2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#11 most-complained of 16 Sierra 1500 years
The 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 has a complaint index of 33, ranking 11th worst out of 16 model years, and NHTSA rates it Good relative to other Sierra years. It has 429 complaints and 5 recalls, with Transmission & Powertrain (34%) and Brakes (30%) as the top problem areas.
- Complaints
- 429
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 20 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain144 (34%)
- Brakes129 (30%)
- Engine77 (18%)
- Electrical System67 (16%)
- Other42 (10%)
- Steering28 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires19 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (3%)
- Structure & Body13 (3%)
- Fuel System8 (2%)
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly become hard to push and lose stopping power suddenly, sometimes during low-speed maneuvers.
- Owners describe brake failure tied to a vacuum pump issue that reduces braking force, in some cases leading to a collision.
- Airbags reportedly failed to fully deploy in a crash, with smoke filling the cabin and a service airbag warning appearing afterward.
- Steering reportedly becomes hard to turn at low speeds, described as difficult even at highway speeds.
- Front tires reportedly experienced repeated blowouts while driving at moderate speed.
- Backup sensors and electrical systems reportedly stopped working correctly.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 17V487000Aug 3, 2017Other29,647 vehicles
Child seat:tether: connector/clip
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. The owner's manual for the affected vehicles may be missing instructions on how to use the tether anchorage and child restraint anchorage systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Risk: If the instructions are missing from the owner's manual, the child seat may be installed incorrectly and not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will provide a corrected insert for the owners manual, free of charge. The recall began on September 25, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 17307.
2017 compared with other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
- Relative to other Sierra 1500 years, the 2017 model is rated Good, with a complaint index of 33 ranking 11th worst out of 16 years tracked. It has 429 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 34% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 30%. The median mileage at failure for transmission complaints is 24,000 miles.
- Does the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2017 Sierra 1500, covering brakes, seat belts, airbags, and an owner's manual correction, none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2017 Sierra 1500 compare to other years?
- The 2017 model's complaint index of 33 is well below the worst years, such as 2014 (80) and 2024 (100), and better than 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.