YearToAvoid

2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 250 brake complaints for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, 32% of all complaints for the year, tied to 16 crashes and 2 injuries. Two related recalls address brake vacuum pump and EBCM issues, with a median failure mileage of 55,000.

Brakes complaints
250
32% of 793
Crashes reported
16
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
55,000 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal becomes hard to press and requires much greater effort to slow or stop the truck, especially at low speeds.
  • Brakes lose effectiveness or fail briefly while backing out of parking spots or driveways, leading to collisions with parked vehicles or objects.
  • Drivers report the brake pedal traveling to the floorboard with little to no stopping power during normal driving, including one case approaching an intersection at 35 mph.
  • Owners describe the issue as tied to a failing brake vacuum pump or brake booster, sometimes diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic.
  • Brake failure appears intermittent, with normal braking returning after the vehicle is moving again or after repeated pumping of the pedal.
  • One complaint links loss of brakes to an electrical fire during towing, though this was filed under a different component.

When 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 24, 2015, latest Jul 7, 2026.

2015 GMC Sierra 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter422015 Q12017 Q42019 Q12020 Q22021 Q32022 Q42024 Q12025 Q3
250 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q4 (42).

Brakes recalls for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500

  1. NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles

    Service brakes

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Brakes complaints by Sierra 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20107 (3%)
  2. 201121 (6%)
  3. 201215 (10%)
  4. 20138 (5%)
  5. 2014201 (24%)
  6. 2015250 (32%)
  7. 2016118 (31%)
  8. 2017129 (30%)
  9. 201848 (15%)
  10. 2019124 (18%)
  11. 202060 (13%)
  12. 202124 (4%)
  13. 202231 (5%)
  14. 202317 (4%)
  15. 202412 (3%)
  16. 20256 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 250 brake complaints for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, which is 32% of the 793 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes. NHTSA recall 19V761000 covers EBCM reprogramming for 5.3-liter models with a 3.08 rear axle, and recall 19V645000 covers a vacuum pump issue affecting brake booster performance.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on the 2015 Sierra 1500 is 55,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
Have the brake issues caused crashes?
NHTSA data links 16 crashes and 2 injuries to brake complaints on the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500.
Is 2015 worse for brakes than other Sierra 1500 years?
Among Sierra 1500 years listed, 2015 has the highest share of complaints tied to brakes at 32%, compared to 24% in 2014 and 31% in 2016.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.