GMC Sierra 3500 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Avoid the 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 GMC Sierra 3500 model years, which carry the highest Complaint Indexes (87, 93, 80, and 100). The 2012, 2014, and 2018 model years score lowest on complaints (7, 13, and 20) and are rated Best.
Avoid 2020Avoid 2022Avoid 2023Avoid 2024Best 2012Best 2014Best 2018
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 335
- Recall campaigns
- 35
- Crashes reported
- 17
- Fires reported
- 7
- Top problem area
- Electrical System
Sierra 3500 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 3500 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | No verdict | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2011 | Good | 47 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2012 | Best | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Engine | — | — |
| 2013 | Good | 27 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Airbags | — | — |
| 2014 | Best | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Engine | — | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 67 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2016 | Good | 33 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2017 | Good | 40 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2018 | Best | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2019 | Caution | 53 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Brakes | — | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 87 | 51 | 4 | 2 | 8 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 60 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2022 | Avoid | 93 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2023 | Avoid | 80 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 1 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2024 | Avoid | 100 | 47 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Caution | 73 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | — | — |
Sierra 3500 years to avoid: what went wrong
2024 GMC Sierra 3500 Index 100 · 47 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2024 Sierra 3500 has the highest Complaint Index in the lineup at 100, from 47 complaints. Electrical System issues lead at 28 percent, median 11,195 miles, including tailgate sensor and lighting malfunctions. Transmission & Powertrain problems follow at 26 percent, median 49,500 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recalls, including a steering gear shaft fracture campaign and two tailgate release-switch recalls.
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 Index 93 · 31 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2022 Sierra 3500 shows a Complaint Index of 93 from 31 complaints. Electrical System problems lead at 26 percent, median 35,654 miles, including headlights icing over and becoming unusable. Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues follow at 19 percent, median 27,666 miles, with reports of tire failures. NHTSA recorded 4 crashes and 5 injuries this year. Three recalls apply, including a brake control module campaign that required parking away from structures.
2020 GMC Sierra 3500 Index 87 · 51 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2020 Sierra 3500 has a Complaint Index of 87 and 51 complaints, with Transmission & Powertrain issues making up 37 percent of them at a median 108,000 miles. Owners report sudden loud bangs, rear brake lockups, and vehicles violently skidding to a stop while driving. Electrical System complaints followed at 20 percent. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this year, including transmission control software updates and a tailgate release-switch fix, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
2023 GMC Sierra 3500 Index 80 · 28 complaints · 1 recalls
The 2023 Sierra 3500 carries a Complaint Index of 80 across 28 complaints. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate at 50 percent, median 33,800 miles, with owners reporting valve body and solenoid failures, shuddering, and sudden power reduction while driving. Engine and Suspension issues each account for 18 percent. NHTSA logged 5 crashes for this year and one recall covering the power-unlatching tailgate.
Most common GMC Sierra 3500 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Electrical System75 (22%)
- Transmission & Powertrain75 (22%)
- Brakes62 (19%)
- Engine57 (17%)
- Other42 (13%)
- Fuel System31 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (8%)
- Airbags24 (7%)
- Steering23 (7%)
- Structure & Body22 (7%)
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the GMC Sierra 3500 should I avoid?
- NHTSA complaint and recall data point to 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as the years to avoid, with Complaint Indexes of 87, 93, 80, and 100 respectively, the highest across the 2010-2025 range.
- What is the best year for the GMC Sierra 3500?
- The 2012, 2014, and 2018 model years are rated Best, with Complaint Indexes of 7, 13, and 20 and low complaint counts of 9, 7, and 14.
- Is the 2024 GMC Sierra 3500 reliable based on complaints?
- The 2024 Sierra 3500 has the highest Complaint Index in the lineup, 100, built from 47 complaints, with Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain problems as the top areas.
- Does the GMC Sierra 3500 have common recall issues?
- Across all years, NHTSA lists 35 recall campaigns, with recurring themes including power-unlatching tailgate switches, transmission control module software, and brake control module concerns in the 2020-2024 range.
- What are the most reported problem areas for the Sierra 3500?
- Across all model years, Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain issues each account for 22 percent of the 335 total complaints, followed by Brakes at 19 percent and Engine at 17 percent.