GMC Sierra 2500 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Avoid the 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025 GMC Sierra 2500 model years, which carry the highest complaint indexes (80, 87, 100, and 93) out of 768 total complaints across 16 model years. The 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018 model years score lowest (complaint index 0, 20, 7, and 13) and are the best picks.
Avoid 2020Avoid 2022Avoid 2024Avoid 2025Best 2010Best 2013Best 2014Best 2018
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 768
- Recall campaigns
- 34
- Crashes reported
- 26
- Fires reported
- 20
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 53 | 63 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2012 | Good | 47 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | — | 4★ |
| 2013 | Best | 20 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Fuel System | — | 4★ |
| 2014 | Best | 7 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Airbags | — | 3★ |
| 2015 | Caution | 73 | 89 | 5 | 5 | 6 | Electrical System | — | 3★ |
| 2016 | Good | 40 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Steering | — | 4★ |
| 2017 | Good | 27 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 6 | Brakes | — | 4★ |
| 2018 | Best | 13 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 5 | Electrical System | — | 4★ |
| 2019 | Good | 33 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 7 | Electrical System | — | 4★ |
| 2020 | Avoid | 80 | 76 | 1 | 3 | 9 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 67 | 51 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2022 | Avoid | 87 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2023 | Caution | 60 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 106 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Avoid | 93 | 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, ranking worst of all 16 years with 106 total complaints. Electrical System problems lead at 33% (median failure mileage 8,000), followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 25% (median 50,000 miles) and Brakes at 16% (median 1,000 miles). Owners report vehicle fires linked to engine block heaters, trailer brake controller failures, and airbag deployment during low-speed incidents. NHTSA lists 4 recalls, including tailgate short-circuit and tire label issues.
2024 electrical system problems →2024 transmission & powertrain problems →2024 brakes problems →
2025 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 93 · 28 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2025 Sierra 2500 ranks 2nd worst with a complaint index of 93. Brakes and Steering issues each account for 25% of complaints, with median failure mileages of 5,000 and 2,000 miles respectively. Owners report frame damage after minor collisions, airbags failing to deploy in side impacts, and engines failing to accelerate with fluctuating RPM at 600 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall covering tire information labels on the towing package.
2022 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 87 · 43 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2022 Sierra 2500 carries a complaint index of 87, ranking 3rd worst. Electrical System complaints dominate at 30% of the year's total, with a median failure mileage of 55,162.5 miles. Owners report vehicle fires starting near block heater connections, airbags not deploying in collisions, and sudden loss-of-power alerts while driving. Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues make up 14% of complaints. NHTSA lists 3 recalls, including a brake control module replacement recall that advises parking outside away from structures.
2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Index 80 · 76 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2020 Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 80 and ranks 4th worst of 16 years. Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 32% of complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 114,000 miles. Engine problems follow at 20% (median 100,000 miles), and Brakes and Electrical System each account for 17%. Owners report engine compartment fires and smoke entering the cabin, plus airbags failing to deploy in crashes. NHTSA lists 9 recalls for this year, including transmission control module software updates and a tailgate electronic gate-release short-circuit issue.
2020 transmission & powertrain problems →2020 engine problems →
Most common GMC Sierra 2500 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System179 (23%)
- Transmission & Powertrain129 (17%)
- Other124 (16%)
- Engine115 (15%)
- Brakes91 (12%)
- Fuel System76 (10%)
- Airbags58 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires54 (7%)
- Steering53 (7%)
- Structure & Body50 (7%)
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the GMC Sierra 2500 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025 model years, which have complaint indexes of 80, 87, 100, and 93, the highest in the lineup.
- What is the best year for the GMC Sierra 2500?
- The 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018 model years score best, with complaint indexes of 0, 20, 7, and 13 respectively, the lowest among all 16 covered model years.
- Is the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
- The 2024 model year has the highest complaint index (100) and the most complaints (106) of any Sierra 2500 year, ranking worst of 16 years, driven mainly by Electrical System issues at 33% of complaints.
- Does the GMC Sierra 2500 have recall issues?
- NHTSA lists 34 recall campaigns across the 2010-2025 Sierra 2500 lineup, including transmission control module software, tailgate electronic short-circuit, and tire label recalls affecting 2020-2025 model years.
- What are the most common problems with the GMC Sierra 2500?
- Across all years, Electrical System issues account for 23% of the 768 total complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 17%, Engine at 15%, and Brakes at 12%.