2015 GMC Sierra 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500: 9 recalls, 719 owner complaints.
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Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V209000 · 2016 · 895,232 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the tensioner cable separates, the driver May not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V651000 · 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V437000 · 2017 · 40,683 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Steering Vehicle recall #18V586000 · 2018 · 1,015,918 vehicles
What's wrong: Electric power steering (eps) assist May be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of eps assist.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the eps module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V645000 · 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
What's wrong: The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump May decrease over time.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
Brakes, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V761000 · 2019 · 652,967 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ebcm, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V736000 · 2020 · 9,279 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #21V245000 · 2021 · 2,568 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V504000 · 2021 · 410,019 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall May rupture.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 9 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (219): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (49), warning light on (16), noise or vibration (13).
- Transmission & drivetrain (98): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (42), noise or vibration (23), warning light on (14).
- Electrical (96): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (21), electrical failure (20).
- Exterior lights (93): the most common themes are warning light on (27), stalls / loses power (5), electrical failure (4).
The 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 has 719 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 33 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints (2.7× the average Sierra 1500 year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (139 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 47,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2014 (741 complaints, 9 recalls), 2016 (342 complaints, 8 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 2015 GMC Sierra 1500.
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FAQ
Does the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2015 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 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
Owners have filed 719 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (219), transmission & drivetrain (98), electrical (96).
Where can I get a 2015 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.