YearToAvoid

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 Sierra 1500 years

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 has a Complaint Index of 87 and ranks 3rd worst out of 16 model years, earning an Avoid rating. Engine problems dominate with 232 complaints (48% share) and a median failure mileage of 21,000 miles, plus 3 recalls covering engine, brakes, and electrical systems.

Complaints
479
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 20 hwy

Top 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine232 (48%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain91 (19%)
  3. Structure & Body89 (19%)
  4. Electrical System68 (14%)
  5. Other52 (11%)
  6. Fuel System36 (8%)
  7. Brakes17 (4%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras16 (3%)
  9. Steering12 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers7 (1%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power and drops from highway speed into limp mode, triggering multiple warning lights at once.
  • Engine shuts off unexpectedly while towing, sometimes with unusually loud exhaust noise beforehand, leaving the vehicle unable to restart.
  • Electrical system failures include sudden engine shutdown while driving and use of adaptive cruise features, causing loss of vehicle control.
  • Instrument panel area has caught fire while the truck was parked and unattended.
  • Infotainment system intermittently cuts audio and safety chime alerts until the vehicle is powered off and back on.
  • Battery drains completely within months of ownership, leaving doors inoperable and the engine unable to start.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints: complaints filed per month46Feb 2023Aug 2023Mar 2024Aug 2024Feb 2025Jul 2025Dec 2025May 2026
634 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2026 (46).

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V274000Apr 24, 2025Engine597,571 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

    Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

  2. NHTSA 24V674000Sep 12, 2024Brakes449,671 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:software

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, and Escalade ESV vehicles. The electronic brake control module software may fail to display a warning light when a loss of brake fluid occurs. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: Without a warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, which can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The Electronic Brake Control Module (eBCM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2024. Owners can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N242447990.

  3. NHTSA 22V903000Dec 8, 2022Electrical System740,108 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Exterior lighting:lighting control module:software

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2023 compared with other Sierra 1500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Caution73570717
2022Avoid93585617
2023Avoid87479318
2024Avoid100360118
2025Good47116117

All GMC Sierra 1500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 a good year to buy?
No. It carries a Complaint Index of 87 and ranks 3rd worst among 16 model years covered, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Sierra 1500 years.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500?
Engine problems are most common, accounting for 232 of 479 complaints (48% share), with a median failure mileage of 21,000 miles.
Does the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 Sierra 1500, covering the engine, the electronic brake control module, and the body control module electrical software.
How does the 2023 Sierra 1500 compare to other model years?
Its Complaint Index of 87 is worse than most other years, including 2018 (20) and 2012 (0), but slightly better than 2024 (100) and 2022 (93).
Has the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 caught fire?
NHTSA complaints report 2 fires for this model year, including one incident where a parked, unattended truck caught fire near the instrument panel.

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.