complaints, 4 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
Owners have filed 234 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (122), other / unknown (38), body & structure (20).
Where can I get a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.