2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 has a Complaint Index of 55 and ranks 10th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & powertrain (34% of complaints) and brakes (30%) are the top problem areas, backed by 5 recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 55/100
- #10 of 21 Sierra 1500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 429
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 20
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly become hard to push and lose stopping power suddenly, sometimes tied to a vacuum pump issue affecting the brake line.
- Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn, especially at low speeds.
- Front tires have reportedly experienced blowouts while driving at moderate speeds, including repeat failures on the same vehicle.
- Some owners report airbags deploying only partially or not fully during crashes, with smoke or chemical odor filling the cabin.
- A vehicle parked in gear reportedly rolled away on an incline, suggesting a transmission engagement problem.
- Back-up sensors and other electrical functions have 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?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Sierra 1500 a Complaint Index of 55 and a Caution verdict, ranking 10th worst among 21 model years of the Sierra 1500. Its biggest reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (34% of complaints) and brakes (30%).
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500?
- NHTSA complaints point to transmission & powertrain issues (144 complaints, 34% share, median mileage 24,000) and brakes (129 complaints, 30% share, median mileage 46,000) as the leading problem areas, followed by engine and electrical system complaints.
- Does the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2017 Sierra 1500, covering brakes, seat belts, airbags, and an owner's manual correction. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2017 Sierra 1500 compare to other model years?
- The 2017 model's Complaint Index of 55 is worse than years like 2012 (Best, index 0) or 2018 (Good, index 30), but better than 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, which all carry Avoid verdicts with higher indexes.
- Were there crashes or injuries linked to the 2017 Sierra 1500?
- NHTSA records 20 crashes, 8 injuries, and 5 fires tied to complaints about the 2017 Sierra 1500, with no reported deaths.