GMC Sierra 2500 Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
GMC Sierra 2500 years to avoid are 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100. Best years are 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018, all with complaint indexes of 15 or below. Electrical System problems lead complaints overall at 21%.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2015Avoid 2020Avoid 2021Avoid 2022Avoid 2024Avoid 2025Best 2010Best 2013Best 2014Best 2018
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,126
- Recall campaigns
- 38
- Crashes reported
- 41
- Fires reported
- 30
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Sierra 2500 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
GMC Sierra 2500 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 70 | 115 | 4 | 6 | 1 | Electrical System | 9 | — |
| 2006 | Good | 35 | 66 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2007 | Caution | 60 | 83 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 55 | 63 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2009 | Good | 20 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2010 | Best | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 50 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2012 | Good | 40 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | — | 4★ |
| 2013 | Best | 10 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Fuel System | — | 4★ |
| 2014 | Best | 5 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Airbags | — | 3★ |
| 2015 | Avoid | 75 | 89 | 5 | 5 | 6 | Electrical System | — | 3★ |
| 2016 | Good | 45 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Steering | — | 4★ |
| 2017 | Good | 25 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 6 | Brakes | — | 4★ |
| 2018 | Best | 15 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 5 | Electrical System | — | 4★ |
| 2019 | Good | 30 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 7 | Electrical System | — | 4★ |
| 2020 | Avoid | 90 | 76 | 1 | 3 | 9 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Avoid | 80 | 51 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2022 | Avoid | 85 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2023 | Caution | 65 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 106 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Avoid | 95 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | — | — |
Sierra 2500 years to avoid: what went wrong
2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 100 · 106 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2024 Sierra 2500 has the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100. Electrical System complaints lead at 33% with a median failure mileage of 8,000, and Transmission & Powertrain issues follow at 25%. NHTSA lists four recall campaigns, including a tire label/ECM software recall and two tailgate electronic switch recalls. Owners reported engine fires linked to block heater use and trailer brake controllers that stopped working entirely.
2024 electrical system problems →2024 transmission & powertrain problems →2024 brakes problems →
2025 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 95 · 28 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2025 Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 95, the second highest recorded. Brakes and Steering each account for 25% of complaints, with median failure mileages of 5,000 and 2,000 respectively. NHTSA lists one recall campaign covering tire information labels and ECM software. Owners described frame damage from minor crashes and airbags failing to deploy in side impacts, with median mileage at failure of only 1,300 for the year overall.
2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 90 · 76 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2020 Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 90. Transmission & Powertrain problems lead at 32% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 114,000, followed by engine complaints at 20%. NHTSA lists nine recall campaigns, the most of any year, including transmission control module software fixes and a tailgate electronic switch that could short circuit. Owners also reported engine compartment fires and electrical fires involving the trailer harness and rear defroster module.
2020 transmission & powertrain problems →2020 engine problems →
2022 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 85 · 43 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2022 Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 85. Electrical System issues account for 30% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 55,163, and suspension/wheel/tire issues follow at 14%. NHTSA lists three recall campaigns tied to this year, including transmission control software and the tailgate switch recall. Owners reported engine compartment fires, including one tied to a factory-installed block heater, and airbags failing to deploy in crashes.
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 80 · 51 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2021 Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 80. Electrical System complaints are the top category at 25%, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 24% with a median failure mileage of 64,000. NHTSA lists six recall campaigns, including a brake control module recall that instructed owners to park outside due to fire risk. Owners described backup cameras cutting out unexpectedly and unintended gear shifts while towing that led to loss of control.
2015 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 75 · 89 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2015 Sierra 2500 carries a complaint index of 75 out of 21 model years. Electrical System issues dominate, making up 42% of complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 14,500. Owners also reported fuel system and transmission problems. NHTSA lists three recall campaigns for this year, covering roof-rail airbag inflators and a brake pedal pivot nut that could crack. One brake-related complaint described fluid leaking from the brake booster and a resulting crash.
Most common GMC Sierra 2500 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Electrical System242 (21%)
- Brakes173 (15%)
- Airbags157 (14%)
- Engine153 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain153 (14%)
- Other149 (13%)
- Fuel System90 (8%)
- Steering85 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires81 (7%)
- Structure & Body76 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the GMC Sierra 2500 should I avoid?
- NHTSA data flags 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 as Avoid years for the Sierra 2500, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100, the highest in the lineup.
- What is the best year for the GMC Sierra 2500?
- 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018 are rated Best, each with a complaint index of 15 or lower based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What is the most common problem on the GMC Sierra 2500?
- Across all 21 model years, Electrical System issues are the top complaint category at 21% of total complaints, followed by Brakes at 15% and Airbags at 14%.
- Does the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 have a lot of recalls?
- The 2024 model has four recall campaigns and the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, with Electrical System issues making up 33% of its complaints.
- Is the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
- The 2020 Sierra 2500 is rated Avoid, with a complaint index of 90 and nine recall campaigns, the most of any model year, mostly tied to transmission control software and a tailgate switch.