YearToAvoid

2017 GMC Sierra 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 has a complaint index of 25, the 6th lowest among 21 model years, and ranks 16th worst (Good verdict). NHTSA lists 37 complaints, 6 recalls, 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury for this year.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
25/100
#16 of 21 Sierra 2500 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
37
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
—
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other10 (27%)
  2. Brakes8 (22%)
  3. Engine8 (22%)
  4. Electrical System7 (19%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain6 (16%)
  6. Fuel System3 (8%)
  7. Airbags2 (5%)
  8. Seat Belts2 (5%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners report the brake pedal going to the floor with no stopping power, in at least one case leading to a collision.
  • Owners describe engine compartment fires, including one where smoke and flames came from under the hood after the truck was parked.
  • The back-up camera display is reported as too bright with glare and no way to dim it, making reversing harder.
  • Some owners say the truck lurches or jumps when braking at low speed, tied to an ABS-related issue found after an alignment repair.
  • One owner reported the accelerator sticking at full throttle on the highway, requiring repeated braking to slow down.
  • Owners describe rear seat belts that fail to retract or lack a disconnect warning, including one where a passenger rode unbuckled for miles.
2017 GMC Sierra 2500 complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2017Mar 2018Jun 2019Oct 2021May 2022Feb 2023Apr 2024Dec 2024
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2017 to Apr 2026; peak Dec 2021 (4).

2017 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V047000Feb 2, 2023Fuel System22,132 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel:storage:tank assembly

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222368030.

  2. NHTSA 21V496000Jul 1, 2021Other338,020 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.

    Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

  3. NHTSA 19V328000Apr 25, 2019Engine318,374 vehicles

    Engine

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.

    Risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.

    Remedy: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.

See all 6 recalls for the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 →

2017 compared with other Sierra 2500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid75896—
2016Good45595—
2017Good25376—
2018Best15355—
2019Good30327—

All GMC Sierra 2500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
It carries a complaint index of 25 out of the 21 model years tracked and ranks 16th worst, earning a Good verdict relative to other Sierra 2500 years. NHTSA logged 37 complaints and 6 recalls for this year.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Sierra 2500?
Brakes and Engine issues each account for 8 complaints (22% each), followed by Electrical System problems at 7 complaints (19%) and Transmission & Powertrain at 6 complaints (16%).
Does the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2017 Sierra 2500, covering the fuel system, engine block heater (twice), seat belts (twice), and airbags. None are do-not-drive recalls.
What year Sierra 2500 should I avoid instead of 2017?
Based on complaint index, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 all carry Avoid verdicts, with 2024 having the highest complaint index at 100 among all 21 years tracked.
At what mileage do 2017 Sierra 2500 problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 22,060 miles, though brake complaints cluster much earlier at a median of 1,250.5 miles.

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.